(London) Check out the highlights of Sunday’s NFL games.
Vikings win fifth straight game
Andrew Van Ginkel returned the first of three interceptions to Aaron Rodgers 63 yards for a touchdown and the Minnesota Vikings remained undefeated with a 23-17 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Jets quickly found themselves facing a 17-0 deficit but had an opportunity to orchestrate an offensive surge that could have won them the game during the final minutes of the fourth quarter. However, Stephon Gilmore intercepted a pass from Rodgers to Mike Williams and the Vikings were 5-0 for the first time since 2016.
The Vikings entered the 2009 season, Brett Favre’s first with the team, with a 6-0 record.
Van Ginkel intercepted Rodgers’ quick pass before breaking away from a tackle and sprinting down the sideline to the Jets’ offensive line for a touchdown that allowed the Vikings to build a 10-0 cushion.
The Vikings linebacker also returned an interception into the end zone against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants in the season opener.
Rodgers completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson to cut the Vikings’ lead to 20-17 with just over six minutes left in regulation. However, Will Reichard, the Vikings’ rookie kicker, made his third field goal of the game, this one from a distance of 41 yards, to increase the Vikings’ lead.
Ultimately, a slow start to the match caused the loss of the Jets (2-3).
Fullback CJ Ham crossed the goal line from the two-yard line to make it 17-0. The Jets got back into the game when Rodgers spotted Allen Lazard for a 14-yard touchdown pass late in the first half.
Rodgers clutched his left leg after being tackled hard in the third quarter. But after a roughing penalty against the Jets’ kicker, Rodgers immediately returned to the field and led his team to the Vikings’ 14-yard line.
The Jets had to settle for a 32-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein, allowing the Jets to cut the Vikings’ lead to 17-10.
Rodgers was the victim of two interceptions in the first quarter, and three in the game. It was the first time since the start of his career that Rodgers saw two of his passes intercepted in the first quarter.
The Jets offense struggled so much last week in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos that Rodgers and head coach Robert Saleh spent most of the week ensuring their professional relationship was strong.
Reichard kicked a 53-yard field goal to make it 20-10 early in the fourth quarter and also kicked a 54-yard field goal. He has yet to miss a field goal attempt this season.
Sam Darnold, whom the Jets selected third overall in the 2018 draft, completed 14 passes in 31 attempts for 179 yards, an interception and a fumble. Justin Jefferson caught six passes for 92 yards.
Rodgers finished the game with 29 completions in 54 attempts for 244 yards and two touchdowns.
PHOTO STEVE LUCIANO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Aaron Rodgers
In defeat, Rodgers reached another milestone in his glorious career by becoming only the ninth player in National Football League history to reach 60,000 passing yards in NFL games. regular season.
The 40-year-old veteran quarterback accomplished this feat when he connected with Tyler Conklin on a seven-yard pass in the third quarter. Rodgers also passed Dan Marino for seventh in passing yards, including playoff games.
Rodgers accumulated 60,148 passing yards in the regular season.
Ken Maguire, Associated Press