MINNEAPOLIS — The newly formed Minnesota Vikings will make their highly anticipated debut against the New York Giants on Sunday.

On offense, all eyes will be on the new starting quarterback Sam DarnoldSurrounded by an arsenal of talented players, will the former first-round pick be able to revive his career in Minnesota?

Meanwhile, there are a number of new names on defense at all levels. How will the defensive coordinator Brian Flores use all his new weapons?

Here are some of the key matchups to watch as the Vikings’ season begins.

Dallas Turner vs Andrew Thomas

While Flores is likely to join the Vikings First round pass rusher He will likely face Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas on some plays. Turner has made some spectacular plays in the preseason, but going up against one of the NFL’s best blindside protectors will be a challenge. If Turner can get a lot out of Thomas, that would be an encouraging sign for the Vikings defense.

Malik Nabers against the Vikings secondary

The Vikings’ rebuilt secondary will see one of the most exciting offensive rookies in week one. Nabers, selected No. 6 overall, rushed for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final season at LSU. His speed and physicality will be a challenge for any opponent he faces – newcomers from the free agent league Shaq Griffin And Stephen Gilmore will likely be the outside corners for the Vikings, with Byron Murphy Jr. holding down the slot. Even outside of Nabers, the Giants have plenty of speed in the receiver room, if not a lot of polish. Minnesota’s older secondary will have its hands full, and Nabers is the biggest threat.

Offensive line inside against Dexter Lawrence

The Giants’ game-winning defensive tackle is a nightmare for the Vikings’ weak offensive line inside. Center Garrett Bradbury and guards Blake Brandel and Ed Ingram will need all the help they can get to stop Lawrence — not to mention the Giants’ other rushers like Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Lawrence was second-team All-Pro last year with 4.5 sacks, 25 pressures and seven tackles for loss. Brandel is a new starter on the line, and neither Bradbury nor Ingram have a permanent spot in the starting lineup. If the interior defense struggles against Lawrence and the Giants, could the Vikings’ coaching staff consider restructuring the line?

Darnold against the Giants pass rush

The Giants’ aforementioned impressive pass rush could give Darnold a long day in his first game as a Viking. He has suffered under pressure in the past and New York will give him plenty of pressure. If the Vikings’ offensive line can keep up, they have no shortage of top-notch pass receivers – Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addisonof course, and Aaron Joneswho should help the offense as both a pass receiver and pass protector. But if the line breaks down? Then it’s up to Darnold to create with his legs, and head coach Kevin O’Connell will have to find creative ways to avoid pressure. This will be a good litmus test to see if Darnold has developed at all as a passer since he last played an extended period of time.

Will Reichard against the kicker curse

Could the rookie kicker from Alabama be the chosen one for the Vikings? History shows that being a Vikings kicker is one of the most stressful jobs in the world, but Reichard was perfect in the preseason. He even made a game-winning kick against the Las Vegas Raiders and a 57-yard kick against the Philadelphia Eagles. The last kicker the Vikings drafted was Daniel Carlson, who was released after a disastrous performance against the Green Bay Packers and later became an All-Pro with the Raiders. Here’s hoping Reichard has a more lasting legacy with the Vikings.