For what feels like the 350th straight time, the New York Jets started a National Football League game as flat as possible.
Though notable moments occurred between the start and finish of the contest—particularly an Aaron Rodgers comeback bid—the Jets fell to the Minnesota Vikings by a final score of 23-17.
Week 5 Final
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Rodgers, 40, threw two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough in the end. Trailing 17-0, Rodgers first hooked up with Allen Lazard on a 14-yard touchdown late in the first half.
.@AaronRodgers12 to @AllenLazard TOUCHDOWN 🙌#NYJvsMIN on NFLN pic.twitter.com/xQZhtUnSG3
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 6, 2024
Down 20-10 in the fourth quarter, Rodgers brought the Jets to within three by hooking up with Garrett Wilson.
Aaron Rodgers and the New York #Jets offense go back to the empty-spread look, and it pays off with this Garrett Wilson TD. pic.twitter.com/ROw5dOpnZJ
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) October 6, 2024
Wilson finished with a monstrous stat line in what was his best game of the season—101 yards and a touchdown on 13 receptions.
Unfortunately, Nathaniel Hackett’s rushing attack failed to get going yet again. Breece Hall finished with just 23 yards on nine carries, whereas rookie Braelon Allen went for just 13 yards on five tries.
In the second quarter, the Jets hit their low point when Rodgers appeared to hurt his left knee. The Vikings pressured Rodgers, who fell back into a mass of humanity.
Destined for the blue injury tent, Rodgers quickly hopped back onto the field after a 15-yard penalty on Minnesota breathed extra life into the Jets who were punting away the ball. A returning Rodgers ultimately resulted in the Lazard touchdown.
In the end, however, the Vikings proved to be too much. Moving to 5-0—the first to reach that record in the NFL this year—Minnesota pounced on a Jets team that appeared to be out-schemed.
Former Jet Sam Darnold engineered an impressive opening drive to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead after a Will Reichard 54-yard field goal. Three drives later, an eight-play, 73-yard drive was capped by a 2-yard C.J. Ham touchdown run.
CJ Ham for the @Vikings TD
Minnesota leads 17-0
📺: #NYJvsMIN on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RbOn6cui9S— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
Darnold finished this one with 179 yards and no touchdowns to one interception on 14 of 31 passing. Although Darnold wasn’t overly impressive, he didn’t have to be, as the Vikings’ coaching machine took care of the rest.
Superstar Justin Jefferson was also somewhat contained, going for 92 yards and six receptions. On the ground, the Vikings looked impressive early, but they were stifled in the second half, as Jeff Ulbrich’s halftime adjustments paid dividends.
Both Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II missed chunks of the game via injury. Carter II left early to not return, whereas Sauce left in the first half with a head injury but ultimately returned late in the game.
Despite all of the struggles, Rodgers and the Jets still had a chance to win the game miraculously. Down six points, Rodgers took over after the Jets’ defense held the Vikings to three points.
Finding Lazard, Wilson and Tyler Conklin moved the Jets into Vikings’ territory, but it ended on a third-down play intended for Mike Williams. The ball, thrown inside, was intercepted by Stephon Gilmore.
STEPHON GILMORE SEALS THE WIN WITH A PICK.#NYJvsMIN pic.twitter.com/3Li9D2uZw1
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
Rodgers threw three interceptions in the game, one of which was returned to the house by Andrew Van Ginkel.
Mr. Pick 6@AndrewVanGinkel
📺: @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/u9mFg6d4EE
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 6, 2024
The 2-3 New York Jets will look to rebound in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium (Monday Night Football).
