The long wait is almost over and the NFL London games return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday October 6. And we’re getting a good one right out of the gate as the 2-2 New York Jets take on the undefeated 4-0 Minnesota Vikings.
With stars all over the field on both sides of the ball, we could see this one go down to the wire. That would not be a surprise given that seven of the last eight regular season games played in the UK have been decided by one score (eight points or fewer).
Here is where this game could be won or lost…
Rodgers vs. Flores
When I sat down with Aaron Rodgers - who is now in his 20th NFL season – in the summer, he didn’t go so far as to say that he had seen everything defenses can throw at him. But he did stress that he had seen a lot and knew how to counter a lot of it. That’s certainly been the case for the four-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Famer. But what Brian Flores is dialling up at the moment for a Minnesota defense leading the NFL with 17 sacks and 77 quarterback pressures is something else. Disguises, players swapping positions, coverages changing from man to zone within the play – it’s a puzzle that must be solved within three seconds by opposing quarterbacks. If the Jets are to win this one, it will be due to Rodgers’ brain as much as his golden right arm.
Minnesota’s passing attack
The Vikings have lit up the skies during the first month of the NFL season behind the rejuvenated arm of Sam Darnold and a deep wide receiver corps. Justin Jefferson leads the way as the best in the game today and ‘Jets’ has scored at least one touchdown in all four games this season. He is well supported. Jordan Addison – who caught 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2023 – returned from an ankle injury to score twice last week in Green Bay. Stepping up in Addison’s absence was Jalen Nailor, who found the end zone in Weeks 1,2 and 3. Charged with stopping the Vikings will be Sauce Gardner – the best cornerback in the game – and an elite secondary well marshalled by defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh. Add in Quinnen Williams on the D-line and his brother, Quincy, at linebacker and the Jets have defensive all stars at all three levels.
Which ground game flourishes?
The Vikings have been very efficient on the ground this season with newly-arrived Pro Bowler Aaron Jones leading the way with 64 carries for 321 yards (5.0 average) and one touchdown. He has been well supported by Ty Chandler, who has rushed for 117 yards at 4.2 yards per carry. Both operate behind one of the league's best offensive lines. Breece Hall has yet to hit the expected heights for the Jets, rushing for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 56 carries. That has seen a job share begin to formulate with rookie Braelon Allen – the league’s youngest player at just 20 – carrying the ball 27 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. Balance will be key because neither team can afford to be one-dimensional against excellent opposing defenses.
Bold prediction
Kevin O’Connell will dial up some kind of trick play to stick it to the Jets. It could be a wide receiver or running back touchdown pass or big throw. Or even a throwback to Sam Darnold. Something is coming. When he was a player – a backup quarterback – Minnesota’s head coach was cut by New York. And then-general manager Mike Tannenbaum did it in front of the Hard Knocks cameras and before O’Connell had even taken his rucksack off and sat down in the GM’s office. You don’t think O'Connell remembers that kind of treatment in the Big Apple?
Game prediction
The Vikings are rolling right now and look like a complete team, getting elite play from quarterback, running back, wide receiver and across their defense. New York’s D will help keep this one close, but the Vikings will remain the NFC’s only undefeated squad and keep their early-season momentum rolling.
New York Jets 17-23 Minnesota Vikings