The first London game of the 2024 NFL season will take place in Week 5 when the Minnesota Vikings (4-0) host the New York Jets (2-2) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Vikings are one of two undefeated teams after their 31-29 win over the rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Jets fell 10-9 to the Denver Broncos in an ugly, rain-soaked affair at MetLife Stadium.
As we prepare for the second international game of the year, let’s examine the latest betting odds before digging into my Jets vs Vikings prediction and best bets.
Jets vs Vikings Odds
NFL odds are current as of Thursday, Oct. 3, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Jets (+102) vs Vikings (-122)
- Spread: Jets +2.5 (-105) vs Vikings -2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: Over 40 (-110) / Under 40 (-110)
Jets vs Vikings Prediction
Vikings 20, Jets 17
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has taken the high road this week when asked about his tenure with the Jets, but I’m sure he’d love nothing more than to stick it to his former team on Sunday.
Darnold has been terrific through the first quarter of the season, leading the NFL in touchdown passes (11) and passer rating (118.9). He finally has talented weapons at his disposal, including wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and running back Aaron Jones.
But perhaps most importantly, head coach and offensive play-caller Kevin O’Connell is making his life easier by scheming open receivers and giving him some easy throws. That’s not happening for Aaron Rodgers, who enters this game with knee soreness after getting sacked five times last Sunday by Denver’s blitz-happy defense.
Not only that, but New York hasn’t been able to get running back Breece Hall going — he had 10 carries for four yards last week — and Rodgers’ connection with Garrett Wilson hasn’t bloomed in the way most expected, adding fuel to the fire regarding the Davante Adams trade rumors.
The Broncos provided the formula to disrupt Rodgers and the Jets to Vikings DC Brian Flores, who also loves to send extra guys on the blitz. Minnesota ranks second in blitz rate (40.8%) — Denver is first at 44.1% — and first in pressure rate (34.3%).
Unless New York makes some serious adjustments, something Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett (and the entire coaching staff) has struggled with, it could be another embarrassing Sunday.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
Jets vs Vikings Best Bets
Vikings -2.5 (-115)
It’s hard to pick against the Vikings in this contest, especially given their coaching advantage and impressive resume of wins over the Niners, Texans, and Packers.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ victories have come against the Patriots and Titans, and New York needed Will Levis to self-destruct to beat Tennessee in Week 2.
Rodgers was already relatively limited mobility-wise following Achilles surgery, so it will be interesting to see how effective he can be against a blitz-happy defense given this new knee issue.
I’m not banking on New York’s offense to make drastic progress week over week, so I’m taking the Vikings to cover this short spread as one of my best NFL bets today.
Under 40 Points (-110)
The Vikings have allowed an offensive score on just 21.3% of their opponent’s drives, the best rate in the NFL, while the Jets rank inside the top 10 in that category at 32.6%.
That means offense should be tough to come by in this matchup, especially if New York shores up its run defense with the return of linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe), who could return to the lineup this week.
Both teams are 3-1 to the Under this season, so I’m backing another low-scoring contest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
