The Jets (2-3) lost to the Vikings (5-0), 23-17, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 5. Here are three takeaways from Sunday's game.
Second-Half Defense
Down by 17-0 at the half, the Jets' defense dialed in and pitched a near-perfect game in the second half.
The Vikings, who had scored the most touchdowns in the NFL entering Week 5, converted 57.1% of their third downs in the first half and did not convert once 0% in the second. QB Sam Darnold & Co. were held to 98 yards (91 passing, 7 rushing) in the final two quarters.
"I thought defense was outstanding today," HC Robert Saleh said after the game. "We chalk it up, 13 points. Allowing 13 points, 7 off the pick-6 and 3 out of field position that gave it to them basically in field-goal range.
"Overall I thought they battled and kept answering the bell. A couple of plays that I think they all want back and a couple opportunities to get a couple more takeaways especially in the pass game. But overall, it was a good game from the defense."
Missed Opportunities
The Jets left points on the field.
Quincy Williams had a chance for his first career touchdown after scooping up a botched pitch from Sam Darnold to RB Ty Chandler. Williams cleanly plucked the ball at the Jets' 43-yard line and returned it 15 yards to the Minnesota 42 as he stumbled after Darnold tackled him.
"I just lost by balance," Williams said. "It is what it is. I was supposed to take that one to the house. Sam Darnold isn't supposed to be able to tackle me."
Three plays later, Vikings LB Andrew Van Ginkel picked off Aaron Rodgers and returned it 63 yards for the score, which increased Minnesota's lead to 10-0.
"You know, they had a seven-up presentation," Aaron Rodgers said of the Vikings front. "We got to something that we had talked about and I peeked the back side or something to the left to see if we were hot or not. Doing that, I totally lost the angle and he made a nice play."
Midway through the second quarter, HC Robert Saleh elected to be aggressive and go for it on fourth-and-2 on the Vikings' 26-yard line instead of settling for a field goal. RB Braelon Allen could not convert and Darnold helped extend the "home" team's lead on the ensuing drive.
"I feel like we've got to be able to get those," Robert Saleh said. "We weren't moving the ball very well. We were down there trying to be aggressive and see if we can go get seven."
CB Sauce Gardner nearly held the 'Vikes out of the end zone when he had an interception in his hands off a tipped ball that he could not corral. FB C.J. Ham punched it in the next play.
See all of the best game photos from the Week 5 matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Lack of Complementary Football on Offense
The Jets struggled to establish a ground game for a second straight week (36 total yards) and QB Aaron Rodgers was hit 11 times. Rodgers was hit 14 times in the Week 4 loss against Denver.
"The reality is if you throw the ball over 50 times like we did [Sunday], the quarterback is going to get hit," Robert Saleh said on Monday. "Period. We didn't run the ball well enough yesterday and we dropped back to pass way too often. When you're sitting in longer situations, teams can tee off on you. It's stockpiles on yourself.
"I don't want to sit here and say the offensive line isn't playing well enough. We're not being efficient enough to put ourselves in a position to play football. We're having to play catch up against two really good defenses that pressure the quarterback at a high level. We basically fell into the teeth of their defense."
