What the Minnesota Vikings Must Do to Prevent New York Giants' First Win

Are you ready for some football?

Okay, maybe those words don't sound as exciting as they would have a few weeks ago, but still, it's Monday Night Football!

Heading into Week 7, the Minnesota Vikings aren't where most of us expected them to be. Sporting a grim 1-4 record, this team has been ravaged by poor play and injuries. But in the NFL, there's always a sliver of light at the end of a dark tunnel.

True fans know that there are still a lot of compelling storylines to pay attention to.

From head coach Leslie Frazier announcing that quarterback Josh Freeman will be making his first start, to playing against against the winless New York Giants, Week 7 is an important one for this franchise.

But how can the 1-4 Vikings prevent the Giants from getting their first win? Using an in-depth film study session, below is a breakdown of a few key elements the Vikings need to be aware of if they have any hopes of walking away with a victory on Monday night.

Take advantage of Eli Manning's mistakes

The easiest way to beat the New York Giants is by taking advantage of quarterback Eli Manning's mistakes.

Although he's had a successful career, historically Manning has always struggled with interceptions—Manning has never thrown less than 10 interceptions whenever he's played a full 16-game season.

The 2013-14 season has been especially bad for the former two-time Super Bowl MVP. Tossing 15 interceptions through his first six games, watching film it's easy to see that Manning has struggled to read the field.

In the picture above, you'll notice Chicago Bears cornerback Zack Bowman is about to take advantage of another poor decision by Manning.

Already in the area of wide receiver Rueben Randle, Eli launches the football right into Bowman's direction.

Anticipating the throw, Bowman jumps the route and secures a big interception for his team early in the game.

The more you watch Manning play, the more you'll understand that these types of mistakes are a recurring theme. That's why there's no question that the Vikings will have plenty of chances to create turnovers against the Giants.

Trust your wide receivers

Turning the reigns over to 25-year-old quarterback Josh Freeman just a few short weeks after signing him probably wasn't the plan. But after suffering a humiliating loss at home against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6, coach Leslie Frazier really has nowhere else to turn.

Making his first start, it will be essential for Freeman to somehow find trust in his wide receivers.

Going up against a New York Giants defense that has allowed 14 touchdowns through the air will give Freeman and this wide receiving corps plenty of chances to score points.

The picture above is a prime example of just how easy it is to pick apart this Giants defense.

Understanding that linebacker Jon Beason is responsible for the highlighted area of the field, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery runs a simple comeback route in the middle of the field to get Beason's attention.

The result? Beason commits to Jeffery, allowing Jay Cutler to throw an effortless 10-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall.

Simple, smart and effective plays like these come down to more than just good play-calling. They also come down to a quarterback trusting his guys.

For all of the team's offensive struggles, the fact is, wide receivers Greg Jennings and Jerome Simpson are quality targets. If Freeman can put the ball where it needs to be and give these guys a chance to make plays, good things will happen for this offense.

Stop the Salsa dancing

Even at 0-6, the Giants have a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the ball.

No disrespect to Hakeem Nicks and Rueben Randle, but wide receiver Victor Cruz is the guy the Vikings need to shift their attention to.

In the breakdown above, cornerback Zack Bowman learns first hand just how devastating of a route-runner Cruz can be.

Taking advantage of the space he's given, Cruz glides upfield, plants his foot and drives back to the football. With no time to respond, Bowman can't do anything but watch as Cruz hauls in a nice 13-yard reception.

The play pictured above might not be an 80-yard touchdown reception or a spectacular one-handed grab. But what it does show is how elusive, smart and effective Cruz can be whenever he's out there on the field.

That's why despite his quarterback's recent struggles, Cruz's skill set has always allowed him to have a special connection with Eli Manning.

If the Vikings and their 29th-ranked pass defense can take away Manning's favorite target, they will dramatically increase their chances of winning in Week 7. 

Conclusion

We all know right now the Vikings aren't a great football team. Too many mistakes and costly injuries have plagued a promising season from the start.

Regardless, winning this football game is extremely important for the team's morale. With so many question marks surrounding this franchise, losing to the 0-6 Giants on a national stage would be one tough pill to swallow.

*All stats courtesy of NFL.com unless noted otherwise.

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