The MetLife Stadium hosts NFL action between home team New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The Vikings (3-2-1) are going to the Big Apple to face New York Jets in what is only the 11th meeting between these two teams. The Vikings have only played recent AFC expansion teams Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans fewer times than the New York Jets.
The Kirk Cousins story is one that leaps out in this game. The 30-year old Vikings quarterback entered the free agent market last season and was courted by the Jets. They offered him a three-year contract worth $90M in March but Cousins snubbed the contract and went on to sign with the Vikings for less money. Vikings head coach Mark Zimmer has spoken of Cousins in glowing terms praising his intensity, leadership abilities and his passion for the game. The quarterback has adapted nicely to the Vikings, averaging 382.7 yards on the road as well as completing 76.1% of his passes during Minnesota Viking’s two-game winning run.
JETS
Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold has been impressive for the Jets. The 42-34 win over the Colts made it two consecutive wins for the Jets and Darnold has been central in that mini run with 280 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Jets are averaging 27.5 points per game and Darnold leads the team in passing with 1,346 yards for 9 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Quincy Enuwa leads the team in receiving with 22 receptions for 287 yards and a touchdown while Isaiah Crowell leads in rushing with 430 yards and 5 touchdowns. Jets offense has scored over 30 points in three games this season but their defence wasn’t at their best in the last game squandering 428 total yards to the Colts. Their defense has just done enough to keep them in games this season.
VIKINGS
The Vikings ended their two-game losing streak with recent victories over the Eagles and the Cardinals. They have arguably one of the best passing offences in NFL. Cousins leads in passing with 1,912 passing yards for 12 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Adam Thielen leads in receiving with 58 receptions for 712 yards and 4 touchdowns. They are ranked 18th in points per game with an average of 23.33. The Vikings slow start to the season is not unconnected to the line’s inability to protect Kirk Cousins and the brittle defence. They had a relatively easy game against the Cardinals last week cruising to a 27-12 victory.
TEAM NEWS
Jets CB Buster Skrine is dealing with a concussion and will need to be accessed. Trumaine Johnson has a quad injury and may continue to play through the injury. The Jets may only have three receivers ready for Sunday with Terelle Pyror nursing a hamstring injury, Charone Peake, a hamstring injury and Quincy Enuwa, an ankle injury. Defensive Coordinator Kacy Rodgers is back after a 10-day absence.
Vikings CB Mike Hughes is out of the season with a torn ACL but they should have starting tackle Riley Reiff back for this game. Strong Safety Andrew Sendejo and Dalvin Cook featuring in this game may well be game time decisions on Sunday.
VERDICT
The Vikings have one of the best passing offences in the league while the Jets have one of the worst passing defences. A win for Jets lies heavily on the shoulder of Darnold but that is unlikely. Whatever happens, one of the two teams will have the confidence of three consecutive victories on Sunday.
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