The Minnesota Vikings visit the New York Giants for Monday Night Football. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET. Listen to the live radio broadcast HERE (Vikings) and HERE (Giants), or watch the live stream HERE*.
Josh Freeman makes his first start for the Vikings in a nationally televised game against the winless Giants. After a dismal start to the season and subsequent release by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Freeman is looking for a fresh start under Vikings coach Leslie Frazier.
"Any time you step into a situation where you're the new guy, there's always kind of an awkward getting-to-know-you phase," Freeman told reporters, via ESPN. "But I think that goes back to the character of this organization just from top to bottom - a lot of quality people that are dedicated to winning first and foremost. So it's been a smooth adjustment."
Freeman had been lauded as an up-and-coming passer, but the 25-year-old never appeared to with current Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano. His poor performance this season led to him being benched in favor of rookie Mike Glennon before his eventual release. In three games, Freeman completed just 45.7 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Despite his inability to move the Tampa Bay offense in those games, Frazier is optimistic Freeman can flourish as a Viking.
"I like the things he's done in his career, along with what he's done since he arrived here with our football team, the time he put in, how well he's adapted to our system," Frazier told reporters. "He's done enough for us to say we want to give him this opportunity, which is something we had in mind when we acquired him. I think now is the time."
The Giants, meanwhile, are looking for their first win of the season. Quarterback Eli Manning has struggled and thrown a league-high 15 interceptions, according to ESPN. Aside from a big game against the Chicago Bears, the running game has also struggled to produce.
"It's not fun playing this game and losing and not feeling like you're helping your team," said Manning. "But it's not going to change the way I treat each day or treat each practice and treat the games. I'm going to compete. I'm going to work hard and do whatever I can do to try to put our team in a situation to win a game."
