Giants - Last week.
The defense nearly wore themselves out either chasing after Jon Kitna behind the line of scrimmage (3 sacks by Michael Strahan) or after all the balls Kitna threw downfield - 43 passes with 28 being caught for 377 yards. Sam Madison and James Butler came up with key interceptions. Unfortunately, linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka broke his left leg early in the game and Brandon Jacobs was sidelined in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury. The Giants broke a third-place tie with Detroit in the NFC and the Lions went on to lose another to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving day.

Vikings - Offense.
They rank 1st in rushing in the NFL. Last week the Vikings were playing without rookie standout Adrian Peterson, so Chester Taylor did the job instead. It was no big surprise. In his first season with the Vikings last year, Taylor had 1216 rushing yards on 303 carries and finished with 345 touches, the third highest in their team history. Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was the Vikings 2nd round draft pick in 2006, and he's still learning. He's missed time this season because of a strained groin, a broken finger and a concussion. As a compliment(?) to how Jackson played last week, ESPN said "Tarvaris Jackson had the most efficient game of his young, so-far-unimpressive career, despite an interception and a lost fumble." The Vikings offense has big problems, converting on third down. They are the 2nd worse in the NFL having converted on just 29.6 percent, and were only 1-of-7 last week.

Visanthe Shiancoe.
What's he up to these days? Well last week the former Giant who backed up Jeremy Shockey for four years, was at the receiving end of a 79-yard reverse pass on the game's first snap from rookie wide receiver Sidney Rice. With the Giants, Shiancoe had 35 receptions. Starting for the Vikings and trying to live up to the a five-year, $18.5 million contract he signed, Shiancoe has a career-high 19 catches for 272 yards and 1 touchdown.

Vikings Defense.
Not much has changed since last year when the Vikings defense finished first in the NFL against the run and tied for last against the pass. They are still first against the run, but now completely own being last against the pass. They don't get consistent pressure against opposing quarterbacks and lately have been sending more blitzes. The Vikings have allowed only one 100-yard rusher this season and with Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward not playing, they may have an easy time stopping the run and be more focused on getting to Eli Manning.

Giants Offense.
Plaxico Burress has been playing on a sprained right ankle and it has limited what he can do. In the first five games Burress caught eight passes of more than 20 yards. In the last five games, he did that just once. Burress had just 4 catches for 24 yards against Dallas and even against Detroit's 30th ranked pass defense he pulled in just four. Brandon Jacobs also contributed with 4 catches last week, but he's out for this game after injuring a hamstring in the third quarter against Detroit. The longest pass play for a Giants wide receiver in the past four games is a 24-yard completion to Amani Toomer, back in October against the 49ers. Running back Derrick Ward has been sidelined with groin and ankle problems, That leaves the running game to Reuben Droughns and rookie Ahmad Bradshaw. Droughns had just 13 yards on 11 carries against Detroit's tough run defense and the Vikings are even better.

Giants Defense.
The Giants two big injuries last week play right into the Vikings two strengths. They lost Brandon Jacobs whose ground game was their best shot at keeping the ball away from Vikings offense for long periods of time. Also they don't have Mathias Kiwanuka to help stop the run. Michael Strahan's three-sack performance last week was his most productive since a game against the Cowboys in 2003. His eight sacks this season matches Osi Umenyiora for the team lead and this crew can be tough on opposing quarterbacks. Unlike last week where Detroit chose to go for an all out passing game, the Vikings should lead with their best punch, their NFL best running game. They'll make the Giants prove they can play without Mathias Kiwanuka, and if the Giants have to bring more players up front, they'll test the Giants secondary.

Giants surprise?
Last week Eli Manning hit Sinorice Moss with 4 passes for 46 yards. That was a career-high for the seldom used receiver who was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2006. Moss had seen little action since sustaining a a quadriceps injury in his rookie season. The Giants could be figuring he's good to go against the Vikings weak pass defense. When Plaxico was contained two weeks ago against the Cowboys, they decided to feature Jeremy Shockey with 12 catches for 129 yards. Manning spread the ball around last week to five receivers who made at least four catches, but now it could be Moss's turn to shine.

Notes.
Giants three losses have come to teams with a combined 20-2 record.

Michael Strahan leads all active players with 140 1/2 sacks.

Vikings have not won back-to-back games this year.

Vikings (4-6) lead the league in both rushing and rush defense.
The last team to do that was the 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers, who finished 13-3.

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