A Quiet Storyline to Monitor for Vikings-Jets
Last weekend, the Minnesota Vikings faced a hobbled Jordan Love with the Green Bay Packers, and the purple team hung on for a 31-29 victory.
A Quiet Storyline to Monitor for Vikings-Jets
Fast forward to Week 5, and Minnesota could face another hobbled quarterback in former Packer Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets’ QB1.
The Jets confusingly lost to the low-octane Denver Broncos on Sunday, a sloppy 10-9 affair marred by rotten weather. New York is 2-2 in 2024 and might need a win to keep pace in the AFC’s playoff race.
And per Rodgers personally, his knee isn’t 100%. “I’m feeling a little banged up. Took some shots, knee is a little swollen but just kinda wear and tear, Week 4,” Rodgers told The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday.
The Vikings are favored in a game for the first time since Week 1, having won three underdog matchups in a row over the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, and aforementioned Packers. Oddsmakers believe Minnesota will prevail in London by two or three points.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh also opined on Rodgers’ injury status this week: “From everything that I’ve gathered, it’s just a standard wear and tear of getting beat up a little bit yesterday.”
Rodgers should be good to go and in the lineup when Sunday rolls around, but the storyline hits deeper than that. Through four weeks, Minnesota’s defense ranks first in the NFL per DVOA and EPA/Play, and one of its keynote calling cards is the pass rush. Rodgers, who will turn 41 in two months, may not be as mobile as usual — and hasn’t looked overly mobile in the first place since recovering from a torn Achilles. The Vikings’ defensive line could feast on an immobile quarterback.
The Broncos bruised and battered him frequently last weekend, and after the game, Saleh said about all the pressure: “That would make you sick if he were a 20-year-old quarterback. You want your quarterback feeling comfy back there and he definitely wasn’t comfortable.”
This brand of Vikings isn’t known for taking it easy on opposing quarterbacks, especially not ones named Aaron Rodgers, leading the league in sacks through four games. And, not for nothing, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ calling card is blitzing passers to high heavens amid complicated sets.
Minnesota has never lost in London, so it will be defending two undefeated streaks: the 2024 regular season unbeaten standing and the London mark.
If something happens injury-wise to Rodgers, veteran Tyrod Taylor would take the helm at QB1.
Sunday could be the last time the Vikings ever face Rodgers, who has generally terrorized the purple team since 2008.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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