Vikings frustrate Beckham, Giants while getting to 4-0

Oke News-Odell Beckham Jr. and the potent New York Giants passing attack never found a rhythm on another frustrating night for the volatile wide receiver.
The Minnesota Vikings have been making a habit of sending the opponent home unhappy.

Mystifying Eli Manning yet again, holding Beckham to a career-low 23 yards on three catches and turning two turnovers into 10 points, the Vikings stayed unbeaten with a 24-10 victory Monday over the Giants.

"We feel like we've got one of the best units in the game," cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. "We've just got to keep working. Our coaches do a great job of putting in a great game plan, and we just go out there and cover the guys up. Everybody on this defense wants to be great."

The Vikings (4-0) didn't record a sack after getting 13 over the past two games, but they were so tight in coverage and sound against the run that the Giants only converted 2 of 12 third downs. Second in the NFL with 12.5 points allowed per contest, the Vikings have conquered quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Manning in consecutive games — the last two league MVP award winners and a two-time Super Bowl champion. They're 6-2 against Manning in his career.

Vikings frustrate Beckham

Coach Mike Zimmer was concerned about Beckham, Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard, as dangerous a trio of pass-catchers as there is in the NFL, so the Vikings didn't blitz the Giants (2-2) nearly as much as they did Rodgers' Packers or Newton's Panthers.

"It just shows our versatility," linebacker Anthony Barr said.

Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph for the third straight game and kept his turnover-free streak since joining the Vikings intact, and Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon each ran for a touchdown as part of a season-high 104 yards rushing for the team. Bradford was 26 of 36 for 262 yards passing, thriving with quick-release throws behind an offensive line that protected better than it had in any of the previous three games.

Starting 4-0 for the first time since 2009, the Vikings joined Philadelphia and Denver as the league's only remaining undefeated teams.

"We've still got a long way to go. We're not handing out any medals tonight," Zimmer said. "The attitude of this team, they like to work. It's good, and they actually tell me I'm getting soft sometimes."

Really?

"Yeah, they do," Zimmer said. "They tell me all the time, 'What are you doing? How come we're not in pads today?'

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