Vikings’ new pieces fit together just right in 28-6 season-opening victory over Giants

At a base level, though, the Vikings won in the way they had intended to all offseason.

“This goes back a long way, when you are preparing for your first opportunity and you go out to a football game and really see a lot of what these players have put in, really long before training camp started, but over the last month and a half or so just building up to this moment. I’m really proud of our team,” O’Connell said.

Darnold completed 13 of his 14 first-half passes, including all seven of his throws on a 99-yard touchdown drive that ranked as the Vikings’ longest since 2008 and put them up 14-3 in the second quarter. His 44-yard completion to Justin Jefferson on the drive came with two defenders covering the receiver; “That’s going to happen a majority of the time this season,” Jefferson said. “He’s got to understand, even when I’m doubled, I’m still open and I’m going to make that play.”

When the Vikings faced a fourth-and-2 at the end of the drive, O’Connell showed little hesitation about keeping the offense on the field; Darnold threw a 3-yard dart to Jefferson on a quick slant against Deonte Banks.

“I think just down there in the red zone, especially in the fringe area where we scored, it’s always important for me to just continue to make quick, decisive decisions in the red zone,” Darnold said. “I feel like I did that for the most part but again, there’s a lot of room for me to get better.”

Darnold, who completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards with two TDs and an interception, got his first victory at MetLife Stadium since his final start with the Jets in 2020. He wasn’t the only one who could leave feeling like he had proven something.