For the second time in three years, London was treated to a visit from Rodgers, the NFL’s four-time Most Valuable Player.
Last time round his Green Bay Packers were upset by the New York Giants, and Rodgers endured another difficult day with his new side.
The 40-year-old is a familiar foe for the Vikings. With Green Bay being divisional rivals, they used to meet twice a season, Rodgers winning 17 of his previous 29 starts against Minnesota.
He was given a hostile reception by the Vikings fans as they booed him on to the field for the Jets’ first series, and Minnesota’s defence was equally unwelcoming, forcing the Jets to go three-and-out on their first two possessions and claiming interceptions on their next two – via Van Ginkel and Camryn Bynum.
The Jets then regrouped and, after his first season with the Jets was wiped out by a torn Achilles, Rodgers showed he has regained his mobility, dancing out of the pocket to fire a 14-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard.
In the third quarter, Rodgers became just the ninth player to pass 60,000 passing yards but gave the Jets a scare after being tackled, rolling around on the Tottenham turf and holding the back of his leg.
Although he hobbled off, Rodgers swiftly returned and led the Jets into field-goal range, Greg Zuerlein cutting the score to 17-10.
Rodgers continued to toil away, taking advantage of a Darnold interception to pick out Garrett Wilson for his second touchdown pass and then lead the Jets into a game-winning possession at the death.
But the Jets will need to protect their veteran QB better if they are to end the NFL’s longest active play-off drought as Rodgers was hit 11 times.
