Minnesota Vikings Face New York Jets in London NFL Clash

The Minnesota Vikings are set to meet the New York Jets in an international NFL matchup this Sunday. The game will be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, highlighting the NFL’s continued expansion into global markets. This high-stakes encounter, scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) kickoff, entices fans both in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Vikings enter the game undefeated this season, bolstered by their recent victory over the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Sam Darnold showcased an impressive performance with a 20-for-28 passing record, accumulating 275 yards and three touchdowns. However, he also faced challenges, having thrown an interception and lost a fumble.

In contrast, the New York Jets are grappling with a challenging start to the season. Their recent narrow 10-9 defeat to the Denver Broncos compounds their struggles. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had difficulties against the elements at MetLife Stadium, completing 57% of his passes for 225 yards while being sacked five times. Rodgers exited the last game limping, but Jets head coach Robert Saleh has announced that he is expected to be fit to play in London.

Rodgers is approaching significant milestones in his illustrious career, needing only 96 yards to reach 60,000 career passing yards in the regular season and 74 yards to surpass Dan Marino‘s total of combined regular and postseason yards. Achieving this during the game adds another layer of intrigue.

For the Vikings, the game in London maintains their perfect record at international games, having previously won all three of their past matches in the British capital. The team also boasts a lineup with intriguing connections to their opponents. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was notably part of the Jets’ roster during the early 2010s, and several players on both teams have history with the opposing side.

Among the inactive players impacting the jets is linebacker C.J. Mosley, who is out due to a toe injury. This absence gives Jamien Sherwood an opportunity to step up as starting linebacker for the third consecutive game. Right tackle Morgan Moses also remains sidelined with a knee injury, ushering in rookie Olu Fashanu for his second professional start.

Both teams look to secure a victory in this crucial Week 5 matchup broadcasted live on NFL Network. The game exemplifies the NFL’s ambition to foster international appeal, with both squads familiarizing with the London scene as part of the league’s Global Markets Program.