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The selection of Aaron Rodgers ends the Jets' comeback hopes with a loss to the Vikings

The selection of Aaron Rodgers ends the Jets' comeback hopes with a loss to the Vikings

LONDON — The Jets got Aaron Rodgers for moments like Sunday.

Trailing by six points with three minutes left, the Jets had the Vikings right where they wanted them. Rodgers had the ball and two timeouts, but Rodgers didn't deliver.

Instead, Rodgers threw an interception to Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore with 44 seconds left in the game, ending hopes of a comeback at Tottenham Stadium. Instead, the Jets lost 23-17 to Minnesota and fell to 2-3 on the season.

The Jets dug themselves a huge 17-0 hole early, due in part to two interceptions by Rodgers in the first quarter, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

Despite the sloppy start, the Jets fought back and had a chance to win in the final minutes.

Rodgers and the Jets got the ball at their own 30 yards with 3:07 left. Rodgers hit Garrett Wilson for 16 yards and then Allen Lazard for two quick completions.

A slant to Wilson and a 7-yard run by Breece Hall brought the ball to the 26th. After two incompletions, Rodgers attempted to throw to Mike Williams down the sideline, but Williams didn't appear to expect the pass and Gilmore picked it up instead.

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) screams in pain as he is tackled by the Vikings in the third quarter in London, Oct. 6, 2024. AP

It was a disappointing end for the Jets, who controlled the game for most of the second half.

With just over ten minutes to play, the Vikings had a 10-point lead and the ball, but they couldn't move the ball and former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold turned back into the quarterback Jets fans have come to love remember well. Darnold threw a high throw to Jordan Addison and Jets backup cornerback Brandin Echols intercepted to give the Jets the ball at the Minnesota 42 with 9:47 to play.

Rodgers, moving slowly after suffering a knee injury in the third quarter, then marched the Jets into the end zone. He completed a third-and-10 throw to Williams for 18 yards to put the Jets inside the 10 yards.

The Vikings then received a costly penalty when Gilmore was called for pass interference against Wilson on a third-and-goal incompletion on the 2nd, giving the Jets another set of downs. On first down, Rodgers hit a wide-open Wilson for a 1-yard touchdown. The Jets were now down just 20-17 with 6:04 left in the game.

The Vikings got the ball back at their 30 and were able to advance to the Jets' 23 before stumbling. Will Reichard hit a 41-yard field goal, his third of the day, to make the Vikings' score 23-17 with 3:07 to play.

The Jets got off to a terrible start and continued the poor play that plagued them in last week's loss to the Broncos.

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws a pass against the Jets on October 6, 2024 in London. Simon Dael/Tottenham Hotspur FC/Shutterstock

Rodgers threw two interceptions in the first quarter, something he had never done before in his career. One of them was a pick-six that gave the Vikings the early lead. The offense struggled to get anything going and it looked like the Vikings might beat them, but the Jets steadied themselves at the end of the first half. On defense, penalties were the biggest problem for the Jets. Their secondary was penalized five times as they struggled to contain Vikings star Justin Jefferson. But after some early success, the Vikings and Darnold's offense faltered.

Jets defensive end Will McDonald sacked Darnold on third down, ending the Vikings' first drive. It was McDonald's sixth sack of the season. The Vikings had to settle for a field goal and a 3-0 lead.

The Jets defense had an advantage on the Vikings' second possession when Darnold's pitch to running back Ty Chandler was not caught. Jets linebacker Quincy Williams picked up the ball but was tripped by Darnold, preventing a likely touchdown.

Robert Saleh reacts during the Jets' loss to the Vikings on October 6, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

However, the Jets were unable to capitalize on the turnover. Instead, Rodgers gave the Vikings points. The Vikings rushed on third down and Rodgers quickly tried to throw to Wilson. He didn't see outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel drop and throw him into Van Ginkel's arms. Van Ginkel then ran 63 yards for the touchdown and a 10-0 lead for Minnesota.

On their next series, Rodgers sailed a third down pass intended for Allen Lazard, and Vikings safety Camryn Bynum made it.

The Jets finished the first quarter with two turnovers and zero first downs.

The Vikings had some early success running the ball, but lost star back Aaron Jones to a hip injury.

The Jets were finally able to move the ball in the second quarter, but Braelon Allen was blocked on fourth-and-2 for no gain at the Minnesota 26.

A view of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the Jets-Vikings game in London on October 6, 2024. Action images via Reuters

The Vikings then moved up the field with some help from the Jets defensive backs and the officials. Three penalties were called against the Jets secondary in one pass. Sauce Gardner was called for pass interference and holding and DJ Reed was called for pass interference. This helped the Vikings put together an eight-play, 74-yard drive that ended with Vikings fullback CJ Ham scoring from the 2-yard line with 3:58 left in the first half took a 17-0 lead.

Xavier Gipson provided the Jets' spark just before halftime with a 35-yard punt return that gave the Jets the ball at the Minnesota 31. Rodgers cashed him in with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Lazard and the Jets went into halftime down by 10 points despite playing terribly.

The Jets had a scary moment in the third quarter when Rodgers was hit by Jihad Ward on third down, twisting his left knee as he went to the ground and hit some other players on the ground. Rodgers slowly got up and limped away. Rodgers was already dealing with knee soreness after being beaten by the Broncos last week. He was on his way to the blue medical tent when a hard kicker penalty against the Vikings gave the Jets a new string of losses.

Rodgers jogged back onto the field instead of heading to the tent, and the Jets went on a nice 17-play drive. They stalled in the red zone and Greg Zuerlein cut Minnesota's lead to 17-10 with a 32-yard field goal in the final minute of the third quarter.

The Vikings extended the lead to 20-10 on a 53-yard field goal by Reichard with 12:07 left in the fourth quarter.

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