Can you believe it’s already Week 5 in the NFL? Minnesota Vikings fans can’t get enough of this season after an undefeated start. What’s better than beating the Green Bay Packers? Well, how about defeating Aaron Rodgers, now in season two of his New York Jets tenure, to reach 5-0?
On Sunday, worlds collide when the Vikings take on Rodgers and the Jets. The scene will be set from London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where a different type of football is typically played.
You’ll have to wake up early for this one, as the Vikings kick off at 8:30 am central time. But just like your local paperboy (do they still have those?), our weekly bold Vikings predictions have arrived right on time.
Vikings QB Sam Darnold gets revenge on New York Jets with 300-yard day
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The New York Jets told Sam Darnold he wasn’t good enough, after taking a tantalizing Aaron Rodgers-esque prospect out of BYU in the 2021 NFL Draft. Oops. Clearly Zach Wilson wasn’t the savior the Jets were seeking, despite selecting him second overall.
From there, Darnold’s career spiraled out of control. He spent two years trying to survive a dumpster fire in Carolina. His reputation now in tatters, the 2017 No. 3 overall pick got a chance to go back to QB school. He signed with the 49ers, hoping Kyle Shanahan could help get his career back on track.
After a year in San Francisco behind Brock Purdy, he got one final chance as a QB1 in Minnesota. And he has taken full advantage. Now, Darnold’s back with a vengeance, and he’s bringing Justin Jefferson with him. Don’t be surprised when Sam saves the best of his early 2024 revenge tour for his old team.
Bright and early on Sunday morning, our new QB will throw for 300 yards. It’ll be his first time hitting that number, as a Viking. And it won’t come easy. The Jets boast arguably the league’s greatest shutdown cornerback, in Sauce Gardner. They also hold an NFL-best 4.2 YPA as a defense. Putting up 300 on his old team would be the most significant one-game statistical accomplishment of Sam Darnold’s Vikings career, to date.
Ty Chandler gets involved with 50+ rushing yards
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Ty Chandler was only offered as an appetizer in the first two weeks, where he averaged 10.5 touches per game. Kevin O’Connell nearly took him completely off the menu over the past two weeks, where he had just seven touches in Week 3 and four in Week 4.
Perhaps Chandler’s role dwindled due to Aaron Jones’ effectiveness, but the Vikings could need their youngster more often, after an eight-hour flight to London. Don’t be surprised if Chandler hears his name called more often on Sunday.
We’re buying stock in Ty reaching 50 or more rushing yards, for the second time this season. The first came against Jets head coach Robert Saleh’s former team, the 49ers, in Week 2, so it’s not unreasonable to think Chandler can repeat his success against a similar defense.
Minnesota Vikings defense intercepts Aaron Rodgers twice
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Did you know Aaron Rodgers has the best interception rate in NFL history? It’s true; no quarterback has mastered the art of avoiding an interception as much as Rodgers has. He even often throws the ball away just to avoid putting the ball in harm’s way, which is the right play.
Averaging an interception on just 1.4% of his career passing attempts, he’s had just 19 games with more than one pick thrown. At 0.8%, that’s even lower than his INT rate. But it can be done, and the Vikings even pulled it off in October of 2010. The Vikings lost that battle 28-24, but this time can be different.
Brian Flores’ defense ranks second in the NFL, with ten turnovers forced through four games. Stephon Gilmore has to be itching for his first interception with the Vikings, and you know Harrison Smith is eager to pick off a former rival again too. We’ll see if they can make Vikings fans jump out of their chairs against Rodgers one last time on Sunday.
Will Reichard drills field goal from 60+ in London
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Being a rookie is never easy in the NFL, especially as a kicker. Just ask Daniel Carlson. While Carlson later bounced back from Mike Zimmer cutting him following a missed kick, the Vikings’ newest kicker is off to a much better start.
After being drafted in the sixth round back in April, Will Reichard always faced strong odds of making the team, but through four weeks, we’ve seen exactly why the Vikings were impressed. He leads the NFL in extra-point makes, which is a microcosm of KOC’s kickass offense, but the rookie’s been kicking with ice in his veins from distance too.
Reichard hasn’t missed a single kick, which includes a magnificent 58-yard boomer against Houston. Well, on Sunday, he’ll get to kick in front of over 60,000 fans in London. Many of those fans may be used to seeing a different-shaped football fly off the foot, but Will The Thrill can bring just as many cheers.
In fact, we’ll go as far as to say Reichard sets a new NFL record with the longest field goal ever made at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Games aren’t played in London often, so there haven’t been a lot of opportunities; however, Wil Lutz did hit a 60-yarder against the Minnesota Vikings back in 2022, so anything above 60 should do the trick, and we know Reichard has plenty of leg.
- Vikings vs Jets prediction: Vikings 27, Jets 17
