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The 2024 Minnesota Vikings are off to a 4-0 historic start. After defeating the Green Bay Packers in a 31-29 road win at Lambeau Field in Week 4, they became the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive games in a season, all without trailing against teams who won playoff games in the previous year.
Minnesota has knocked off the 2023 NFC champion San Francisco 49ers (Week 2), the 2023 AFC South champion Houston Texans (Week 3) and a 2023 NFC wild card Packers squad (Week 4) in each of the last three weeks without trailing. They have done this behind stellar defense from defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ unit and quarterback Sam Darnold, originally thought to be a temporary bridge for 2024 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy, playing like an NFL MVP candidate in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense through the first quarter of the 2024 season.
However, the Vikings will be greeted by a similarly stingy defense in Robert Saleh’s New York Jets unit, and of course future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a familiar foe, across the pond at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London during Week 5.
NFL defensive ranks this season
PPG Allowed
5th (15.5)
4th (14.8)
Sacks
T-4th (14.0)
1st (17.0)
QB Pressure Pct
4th (39.5%)
10th (37.5%)
Defensive EPA
7th (29.29)
1st (50.72)
How will either offense earn a win over their vaunted adversary on the other side of the football? Let’s take a closer look at the biggest factors on each side of the football.
Vikings offense vs. Jets defense
Yes, it’s jarring to see Sam Darnold, the 2018 NFL Draft third overall pick, morph from potential Jets savior, to disgruntled journeyman and now to 2024 NFL MVP hopeful through four weeks. That’s the reality though. Darnold leads the NFL with 11 passing touchdowns and a 118.9 passer rating while ranking second in passing yards per attempt (8.8) behind only San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy (9.3). He is…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jets-vs-vikings-in-london-game-will-be-decided-by-sam-darnolds-aaron-rodgers-success-vs-top-5-defenses/
Author : Garrett Podell
Publish date : 2024-10-03 13:48:04
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