Minnesota @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 3, 2016 ) N.Y. Giants 10, Minnesota 24

The New York Giants have won back-to-back games since installing Daniel Jones at quarterback and they are slowly returning some of the weapons for the rookie to use. Jones and the Giants aim for the team's first three-game winning streak in nearly three years when they host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Veteran wide receiver Golden Tate will make his debut for New York after serving a four-game suspension to begin the season and star running back Saquon Barkley was spotted doing agility drills at practice this week, although he remains unlikely to play just two weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain. "Some people's doctors had him eight weeks," Giants coach Pat Shurmur told reporters of Barkley's injury timeline. "Not my doctors." While New York's attack is on the rise after scoring 56 points during the two-game run, the Vikings have managed a total of 22 in two road losses and there was some uncertainty surrounding quarterback Kirk Cousins' rapport with his receivers following last week's 16-6 defeat at Chicago. Cousins' completion percentage is at 64.6 -- far below last year's career high of 70.1 -- and he's on pace for fewer than 3,000 passing yards after recording 4,298 in 2018.

TV: 1 p.m. FOX. LINE: Vikings -5.5. O/U: 43.5

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (2-2): Adam Thielen, who was tied for fourth in the NFL with 113 catches last year, was held to just two grabs for a measly six yards against the Bears and insinuated after the game that the passing game with Cousins was not up to snuff, something to which the quarterback agreed this week. "I really want to apologize to him because there's too many opportunities where we could have hit him on Sunday, and postgame when I talk to the media, I always say until I watch the film, it's hard for me to really give you a straight answer," Cousins said on his weekly radio show on KFAN. "Well, now it's Tuesday night. I've watched the film. And the reality is there were opportunities for him." Cousins also stressed making a better connection with Stefon Diggs, who is on pace for 52 catches after hauling in 102 a year ago.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (2-2): Jones has thrown for 561 yards and three touchdowns in his two starts while adding in 61 yards and a pair of scores on the ground. Wayne Gallman did his best Barkley imitation with 118 total yards and two TDs in last Sunday's 24-3 win over Washington, although he has been limited at practice this week with a neck issue. The defense -- led by Janoris Jenkins' two interceptions and Jabrill Peppers' interception return for a TD -- limited the Redskins to 176 total yards to help offset four turnovers by New York.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Vikings RB Dalvin Cook was held to 35 rushing yards last week after picking up 375 through the first three games.

2. Giants LB Ryan Connelly, who ranks fourth on the team in tackles (20) and is tied with Jenkins for the team lead in interceptions (two), is done for the year following an ACL tear last Sunday.

3. Minnesota has won six of the last eight meetings, the last coming in 2016.

PREDICTION: Vikings 24, Giants 23