Vikings shut down Giants’ best options in 24-10 victory
Minnesota’s defense denied Odell Beckham Jr. all night and forced two turnovers that led to 10 points, and the Vikings mystified Eli Manning yet again during a 24-10 victory over the New York Giants in Minneapolis on Monday.
Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph for the third straight game and kept his turnover-free streak intact, helping the Vikings lead from start to finish after falling behind in each of their first three wins.
Beckham, who has yet to score this season, was smothered by cornerback Xavier Rhodes and had 23 yards on three catches. Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard were quiet, too, and Manning was erratic as ever while finishing 25 for 45 for just 261 yards. Rhodes picked him off in the third quarter, the 15th interception for Manning in eight career starts against the Vikings. He’s 2-6 with only five touchdown passes.
Quarterback quandary
With his four-game “Deflategate” suspension completed, Tom Brady was eligible to step back into the Patriots’ team facility for the first time in a month.
But if he was there, no one was willing to say.
Only a handful of Brady’s teammates appeared in the locker room after attending meetings and none of them acknowledged laying eyes on their quarterback.
It’s possible Brady may have not been the building.
Coach Bill Belichick was less than forthcoming when he was asked that question.
“I don’t have an exact answer for that right this second,” he said. “Why don’t you call the league and ask them? I’m sure they have the answers.”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera says Cam Newton’s status for next Monday’s game against the Buccaneers is uncertain.
Rivera says the reigning league MVP met with doctors, but offered no update on the quarterback’s progress after he was knocked out of the loss to the Falcons with a concussion.
Rivera said “I have no idea what has come out of the meeting with the doctors.”
Gary Kubiak always had a definitive answer last season when he gathered his players every week to let them know whether Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler would start that week.
He tried to exude the same certainty a day after Trevor Siemian suffered a sprained left shoulder and rookie Paxton Lynch closed out Denver’s win over Tampa Bay.
“Trevor is our starting quarterback,” Kubiak said, “and hopefully he is going to be OK. I’m really proud of Paxton and how he came in and played yesterday.”
Quick kicks
It’s deja vu all over again for the Titans, who are starting out 1-3 for a third straight season and fourth in the past five years. The latest mistakes cost special teams coordinator Bobby April his job a day after his unit gave up 10 points in a 27-20 loss at Houston. … 49ers star linebacker NaVorro Bowman was diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon, his second significant injury in less than three years, and will miss the rest of the season. … Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon, likely ending his season. … Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham was arrested at Miami International Airport after authorities say TSA workers found a loaded gun in his backpack.