Three takeaways from the Giants’ 13-10 preseason opener loss to the Vikings on Saturday night at MetLife Stadium.
1. Of all the football sins the Giants committed in 2025, the inability to stop the run was the most egregious. This first outing was uninspiring. In the first half, Vikings running back Aaron Jones averaged nine yards per attempt and Jordan Mason averaged 5.7 yards.
Starting defensive linemen D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris did not play, nor did inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and outside linebacker Brian Burns. Rookie Arvell Reese stoned Mason at the line of scrimmage on one play, however.
2. Cornerback Deonte Banks earned strong roster consideration during training camp, but needs to translate that success to preseason games.
He failed to do so in his summer debut. Early in the second quarter, Banks had a holding penalty declined, then lobbied for an offensive pass interference call on Jeshaun Jones but was instead flagged for illegal contact.
3. Braxton Berrios could have called for a fair catch in the first quarter but instead hauled in Johnny Hekker’s 44-yard punt and expertly made the first Vikings pursuer miss.
Berrios, a former All-Pro returner with the Jets, completed a tidy 15-yard return, displaying his special teams value. Berrios later tiptoed the left sideline for another 15-yard punt return.
