The Wild Card matchup on paper

Giants-Vikings Wild Card Preview

The New York Giants return to Minnesota for the second time this season to take on the Vikings in U.S. Bank Stadium in the Super Wild Card Round. Sunday’s kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

It is the Giants’ first playoff berth since 2016 and the first time they will face Minnesota in the postseason since 2000, when they defeated the Vikings, 41-0, in the NFC Championship.

The Giants finished the 2022 regular season with a 9-7-1 record and enter the Super Wild Card Round as the sixth seed in the NFC. The two teams last met on Dec. 24 when the Giants fell to the Vikings, 27-24, on a 61-yard field goal as time expired.

Here are notes and stats for players from both teams ahead of the Wild Card matchup.

*New York Giants clinched playoff berth for 1st time since 2016.

*Brian Daboll was 1 of 3 rookie HCs (Mike McDaniel & Kevin O’Connell) to qualify for postseason.

*New York Giants ranked 4th in rush yards per game (148.2).

*New York Giants had 2 players selected to 2023 Pro Bowl Games: RB Saquon Barkley & DL Dexter Lawrence

*QB Daniel Jones can make 1st career playoff start. Had career highs in pass yards (3,205), rush yards (708 – 5th-most among QBs) & rush TDs (7 – tied 3rd-most among QBs) in 2022. Passed for 334 yards & TD in Week 16 meeting.

*RB Saquon Barkley ranked 4th in rush yards (1,312) & ranked 5th among RBs in scrimmage yards (1,650) & had 2nd-career season with 10+ rush TDs (10) in 2022. Had rush TD in 6 of his 7 road games this season. Had season-high 8 catches, 133 scrimmage yards (84 rush, 49 rec.) & rush TD in Week 16 meeting.

*WR Darius Slayton had 46 receptions for team-high 724 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs in 2022, his 3rd-career season with 700+ rec. yards. Had 79 rec. yards in Week 16 meeting.

*WR Richie James had career highs in receptions (57), rec. yards (569) & rec. TDs (4) in 2022. Had season highs in catches (8) & rec. yards (90) in Week 16 meeting.

*WR Isaiah Hodgins had rec. TD in 4 of his final 5 reg. season games.

*DL Dexter Lawrence had career highs in sacks (7.5), TFL (7), PD (3) & FF (2) in 2022. Led NFC DL with career-high 68 tackles this season.

*DL Leonard Williams had 5 TFL in his past 4 reg. season road games. Had sack in Week 16 meeting.

*LB Jaylon Smith had 88 tackles this season, his 5th-career season with 80+ tackles. Had 10 tackles & sack in Week 16 meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row in playoffs with 7+ tackles.

*OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux was 1 of 2 rookies (George Karlaftis) with 4+ sacks (4), 5+…