New York Jets vs Minnesota Vikings Match Player Stats (Oct 6, 2024)

Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions under relentless pressure at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 6, 2024, as Minnesota held on for a 23-17 victory to improve to 5-0. The Vikings capitalized on turnovers while the Jets fell to 2-3 despite Garrett Wilson’s career-high 13 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Justin Jefferson added 92 yards on six receptions for Minnesota, and Andrew Van Ginkel returned one of Rodgers’ picks 63 yards for a score.

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Scoring Summary & Team Stats

Both teams finished with nearly identical production totals.

Quarterback Pressure Defines the Outcome

Rodgers reached 60,000 career passing yards in the third quarter, becoming the ninth player in NFL history to hit that milestone. He also passed Dan Marino for seventh place on the combined regular season and playoff passing yards list. The achievement got overshadowed by Minnesota’s defensive game plan.

Brian Flores deployed one of the league’s most aggressive approaches, bringing pressure on 40.8% of plays (second-highest rate in the NFL). That constant harassment generated a 34.2% pressure rate and forced Rodgers into quick decisions before receivers could work open downfield. The 54 pass attempts came because New York managed just 36 rushing yards, making the offense predictable and allowing Minnesota’s pass rushers to attack without worrying about play-action concepts.

According to advanced metrics, Rodgers posted just a 75.6 passer rating when pressured and failed to generate a single big-time throw under duress. His three interceptions marked only the sixth time in his career he threw that many in one game, and the first time since 2012 he posted multiple picks in a single quarter. The combination of varied blitz packages and the inability to establish a running threat left Rodgers exposed to constant pressure with nowhere to go when his first read wasn’t open.

Darnold faced his former team for the first time since the Jets made him the third overall pick in 2018. His accuracy wavered throughout, but he protected the ball better when it mattered. The Jets defense generated consistent pressure in the second half, holding Minnesota to 98 yards after intermission and forcing Darnold into a 3-of-11, 51-yard fourth quarter with an 8.5 passer rating.

Ground Game Stalls for Both Teams

Both ground games stalled against strong defensive fronts. The Jets averaged 2.6 yards per carry for the second consecutive week against Minnesota’s front seven, which entered allowing just 3.7 yards per carry (fourth-best in the NFL). That inability to run forced New York into obvious passing situations where Flores could unleash his pressure packages.

Robert Saleh went for it on fourth-and-two from Minnesota’s 26 in the second quarter, but Allen got stopped for no gain. A field goal would have made it 17-3 and kept the deficit manageable.

Ham scored from two yards out for the 17-0 lead. Jones left with a hip injury after accumulating 53 yards from scrimmage and didn’t return, forcing Chandler into a larger role he couldn’t quite fill.

Wilson’s Historic Target Share Can’t Overcome Deficit

Jets Receivers

Wilson’s 23 targets represented 42.6% of all Jets pass attempts, a concentration on a single receiver that rarely succeeds in the NFL and exposed New York’s lack of complementary weapons. His career-high 13 receptions came mostly on short and intermediate routes as Rodgers rarely had time for deeper concepts to develop. His one-yard touchdown with 6:04 left brought New York within 20-17, giving the Jets a realistic chance despite their struggles.

Lazard’s 14-yard touchdown reception with 36 seconds left in the first half cut Minnesota’s lead to 17-7 after Xavier Gipson’s 30-yard punt return set up plus territory.

Vikings Receivers

Jefferson commanded double coverage throughout, limiting his catches despite 14 targets. The Jets defensive game plan centered on preventing Jefferson from taking over, forcing Darnold to find secondary options. Jefferson still managed 92 yards and drew three defensive penalties totaling 42 yards, including pass interference calls on D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner that moved the chains when Minnesota’s offense stalled.

Van Ginkel’s Pick-Six Shifts Momentum

Vikings Defense

Van Ginkel’s 63-yard interception return for a touchdown was his second pick-six in two games against New York teams this season after scoring against the Giants in Week 1. He dropped into coverage on a quick slant, read Rodgers’ eyes, jumped the route, and scored untouched down the sideline. The play was the longest pick-six by a Vikings linebacker since Eric Kendricks’ 77-yarder in Week 1 of 2016 at Tennessee.

Bynum grabbed Rodgers’ second interception of the opening quarter on an overthrown deep ball intended for Wilson. The back-to-back turnovers in three minutes flipped momentum completely, turning potential Jets scoring opportunities into a 10-0 deficit.

Gilmore sealed the win with an interception at Minnesota’s nine-yard line with 49 seconds remaining. The veteran corner recognized the back-shoulder throw to Williams on third-and-10 and stepped in front for his 32nd career pick, his first against Rodgers after years of AFC East battles.

Smith reached 20.5 career sacks with his takedown of Rodgers in the second quarter, joining an elite group with at least 30 interceptions and 20 sacks. Only Charles Woodson, Larry Wilson, Ronde Barber, LeRoy Butler, Brian Dawkins, and Rodney Harrison have accomplished that feat, and all but Harrison are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jets Defense Dominates Second Half

Sherwood led all defenders with 12 tackles filling in for injured C.J. Mosley. The Jets defense transformed after halftime, holding Minnesota to 98 yards in the final two quarters. Minnesota converted 57.1% of their third downs before intermission, then went 0-for-7 after the break as New York’s adjustments took hold.

Echols picked off Darnold at Minnesota’s 42 in the fourth quarter, setting up Wilson’s touchdown eight plays later. The interception came on a deep ball intended for Jordan Addison that Echols undercut perfectly. Oliver, Clemons, McDonald, and Leonard Taylor each recorded a sack as New York generated pressure while blitzing on just 22.3% of plays, instead winning with their front four and keeping coverage tight.

Reichard’s Clutch Kicking Keeps Vikings Ahead

Reichard remained perfect on the season with three field goals from 54, 53, and 41 yards, accounting for 11 of Minnesota’s 23 points. The rookie kicker showed composure in pressure situations, drilling kicks from beyond 50 yards twice in hostile territory for a team fighting to stay undefeated. His 54-yarder to open the scoring sailed through with room to spare despite the 61,139 fans at Tottenham creating a charged atmosphere.

The 41-yarder with 3:07 remaining proved most crucial. Minnesota led 20-17 at that point, and a miss would have given the Jets excellent field position down just three. Instead, Reichard split the uprights again, creating a six-point cushion that forced New York to score a touchdown rather than settle for a tying field goal on their final drive.

Morstead pinned Minnesota inside the 20 twice with precision punts. Gipson’s 30-yard punt return late in the first half set up Lazard’s touchdown that cut the deficit to 17-7 at halftime, keeping the Jets within striking distance.

Critical Game Sequence

Minnesota forced consecutive three-and-outs to open the game, with the Jets gaining just nine yards on their first two possessions. Reichard’s 54-yarder gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead after an 11-play, 52-yard opening drive.

The sequence that changed everything started when Quincy Williams recovered a fumbled pitch and returned it 15 yards to Minnesota’s 42-yard line before Darnold made a touchdown-saving tackle. The Jets had prime scoring position to potentially tie the game.

Three plays later, Van Ginkel jumped Rodgers’ slant route and returned the pick 63 yards for a 10-0 lead, turning New York’s opportunity into a two-score deficit. One play after that touchdown, Bynum intercepted Rodgers on a deep ball. According to official box scores from Pro Football Reference, this marked only the sixth time in Rodgers’ career he threw three interceptions in one game.

New York fought back after falling behind 17-0. A methodical 17-play, 83-yard drive consumed 6:51 of the third quarter and resulted in Zuerlein’s 32-yard field goal. The extended possession kept Minnesota’s offense on the sideline and built momentum for the Jets’ comeback attempt.

Echols’ fourth-quarter interception gave New York possession at Minnesota’s 42. Eight plays later, Wilson’s touchdown made it 20-17 with 6:04 remaining. Darnold responded by completing two crucial passes to Jefferson for 31 yards, setting up Reichard’s decisive 41-yarder.

The Jets got the ball back with 3:07 left and all three timeouts. Rodgers moved them to Minnesota’s 26 before Gilmore jumped the route to Williams with 49 seconds remaining. As reported by ESPN’s game recap, the interception preserved Minnesota’s perfect record heading into their bye week.

Injuries & Historical Context

Jones’ hip injury in the second quarter changed Minnesota’s offensive approach. He had accumulated 53 yards from scrimmage on eight touches before leaving, providing explosiveness that Chandler and Gaskin couldn’t replicate. Gardner briefly exited in the third quarter after a collision but returned. Michael Carter II left in the first quarter with a hamstring injury and didn’t come back. C.J. Mosley (toe) missed his third straight game while Morgan Moses (knee) sat for the second consecutive week.

Minnesota improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2016 and became the first franchise to go 4-0 in regular season international games, all in London. Both the Vikings’ coverage and Jets’ reporting emphasized diverging paths as Minnesota entered their bye week undefeated while New York faced questions about offensive line protection and complementary football.

The series now stands at 8-5 favoring the Jets all-time, though Minnesota has won three of the last four meetings dating back to 2014.

What the Stats Show

The box score from Week 5 showed both teams with nearly identical offensive production, yet Minnesota won by six because they protected the ball at critical moments. Both gained 254 and 253 yards respectively, both earned 17 first downs, yet the Vikings created three takeaways while committing only two turnovers.

Rodgers attempted 54 passes because New York couldn’t establish any ground game, exposing him to constant pressure from Flores’ aggressive defensive scheme. The pass-heavy approach meant extended possessions where Minnesota’s rushers could attack without worrying about play-action concepts that typically slow pass rushers and create running lanes.

The Jets defense performed well after intermission, allowing just 98 yards and holding Minnesota to 0-for-7 on third downs in the second half. Third-down efficiency became crucial, with New York at 29% and Minnesota at 31%. Neither offense sustained drives consistently, which kept the game within reach throughout. The difference came in first-half execution when the Vikings built their lead through defensive scores and short fields, and in clutch moments when Minnesota’s defense created turnovers while Rodgers couldn’t match that efficiency.

For comprehensive player statistics and performance analysis across the league, detailed tracking provides context for how individual matchups shape game outcomes. Wilson’s 13 receptions showcased his reliability as a safety valve, Jefferson’s 92 yards demonstrated his ability to produce despite heavy coverage, and Van Ginkel’s pick-six exemplified how one defensive play can shift momentum completely in games where both offenses struggle to find consistent rhythm against quality opposition.