The Vikings will open the regular season for the first time in Kevin O’Connell’s time on the road, but given what awaits them at the start of their home schedule, their trip to New Jersey carries extra significance. They’ll face the Giants for the first time since losing to New York in the 2022 NFC wild-card round. Daniel Jones earned a big contract for his performance in the win; the quarterback has struggled since then, and Brian Flores’ defense isn’t the Ed Donatell-led group that gave Jones plenty of room to maneuver that game. The Giants also have a new defense, with Shane Bowen coming in from Tennessee as coordinator, and an already formidable pass rush was bolstered by the addition of Brian Burns this offseason.

Here’s what to expect from Sunday’s season opener:

Darnold makes his debut: The Vikings had Sam Darnold slated to be their starter after signing him in March, but when JJ McCarthy tore his right meniscus in August, Darnold’s status as the No. 1 quarterback became even clearer going into 2024. He returns to MetLife Stadium, where he began his career with the Jets, for a season that could revitalize his career if things go well. He’ll need to show he’s cut down on the turnovers that have hurt him throughout his career, and he could play under pressure if the Giants’ pass rush is as formidable in this game as it was in the playoffs two years ago.

Offensive line for a test: When Garrett Bradbury arrived this offseason with a new diet, the center surely didn’t realize that his first matchup would be against Dexter Lawrence, the 340-pound nose tackle who had four quarterback hits and a tackle for loss in a playoff game two years ago. The Giants still have Kayvon Thibodeaux and have added edge rusher Brian Burns, who went to two Pro Bowls and recorded 46 sacks in his first five seasons with the Panthers. Christian Darrisaw faced Burns in college and again in his first NFL start in Carolina three years ago; they’ll face off again as the Vikings attempt to protect Darnold. When the Titans came to Minnesota for joint workouts two years ago, their defensive front had two disruptive days against the Vikings’ offensive line; Bowen will likely bring a variety of pressure packages with him from Tennessee, making the Vikings’ challenge even greater against the Giants’ front line.

New run game makes its debut: Teammates rave about the speed and grit of running back Aaron Jones, and the Vikings appear to be more committed to the run in 2024 than they were in coach Kevin O’Connell’s first two seasons. They’ll play a Giants team that has changed defensive coordinators after ranking 29th against the run last season. The Vikings know they’ll have to play differently with Darnold at quarterback than they did with Kirk Cousins; they appear committed to heavier personnel and downhill runs this season, so they could use that approach to wear down the Giants’ front line and give Darnold a useful counterattack.

This time Jones defends himself against Flores: In the playoff game two years ago, Jones completed 24 of his 35 passes for 301 yards and two scores in a performance that paved the way for his four-year, $160 million contract after the season. He tore his ACL last October after a 1-5 start and will need to play well enough in 2024 to earn the Giants a 2025 deal. In the wild-card game, the Giants split Donatell’s defense with a slew of college passing concepts while playing to Jones’ mobility outside the pocket. Flores will have a more diverse schedule ahead of him, with pressure that could pose problems for a quarterback who has fumbled 46 times in his career. Former Gophers center John Michael Schmitz, the Giants’ second-round pick in 2023, will be responsible for helping Jones get things sorted.

Nabers is Gilmore’s first opponent: There was a lot of talk leading up to the draft that the Giants would take a quarterback with the sixth overall pick, but that proved unfounded when New York passed on Michael Penix Jr., JJ McCarthy and Bo Nix to take LSU receiver Malik Nabers, who set the all-time receiving yards record for a program that produced Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Odell Beckham Jr. among others. Nabers wins with his ability to change speeds and control his body in the air; the Vikings could look to Stephon Gilmore to get physical with him and throw off his timing with Jones.

No players from either team have been listed as injured for the match.