Giants vs. Vikings: 5 Things We Learned Monday Night

Giants vs. Vikings caught the attention of every NFL fan Monday after the game was re-scheduled following the collapse of the Metrodome's inflatable roof.

The game was moved to Detroit, where tickets were handed out free-of-charge to fans, spurring even more interest in an otherwise typical regular-season game.

When news broke that Vikings quarterback Brett Favre would not be playing and breaking his NFL-record streak of 297 consecutive regular-season starts, interest in Monday's Giants vs. Vikings contest was at an all-time high. 

Here are five things we learned in the Giants' 21-3 win over Minnesota Monday night at Detroit's Ford Field: 

Brett Favre Is Not Made of Steel 

The old gunslinger finally took a seat. After 297 consecutive games played, Favre was inactive for Monday's game against New York. Impressively, the streak started in 1992 and endured over the last few seasons amidst potential retirements, thoughts on a potential suspension and a flurry of injuries. 

Last week, Favre injured his throwing shoulder and just wasn't ready to return to the field. 

Tarvaris Jackson May Not Be Ready To Start 

Prior to Favre becoming a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Jackson was the team's starting quarterback and showed much promise. In his first start since the 2008 season, Jackson struggled. He completed 15-of-30 passes for 118 yards and one interception, injuring his right toe in the third quarter. 

To Jackson's credit, he did endure four sacks from the Giants pass rush. His status for next week has not yet been determined. 

Hakeem Nicks Makes Giants Playoff Contenders 

Prior to last night, much of the talk about possible NFC playoff contenders has focused on the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints. With the return of wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, the Giants are right back in that mix. 

Holding strong in a Wild Card spot, the Giants received seven catches and 96 yards receiving from Nicks, who returned after undergoing a minor procedure to repair a blood vessel in his lower left leg. Nicks was targeted nine times and is sure to figure into the Giants' offensive gameplan moving forward. 

The addition of Nicks to a receiving corps that includes Smith and tight end Kevin Boss gives Eli Manning plenty of options from the pocket. 

New York Can Run the Ball Effectively and Win 

When the Giants weren't passing, they were running the ball effectively. 

Brandon Jacobs rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries while Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 103 yards and a score on 11 carries. With the Giants' ability to control the time of possession and wear down defenses with a bruising one-two backfield punch, they're sure to make a splash in the postseason. 

NFL fans Enjoy Football 

While the crowd was significantly quieter than most NFL games, 45,910 people filled the seats at Detroit's Ford Field for the game between New York and Minnesota. The stadium holds more than 60,000 people and it could be assumed that a large chunk of fans skipped out on the game when news of Favre sitting broke.