Minnesota Vikings 23, New York Jets 17: Vikings Win Close One To Get To 5-0

The good guys win again

Much like they did in Week 4, the Minnesota Vikings got off to a solid early lead against the New York Jets in London on Sunday. And, much like they did in Week 4, it wound up getting uncomfortable towards the end.

And, much like they did in Week 4, the Vikings managed to hold on.

After getting out to a 17-0 lead in the first half, the Vikings managed to hold on for a 23-17 victory over the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Minnesota got on the board first in this one, courtesy of a 54-yard field goal from Will Reichard to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter. On the Vikings’ second possession, they committed the first turnover of the game, as Sam Darnold attempted to pitch one to Ty Chandler and the ball bounced off his hands and into the arms of Jets linebacker Quincy Williams for a turnover that set the Jets up in Minnesota territory late in the first quarter.

A few plays later, the Vikings got the turnover back in a big way, as Aaron Rodgers dropped back to pass and never saw Andrew Van Ginkel, who picked off Rodgers’ pass and rambled 63 yards for a defensive touchdown for the Vikings. Reichard hit the extra point, and with time winding down in the first quarter it was 10-0 in favor of the Vikings.

The Jets turned it over on their next drive as well, as Rodgers overthrew a receiver and put it right into the hands of safety Camryn Bynum for his second interception in as many drives.

The Vikings wound up turning it over on downs after the second interception, failing to convert on a 4th-and-2 in Jets territory. The Jets then turned it over on downs themselves, as the Vikings’ defense stopped rookie running back Braelon Allen on a 4th-and-1 from the Minnesota 26 to get the ball back to the offense.

Minnesota pushed the ball into the end zone on their next drive, aided by several penalties on the Jets’ secondary in their efforts to cover Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The drive concluded with a 2-yard touchdown run from the venerable C.J. Ham to give the Vikings a 17-0 lead with just under four minutes left in the half.

After a Vikings punt following the two-minute warning, the Jets finally got on the scoreboard when Rodgers found Allen Lazard for a 14-yard score to make it 17-7 going into the locker room at halftime.

The Jets cut into the lead near the end of the third quarter, as Greg Zuerlein connected on a 32-yard field goal to make it 17-10. The drive would have ended much earlier but a penalty on the Vikings for roughing the kicker gave the Jets another chance and they took advantage of it.

Minnesota got the lead back to two possessions early in the fourth quarter, as Reichard connected on another long field goal. His 53-yarder made it 20-10 in favor of the Vikings with just over twelve minutes remaining in the contest.

The Jets then made the next big play of the contest, as Darnold’s pass for Jordan Addison was intercepted by Brandin Echols in Minnesota territory. New York then cashed in on the turnover, as Rodgers found Garrett Wilson for a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 20-17 with six minutes left in regulation.

Reichard extended the lead with a 41-yard field goal to make it 23-17 with just over three minutes remaining. The Jets pushed down to the Minnesota 26, but then Stefon Gilmore slammed the door by getting Rodgers’ third interception of the day to seal it.

The Vikings move to 5-0 on the season and will now head to the bye week.

The Minnesota Vikings remain undefeated five weeks into the 2024 NFL season, as they defeat the New York Jets by a score of 23-17. Thank you to everyone that got their coverage of this week’s game right here at The Daily Norseman!