Andrew Van Ginkel returned an interception for a touchdown, C.J. Ham added another score on the ground, and the Minnesota Vikings held on for a 23-17 win over the New York Jets on Sunday in London.
Sam Darnold completed 14 of 31 passes for 179 yards and an interception for Minnesota (5-0). Justin Jefferson had six catches for 92 yards to lead the team.
Aaron Rodgers completed 29 of 54 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for New York (2-3). Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard each had a touchdown catch.
Minnesota jumped to a 17-0 lead before the Jets pulled within one score late in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings opened the scoring on a 54-yard field goal by Will Reichard midway through the first quarter.
Minnesota turned to its defense to pull ahead 10-0 with 2:18 to go in the first quarter. Van Ginkel dropped back into coverage, picked off Rodgers’ pass across the middle of the field and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown.
The Vikings increased their lead to 17-0 with 3:58 remaining in the first half. Ham lined up in the fullback position, took a handoff and barreled forward for a 2-yard score.
The Jets got on the scoreboard with 36 seconds left before halftime. Rodgers stepped forward in the pocket and fired a high pass toward Lazard, who leaped to make the catch near the back of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown.
New York pulled within 17-10 in the final minute of the third quarter when Greg Zuerlein drilled a 32-yard field goal to finish a 17-play, 83-yard drive that took 6:51 off the clock.
Reichard connected again, this time from 53 yards, to make give Minnesota a 20-10 advantage with 12:07 to go.
The Jets cut the deficit to 20-17 with 6:04 left. Rodgers bought himself time in the pocket and found Wilson for a 1-yard touchdown.
The Vikings made it 23-17 on Reichard’s 41-yard field goal with 3:07 left.
With 49 seconds remaining and the ball at the Minnesota 26, Rodgers’ third-and-10 pass was intercepted by Stephon Gilmore to seal the win for the Vikings.
Vikings running back Aaron Jones injured his right hip in the first half and did not return. He finished the game with seven carries for 29 yards and one catch for 24 yards.
Despite the loss, Rodgers achieved a milestone on Sunday, becoming just the ninth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 60,000 career yards.
–Field Level Media
