Know the New York Giants key contributors on offense, defense and special teams heading into Week 4's matchup.
Manning threw three interceptions when New York played in Minnesota in 2015. Manning's father, former QB Archie Manning, played for the Vikings from 1983-84.
Shephard leads all rookie wide receivers with 16 catches through the first three weeks. He caught his second touchdown of the season last week and caught five passes for 73 yards.
Pierre-Paul is the longest-tenured member of the Giants defensive line. He forced a fumble and made eight tackles last week against the Redskins.
The Giants acquired Harrison from the cross-town rival New York Jets in free agency this offseason. The 350-pound nose tackle had 10 combined tackles last week.
Rodgers-Cromartie left the Washington game with a groin injury. He has returned six of his 24 career interceptions for touchdowns.
Jenkins was another free-agent signing for the Giants defense this offseason. He has returned five of his 10 career interceptions for touchdowns.
Cruz caught a touchdown in Week 1 in the Giants victory over the Cowboys in his first game in 700 days since recovering from a torn patellar tendon.
Vernon was signed as a free agent by the Giants this offseason and has compiled a sack and seven combined tackles in his first three games with Big Blue.
Vikings DE Danielle Hunter played at LSU with Beckham. The former Tiger caught seven passes for 121 yards last week against Washington and became the fastest player to reach more than 200 catches and 3,000 receiving yards (30 games).
Rashad Jennings missed Week 3's loss against the Redskins with a thumb injury, but expects to play in Minnesota. He is expected to lead the Giants backfield Monday night now that Shane Vereen (triceps) has been placed on injured reserve.
Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was head coach of the Rams when St. Louis drafted Sam Bradford with the first overall pick in 2010.
Spagnuolo led the Rams from 2009-11 before becoming defensive coordinator of the Saints (2012) an assistant with the Ravens (2013-14) and moving to his current role in 2015.
Bradford faced Spagnuolo's defense twice as a member of the Eagles last season and led Philadelphia to a pair of wins, including Week 17 when Bradford was 30-of-38 passing (78.9 percent) for 320 yards with two touchdowns, an interception and a passer rating of 108.3.
They will meet again when the Vikings (3-0) host the Giants (2-1) on Monday Night Football.
Spagnuolo, who coached against the Vikings in Week 16 last year, was asked this week how strange it is to prepare for a Minnesota offense without Adrian Peterson or Teddy Bridgewater. He focused on the players on the Vikings active roster.
"Yeah, I mean certainly Adrian Peterson and Bridgewater, playing him last year, he is an athletic guy," Spagnuolo said. "Now we know a lot about Sam (Bradford), and I think Sam is playing pretty good. We are not going to assume that anyone that goes in there to play running back is anything but a great player.
Spagnuolo, who said receiver Stefon Diggs is "as good as we have seen this year," also was asked if the Giants will approach the second-year pro the same way they do with Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant.
"I know Sam Bradford a little bit and I watch and I can tell, you know, he gets confidence in certain guys," Spagnuolo said. "I can tell that he's confident in Stefon. He's going to be a guy we're going to have to be concerned with. We always identify the guys that we think can wreck the football game. I think he can because he's a deep threat.
"Talk about explosive play, I think explosive plays were one of the things that hurt us last week," Spagnuolo added. "We really hadn't had that issue, and we give up two explosive pass plays that come back and kind of bit us if you really think about it in the end. I think he's got that ability."
Here are other highlights from comments made by Giants coaches and players in sessions with media members:
WR Odell Beckham, Jr. was asked about Diggs breaking out this year:
"I don't know if it's just this year. I think since I met him at the rookie symposium last year, I just could tell from his persona and his personality, the way he carried himself, that he was going to be very good. The start that he's had is no surprise. On top of that, he runs a lot of double move routes. He runs a lot of deep crosses and deep routes. He has a lot of opportunities as far as getting the ball and being able to run routes that make it very hard for the DB to cover. It's hard to cover double moves. Especially with a guy that's explosive, fast, can catch and do everything that's asked of him. It makes it that much harder."
That praise is coming from a player who became the fastest to record 200 receptions and 3,000 yards (in his 30th career game last week) in NFL history.
Giants DE Olivier Vernon on turnover ratio (the Vikings are plus-eight; the Giants are minus-6)
"You never want to give the ball away. You always want to be good and on the positive side of the turnover spectrum. They have a good defense. They've been taking the ball away a lot these past few games. We have to step our game up and try and match them."
Giants S Landon Collins on if the Vikings will work the short passing game this week:
"We definitely expect it to change. Bradford has a great arm and has great accuracy, but we will see. When he has been throwing it deep, they have been doing some big gashes, but he does have a lot of check downs. They are running a lot of tight formations, so you are running two guys deep and you aren't always going to have those two guys open."
Giants Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan on Everson Griffen's success:
"I think he has a great get-off. He gets off, is very good at changing up his moves. He'll have speed to power. He has a spin move and is a relentless player. He puts great effort in both the run and the pass and he's a competitor. Even if, you see on film, there are times guys don't necessarily get the best of him and he might be blocked, but then you don't rest on it because he's going to come at you harder and he's definitely thrives in those third down situations and the two-minute situations."
Giants Head Coach Ben McAdoo on the Vikings defense
"It's sound, it's fast, it's very multiple; it challenges you in many ways. They have a nice blend of youth and veteran leadership in all three areas of the defense, the d-line, the linebackers, and the defensive backs. Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith are all playing at an elite level for them. They challenge you with their coverages, in their mixture of coverages and getting after the quarterback."
McAdoo on the Vikings offense:
"It's a gritty group. They've been challenged by injuries as of late. Sam Bradford's done a nice job coming in and getting acclimated to their system. Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph are excellent playmakers for them. They have a stable of backs, who've done a nice job filling in for Adrian Peterson."
