Jets-Vikings Game Recap | Green & White Fall Short in London ...
The Jets (2-3) nipped at the Vikings' (5-0) heels for most of the second half but couldn't overcome a 17-point first-half deficit and lost 23-17.
Playing a "home" game in London in front of 61,139 fans, the Vikings found their comfort zone early while grabbing a 17-0 advantage. But the Jets, outgained 155 to 99 in the first half, grabbed some hope heading into intermission and nearly pulled off a comeback that ended on the Minnesota 9-yard line.
Aaron Rodgers, who finished the game 29-of-54 for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns, was picked off three times, including on the Jets' final play of the game. On a ball intended for WR Mike Williams, CB Stephon Gilmore picked off the future Hall of Fame QB to end the Green & White's comeback attempt.
"You're always going to find silver linings after a loss, we are not ready to talk about them right now, but I do appreciate the way that our guys continued to battle," HC Robert Saleh said. "They fought throughout and gave ourselves a chance. We were right there with a chance to go score a touchdown at the end of game to win it and unfortunately that didn't happen."
The Jets left points on the board in the first half.
LB Quincy Williams nearly scored at the end of the first quarter as he recovered a botched pitch from QB Sam Darnold to RB Ty Chandler, but Williams was tackled on the Minnesota 42-yard line. Three plays later, Rodgers was intercepted by LB Andrew Van Ginkel, who raced down the home sideline for a 63-yard touchdown.
"Obviously that performance was below my standard," Rodgers said. … "The first pick I threw cost us 7, and the other one cost us 3. So, in a game you lose by 6, plays like that are exponentially highlighted. Three turnovers for me is definitely out of character and I am disappointed."
The Jets later went for it on fourth-and-2 on the Vikings 33-yard line and Allen was stopped short. The play before Vikings FB C.J. Ham gave the Vikings a 17-0 lead, CB Sauce Gardner nearly picked off a tipped pass in the end zone but couldn't corral the football.
Desperate for a spark late in the second quarter, Xavier Gipson's 30-yard punt return gave Rodgers the ball in plus-territory. The Jets capitalized with a 14-yard touchdown to Allen Lazard in the back of the end zone that cut the deficit to 17-7.
The Jets cut the deficit to a one-score game, 17-10, as the third quarter closed. After a roughing the kicker penalty enforced on the Green & White's 14-yard line gave the Jets a fresh set of downs, Rodgers orchestrated a 17-play, 83-yard drive that resulted in a 32-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal.
CB Brandin Echols, in for Gardner (head injury), gave the offense more life after picking off Darnold. The Jets capitalized on its food field position (MIN 42) with a Garrett Wilson 1-yard touchdown reception that put the Jets down by 20-17 with 6:04 remaining.
Darnold responded with a field goal drive that gave the Vikings a 23-17 lead they did not relinquish.
Jetcetera
Aaron Rodgers' 7-yard pass to Tyler Conklin made Rodgers the ninth player in NFL history to eclipse 60,000 passing yards. ... Jamien Sherwood started at MLB with veteran C.J. Mosley missing his third consecutive game (toe). … Wideout Garrett Wilson was a focal point at the onset. Targeted six times in the opening 15 minutes, he hauled in 3 catches for 15 yards. … Rookie WR Malachi Corley was among the gameday inactives. … DB Isiah Oliver and DL Micheal Clemons each recorded a first-half sack of Sam Darnold. …Vikings RB Aaron Jones (hip) left the game midway through the second quarter, with 8 touches for 53 yards, and did not return. … The Jets allowed 6 points and 98 total yards in the second half. In the fourth quarter, Darnold had completed 3-of-11 passes for 51 yards and had an 8.5 passer rating. … The Jets will return home next week with a Monday night home contest against the Buffalo Bills.
