Vikings Week Five Preview

The Vikings and Jets will travel to London this week to face off in an AFC East vs. NFC North matchup. Minnesota is coming off a road division win in Green Bay and is currently sitting at the top of the NFC with a perfect record of 4-0. The Jets are looking to bounce back after a devastating last-second loss to the Broncos in Week Three. Currently, with a record of 2-2, the Jets are in sole possession of second place in the AFC East, only one game behind the Bills. This matchup in particular is an interesting one because of Aaron Rodgers’ familiarity with the Vikings. He has tortured Minnesota fans for years during his time with the Packers, so the Vikings will definitely be out for revenge.

Another person looking for a bit of redemption on Sunday will be Sam Darnold as he faces the team that drafted him third overall in 2018. Darnold never lived up to the expectations during his time as a Jet, but now he is playing at an MVP level as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. The New York Jets have one of the best pass defenses in the league, so Darnold will certainly be put to the test in this matchup. Speaking of defenses, the Vikings defensive unit has been lights out all season. Expect to see a low-scoring, but entertaining game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday morning. 

With the Vikings being as hot as they are right now, I expect them to get the upper hand on Rodgers and the Jets. Especially with Ivan Pace Jr. rejoining the lineup after missing the last two games. He brings energy and a sense of leadership to a defensive unit that has already been so good without him. The Jets will still be without offensive tackle Morgan Moses as he continues to rehab his knee injury. Expect to see shutdown defenses from both sides, but I see the Vikings picking up the win 17-10 in a low-scoring affair. This would send Minnesota back to the states and into their bye week with an undefeated record, which is something not even the most loyal of Vikings fans expected to see from this team.