Vikings Can Complete Surge By Beating Jets In Week 5 London Encounter

Since the Vikings have already put away the 49ers, Texans and Packers, there’s no reason why they can’t complete their early-season winning streak by beating the Jets in London.

There’s no need to even mention that season opener against the Giants because that team is struggling badly, lacks cohesiveness and has a quarterback that some want to replace. They did not provide much of a test for Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings.

But the three teams that followed did, and the trip overseas is not likely to derail this team. Minnesota has played three previous games in London – most recently in 2022 – and the Vikings have won all of them. They are very popular in England and are likely to have more than half the crowd in their favor at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Jets are coming off a mind-numbing 10-9 home loss to the Broncos in Week 4, and Aaron Rodgers was left covering his head with a towel at the conclusion of that game. Rodgers has been deeply troubled by a receiving crew that has already dropped eight passes and an offensive line that doesn’t appear to understand his calls at the line of scrimmage. His cadence was known for drawing opponents offsides during his long run with the Packers, but his current group of protectors appear rather jumpy.

The Vikings should win this game and move to 5-0 because they are surging, healthy and razor sharp, while Robert Saleh’s Jets are still searching for answers. There are no guarantees in the NFL, but this game looks good for the Vikings.

Brian Flores will have his defense prepared for the best of Rodgers. After the Vikings were held to one sack of Jordan Love in Week 4, the likelihood is that the pressure will get to Rodgers.

The bigger issue for the Vikings will start upon their return from their overseas trip. That’s when O’Connell is going to have to turn up his coaching a couple of notches. The Vikings have an immediate bye week that will help get their body clocks back on track, but they return to action with a Week 7 home game against the Detroit Lions.

The Lions were the NFC North favorites going into the season, and they have lost none of the luster that they gained last year. Most observers believe they are the top challenger to the 49ers for NFC superiority and there is no reason to think that has changed.

The Lions are 3-1 and they are coming off a spectacular effort on Monday night in which they beat the previously undefeated Seahawks 42-29 and quarterback Jared Goff had a scintillating 18 of 18 effort for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Lions get to bask in the glory of that victory this week before returning to action in Week 6 with a road game against the Cowboys.

Dan Campbell is as close to an old-school head coach as there is in the NFL right now, and he will issue a challenge to his team to get ready to play physical, dominant football against the Cowboys and Vikings in back-to-back weeks.

He is sure to have their attention because the Cowboys remain America’s Team and will always have a target on their backs while the Vikings are their division opponents who have stacked victory after victory. There is little doubt that Campbell wants both of those wins, but if you put his feet to the fire, it is clear he wants to show the Vikings that the old sheriff is not willing to give way to a new lawman in the division.

The Vikings faced as tough an opening schedule as any team in the NFL. If they can survive their trip to London and overcome the Jets, they will have aced a very difficult exam. The schedule in the second and third parts of the season may not have as many elite opponents, but the intensity will pick up and the Vikings season will come into much clearer focus.