The New York Jets’ winning streak came to an end on Sunday afternoon, falling 37-17 to the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium.
Adam Thielen set an NFL-record by tallying 100-yards for the seventh consecutive game, and the Minnesota Vikings, after an inconsistent first half, ran away from the New York Jets in the latter portions of the game, cruising to a 37-17 victory at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, thus ending the Jets’ two-game winning streak, as well as ending their home trio on a sour note.
The Jets had concerns about covering Adam Thielen all week, and those fears came to wild screaming life on the first drive of the game. Kirk Cousins found Thielen for a 34-yard strike, despite solid coverage from Darryl Roberts, to put the Vikings up 7-0 early.
? ADAM THIELEN IS ELITE
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/9eiudEUSV6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 21, 2018
The Jets offense mostly sputtered in the first half against the Minnesota defense, a foreboding sign of things to come for the rest of the afternoon. The lone exception did come in the form of a six-play, 86-yard drive that concluded with a 12-yard Sam Darnold scoring pass to tight end Chris Herndon.
The #Jets just ROLLED the Vikings on that drive. Former Miami Hurricane Chris Herndon scores his second career touchdown from Sam Darnold here. Tie game. pic.twitter.com/ZIJmJiuGoB
— Jesse Finver (@JfinverSports12) October 21, 2018
Defensively, the Jets were able to keep the Vikings in check, with Brandon Copeland leading the way with a tackle for a loss and a sack on one such drive. Minnesota did muster a Dan Bailey field goal before the half let out, creating a 10-7 halftime lead.
Fantastic series from Brandon Copeland. pic.twitter.com/R9ZUHfcLeu
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) October 21, 2018
The Jets, however, were unable to capitalize on being so close under dire circumstances.
On the Vikings’ first possession of the second half, one that followed yet another Jets punt, not only were they able to end both teams’ futility on third down, as the two squads were a combined 0-for-15 in the situation prior to the drive, they also were able to finally grow their lead, as Latavius Murry scored from 11 yards out.
Latavius Murray bota 6️⃣ pontos no placar pro Vikings! pic.twitter.com/SWZsI053Ij
— Matchup Brasil – NFL ?? (@MatchupNFL) October 21, 2018
Things further snowballed for the Jets when a Sam Darnold pass was tipped and landed in the arms of Harrison Smith, who took it to the inside of the Jets’ 10 to set up another Bailey triple.
Sam Darnold picked by Harrison Smith pic.twitter.com/aIz73wMAJw
— Arif Hasan (@ArifHasanNFL) October 21, 2018
The Jets were finally able to score again when Jason Myers tallied another three-pointer, a 55-yarder to trim the lead to 20-10. However, the Jets were unable to further their momentum, as the Vikings used the ground game to put them away.
Rock Thomas set things up with a 23-yard run, and then Murry found paydirt once more, scoring from 38 yards, a score that served as a dagger for the hapless Jets.
Full steam ahead!@LataviusM takes it in for another TD. pic.twitter.com/ruY2fCsvNh
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 21, 2018
Darnold would end up leading the Jets to the end zone one more time, as the quarterback himself punched it in from a yard out to tally the first rushing score of his NFL career.
One more opportunity was granted to the Jets, but a Darnold overthrow ended up in the arms of the wrong defender, Holton Hill being the lucky recipient.
Holton Hill with his first career pick pic.twitter.com/rBUGbkQrfp
— Arif Hasan (@ArifHasanNFL) October 21, 2018
After the Vikings scored again, a 34-yard touchdown strike from Cousins to Aldrick Robinson, one last offensive disaster awaited the Jets, as Darnold threw another interception, this one to Trae Waynes. That would set up one more Bailey field goal.
Aldrick Robinson TD
— MVP – Minnesota Vikings Podcast (@VikingsPod) October 21, 2018
The Jets will returns to action next Sunday, hitting the road to take on the Chicago Bears (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS).
