Giants send message to Eagles’ A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, as Adoree’ Jackson shuts down Vikings’ Justin Jefferson

MINNEAPOLIS — It looked like Justin Jefferson was going to pick the Giants’ defense apart all Sunday afternoon.

And then … well, it just didn’t happen — at all.

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Jefferson, the NFL’s best wide receiver, caught three passes on the Vikings’ opening drive — for 5, 10, and 10 yards.

But the Giants wound up essentially shutting him out for the rest of the afternoon, as they beat the Vikings, 31-24, in an NFC Wild Card game, securing a divisional round date with the Eagles in Philadelphia on Saturday night.

Jefferson finished with seven catches (on nine targets) for 47 yards and zero touchdowns — including just one (on three targets) for 4 yards in the second half. He did next to nothing after that first drive.

The Giants’ secondary — led by the return of No. 1 cornerback Adoree’ Jackson — delivered on free safety Xavier McKinney’s bold words from last week, when he said it was indeed possible to shut down Jefferson. It sure was.

Jackson hadn’t played since Nov. 20, due to a sprained MCL. But he showed why the Giants gave him a lucrative contract entering the 2021 season.

Now, in Philadelphia, will the Giants be able to slow down the dangerous receiver duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith?

They tore up the Giants at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 11, but Jackson didn’t play in that game. Neither did McKinney, who was still rehabbing a hand injury suffered in a bye week ATV accident.

So should Brown and Smith be worried about the Giants’ secondary — and specifically Jackson — after what happened with Jefferson on Sunday?

“Those guys are great players,” said cornerback Nick McCloud. “I really don’t think they’re going to be too much concerned about it.

OK, but should they be?

“They should obviously, but I don’t anticipate them going in there with that mindset,” McCloud said.

Fair enough. And he’s probably right. Brown and Smith certainly ought to be confident about facing the Giants, considering what they did against them last month, albeit against a depleted secondary.

The Eagles beat the Giants 48-22 at MetLife Stadium, as Brown had 70 yards and a touchdown, while Smith added 64 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles torched the Giants defense for 437 yards that day, the second-most that coordinator Wink Martindale’s group has allowed all season.

Jefferson didn’t even sniff that sort of production Sunday, as the Giants double teamed him at times, in addition to having Jackson match up with him. Jackson put so much into the game that he badly cramped in the locker room after — and had to be helped by a trainer to an adjoining room, in order to receive treatment.

During the game, Jackson certainly showed no ill effects of the knee injury that sidelined him for almost two months.

“We did a hell of a job,” McKinney said. “We had to take him out of the game. Adoree’ did his thing. He tracked him everywhere. He’s a big piece to our defense, man. So just having his presence out there helps us a lot. Go take away the best receiver. That’s why he’s here. That’s why he makes big money.”

McKinney took the blame for Jefferson’s production on that first drive.

“There were some catches that I should’ve been there for,” McKinney said. “He’s going to make plays. I said that at the beginning of the week. He’s a great receiver. We just had to limit him — and we did. That’s what it took.

“We did it collectively as a group. Like I said, it’s not impossible. You’ve just got to key in and do your job — and you can get it done. We’ve got a good enough defense to do it, and we’ve got good enough players to do it. So I knew it could be done.”

As for Jackson, he doesn’t think he and the Giants’ secondary sent Brown, Smith, and the Eagles a message with what they did against Jefferson.

“I feel like they’re still going to do what they do,” Jackson said. “Offensively, they just run it up.”

His teammates, meanwhile, were more than willing to pump up Jackson’s reputation, coming out of this massive win in Minnesota — the Giants’ first playoff victory in 11 years.

“Adoree’ showed who he is,” said slot cornerback Darnay Holmes.

And that, Holmes said, is “the man who constantly seeks and desires heavyweight battles. He doesn’t back down from no opponent. I feel like he showcased that today — and will be showcasing it next week, as well.”

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The Eagles had a bye this week, as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Meanwhile, the Giants have to come back off the road and play on a short week, on Saturday night. Plus, the Eagles are currently second in Pro Football Focus’ offensive ratings. Then again, the Vikings were fifth.

This will be yet another challenge for the Giants’ defense. But with Jackson and McKinney both now back, this group is more confident than ever that it can limit a No. 1 receiver.

“It’s something that we’ve all seen in [Jackson] all year: He’s a legit corner,” said defensive lineman Leonard Williams. “We trust him to be on an island one-on-one. As a d-linemen, we love having guys like that, because it gives us more time to get to the quarterback, when the quarterback looks at his No. 1 receiver and he can’t throw it to him. I love playing with a guy like that.”

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Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com.

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