Just like last week against the Broncos, the Jets had another chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter.
And just like last week, Gang Green’s comeback attempt fell short.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore’s interception on the nine-yard line helped the Vikings (5-0) defeat the Jets (2-3), 23-17, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Down 23-17 with 3:07 remaining, the Jets had one final chance to win the game. Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson finally found chemistry after weeks of miscues and overthrown passes. The two hooked up on a couple of plays, which moved the offense into Vikings territory.
But on a 3rd and 10 play on the Vikings’ 26, Rodgers threw his third interception of the game, this time to Gilmore, which ended the game.
Much like last week’s loss to the Broncos, the Jets’ offense struggled for most of the day and only recorded one touchdown in the first half. Gang Green scored 10 points in the second half, but their comeback from 17 points fell short.
Rodgers completed 29-of-54 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Gang Green’s rushing attack was nonexistent after rushing for just 36 yards. Wilson led the Jets with 13 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.
The Jets’ defense contained an explosive Vikings defense, which came into the Week 5 matchup averaging 25.2 points per game. Minnesota quarterback and ex-Jet Sam Darnold finished 14-for-31 with 179 yards and an interception, while the Vikings finished with 253 total yards.
After running back Aaron Jones left the game with a hip injury, the Vikings had trouble moving the ball on the ground after finishing with just 82 rushing yards.
The first half was an unmitigated disaster for the Jets.
Their offense suffered from drop passes, lack of a rushing attack, and turnovers, some of the same miscues that have plagued them for weeks. The Jets didn’t register a first down until 10:50 remaining in the second quarter.
Rodgers threw two interceptions and completed 10-of-20 passes for 95 yards in the first 30 minutes. However, the Jets were down, 17-7, after Rodgers’ late second-quarter touchdown to Allen Lazard.
In the third quarter, Rodgers became the ninth player in NFL history to pass for 60,000 yards in a career. Tom Brady’s 89,214 career yards are the most any player has thrown in league history. In addition to Brady, Rodgers joins a group of players that includes Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Dan Marino.
After the Jets punted, Rodgers was headed to the medical tent after suffering a hit by Vikings linebacker Jihad Ward on a third-down pass play. Following a roughing the punter penalty on the Vikings, Rodgers jogged back out to the huddle and continued playing. Rodgers helped the Jets offense down the field, which led to a Greg Zuerlein 32-yard field goal that trimmed the Vikings lead to 17-10 at the end of the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Will Reichard’s 53-yard field goal extended Minnesota’s lead to 20-10.
Still down by 10 points on a 3rd and 15 play, Jets cornerback Brandin Echols, who came in for Sauce Gardner (head injury), intercepted Darnold’s pass on the 42-yard-line, which allowed Gang Green to get within a score, and Rodgers responded. He found Wilson in the end zone for one-yard touchdown.
The Jets began the game with the ball. However, they went three and out and remain one of the six NFL teams entering Sunday to not score on any of their opening drives this season.
Minnesota got the ball and had no trouble driving down the field. Two catches by Justin Jefferson help put the Vikings in field goal range. But Will McDonald’s sack forced the Vikings to settle for a Reichard 54-yard field goal that gave them an early 3-0 lead.
Just when it looked like the Vikings were about to extend their lead further, Darnold fumbled a halfback toss to Ty Chandler, and Quincy Williams recovered the ball and returned it to the Vikings’ 42-yard-line.
But Gang Green couldn’t generate points from Minnesota’s miscue. Andrew Van Ginkel recorded his second pick-6 of the season after he intercepted Rodgers one-handed and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown.
Rodgers returned on the next drive and immediately threw another interception, this time to Vikings safety Camryn Bynum. But the Jets kept the Vikings from scoring after stopping them on fourth down on their 33-yard-line.
In the second quarter, the Vikings extended their lead to 17-0 after C.J. Ham’s two-yard touchdown run.
Gang Green’s offense continued to stall until Xavier Gipson’s 30-yard punt return put the team on the 30 to begin the drive. Finally, after their seventh position, Rodgers found wide receiver Lazard for a 14-yard touchdown that cut the lead to 17-7 before halftime.
Minnesota’s offense received the ball at halftime but quickly went three and out. Akayleb Evans’ fair catch interference penalty helped the Jets move the ball from the 25 to the 40-yard line. But that did not help the Jets’ offense, as they again went three and out, and Rodgers became visibly frustrated.
Late in the third quarter, Zuerlein’s 32-yard field goal put the Jets down, 17-10, and just one score of tying the game. Reichard 53-yard field goal gave the Vikings a 20-10 lead in the fourth quarter. But Rodgers’ one-yard touchdown pass to Wilson put the Jets within three points.
Reichard added a late field goal that gave Minnesota a 23-17 lead with 3:07 remaining. It was the final score as Gang Green failed to convert the comeback.
Next week, the Jets will be in primetime on Monday Night Football, hosting the Bills. The Vikings will have a bye.
