The Minnesota Vikings held off a late comeback attempt by the New York Jets to secure a 23-17 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a chance to orchestrate a game-winning drive in the final minute, but his pass to wide receiver Mike Williams was intercepted by Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore, sealing the win for Minnesota.
Rodgers, who struggled throughout much of the first half, faced relentless pressure from the Vikings’ defense, throwing three interceptions and getting sacked three times. He also took a series of hard hits that seemed to affect his mobility, including a knee injury scare in the second quarter. Despite the setbacks, Rodgers kept the Jets in the game and had the ball at the Vikings’ 26-yard line with under a minute to play before the ill-fated pass to Williams.
The Vikings got off to a fast start in London, capitalizing on Jets’ mistakes to build an early lead. They opened the scoring with a 35-yard field goal and quickly extended their advantage to 10-0 when linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel picked off Rodgers and returned the interception 40 yards for a touchdown. A series of Jets penalties on the following drive set up another Minnesota touchdown, putting the Vikings up 17-3 early in the second quarter.
Rodgers and the Jets finally found some rhythm before halftime. The veteran quarterback connected with wide receiver Garrett Wilson on a 12-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 17-10 at the break. That score seemed to breathe life into the Jets’ offense, which had struggled to find a foothold against a disciplined Vikings defensive front in the early stages of the game.
In the second half, the Jets’ defense tightened up, limiting Minnesota to just a field goal until the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Rodgers then orchestrated a promising drive that culminated in another Garrett Wilson touchdown, a 7-yard grab in the corner of the end zone, narrowing the Vikings’ lead to 20-17 with just over six minutes remaining.
With the Jets gaining momentum, Minnesota responded with a clutch drive of their own. Quarterback Sam Darnold, who had an efficient day under center, found wide receiver Justin Jefferson for a 32-yard catch-and-run that set up a key field goal to push the lead back to six points at 23-17. Darnold finished the game with 230 passing yards and a touchdown, making timely throws when it mattered most.
The Jets had one final opportunity to stage a comeback, driving down to the Vikings’ 26-yard line in the closing seconds. However, Rodgers, under heavy pressure, missed on a deep shot to Garrett Wilson up the sideline, a throw that could have given New York the lead. Two plays later, Rodgers’ attempt to hit Williams over the middle was picked off by Gilmore, clinching the win for Minnesota.
Rodgers ended the day with 238 passing yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions—far from his typical performance. The Vikings’ pass rush played a significant role, sacking him three times and forcing several hurried throws. Rodgers acknowledged the impact of the pressure post-game, saying, “It’s tough to win games when you make that many mistakes. I’ve got to be better.”
The victory improves the Vikings to 3-2 on the season, while the Jets drop to 2-3. Minnesota’s defense, which has been inconsistent this season, stepped up in critical moments, making life difficult for Rodgers throughout the contest. Head coach Kevin O’Connell praised his defense after the game, saying, “We knew we had to contain him, and our guys did a great job of staying disciplined and making big plays when we needed them.”
The Vikings will head back to the U.S. feeling optimistic about their performance, while the Jets will need to regroup and address their offensive struggles before facing a tough divisional matchup next week.