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sports Monday 7 october 2024
Vikings hold off Rodgers and the Jets for

23-17 win in London to improve to 5-0

By KEN MAGUIRE the field and drove the Jets much of this past week say-
AP Sports Writer to the Minnesota 14. They ing that their relationship is
LONDON (AP) — Aaron Rod- settled for Greg Zuerlein's solid.
gers had a message for An- 32-yard field goal to make Reichard kicked a 53-yard
drew Van Ginkel after the it 17-10. field goal to give Minneso-
Vikings linebacker returned "They were trying to get me ta a 20-10 lead early in the
an interception 63 yards for in the (medical) tent ... I said fourth quarter. He also had
a touchdown. 'Screw it, I'm going back out a 54-yarder and has yet to
"He told me, too, 'Christmas there,'" he said, describing miss this season.
came early' for me," the the injury as a low ankle Sam Darnold, who was draft-
humble Van Ginkel said. "I sprain. ed by the Jets No. 3 overall New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8), right, is sacked
just told him 'thank you.'" Rodgers threw two first-quar- in 2018, finished 14 of 31 for by Minnesota Vikings' Harrison Phillips during the second half of
Minnesota took two more ter interceptions — a first for 179 yards with an intercep- an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Tottenham
gifts — interceptions — off the four-time NFL MVP. tion and one fumble. Justin Hotspur stadium in London. Associated Press
Rodgers and stayed unde- "In a game where you lose Jefferson had six receptions
feated by holding on for a by six, plays like that are ex- for 92 yards for the Vikings. year with the team. After the London game in 2007, can
23-17 win over the New York ponentially highlighted," he "We definitely left yards, 5-0 start in 2016, the Vikings match that perfect record
Jets at Tottenham Hotspur said. points out there," Jefferson finished 8-8 and missed the next month when they face
Stadium on Sunday. "Three turnovers for me is said. "We definitely need to playoffs. the Carolina Panthers in Mu-
Despite trailing 17-0 early, definitely out of character, fix some things." The Vikings are also the first nich, Germany.
the Jets had a chance to and I'm disappointed." Rodgers was 29 of 54 for 244 team to go 4-0 in regular- The Jets also fell behind
drive for a potential winning The Jets offense struggled so yards, two touchdown pass- season international games. 17-0 the previous time they
score in the final minutes. But much last week in a 10-9 loss es and three interceptions. All four victories have come played in London when they
Stephon Gilmore intercept- to Denver that Rodgers and The Vikings started the 2009 in London. The New York lost to the Atlanta Falcons in
ed Rodgers' pass intended coach Robert Saleh spent season 6-0 in Brett Favre's first Giants, who won the first 2021.q
for Mike Williams and the
Vikings improved to 5-0 for
the first time since 2016.
Van Ginkel grabbed Rodg-
ers' quick slant before break-
ing a tackle and outrunning
the Jets linemen down the
sideline for a 63-yard score
and a 10-0 lead. The line-
backer also had a pick-6 in
the season opener against
Daniel Jones and the New
York Giants.
"I couldn't believe it hap-
pened," the sixth-year line-
backer said. "It's something
that I just read and caught
the ball."
At some point in the sec-
ond half, he said, "I kind of
got close to him and he just
made that comment to me."
Rodgers threw a 1-yard
touchdown pass to Gar-
rett Wilson to make it 20-17
with just over six minutes
remaining before Vikings
rookie kicker Will Reichard
hit a 41-yard field goal — his
third of the game. Wilson fin-
ished with a career-high 13
catches for 101 yards.
A slow start ultimately
doomed the Jets (2-3).
Fullback C.J. Ham's 2-yard
run made it 17-0 before the
Jets got back in the game
when Rodgers found Allen
Lazard for a 14-yard touch-
down pass late in the first
half.
Rodgers clutched his left leg
after a big hit in the third
quarter. But after a roughing
the punter call, Rodgers im-
mediately went back onto