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.
First appeared on www.newyorkjets.com