If you’ve ever watched the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Jets play, you know things usually get weird. It’s one of those rare matchups that feels more like a fever dream than a standard Sunday afternoon in the NFL. They only play each other once every few years, which basically means every game has this high-stakes, "anything can happen" energy that’s hard to replicate.
The last time these two stepped on the same field was October 6, 2024. But it wasn’t in Minneapolis or East Rutherford. It was at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. 61,139 fans showed up to see if Sam Darnold—a guy the Jets famously drafted and then discarded—could actually take down his former team and the legendary Aaron Rodgers.
The Vikings came out on top 23-17. It was messy. It was stressful. Honestly, it was a classic Vikings win.
The London Disaster for Aaron Rodgers
Going into that Week 5 matchup in 2024, the Vikings were on an absolute tear, sitting at 4-0. The Jets? They were trying to figure out if the Aaron Rodgers experiment was actually going to work. Turns out, London was not the place for an epiphany.
Minnesota jumped out to a 17-0 lead early. You could feel the collective sigh from Jets fans across the pond. The highlight—or lowlight, depending on who you root for—was Andrew Van Ginkel intercepting Rodgers and taking it 63 yards back for a touchdown. After the game, Van Ginkel said Rodgers told him "Christmas came early." Rodgers, being Rodgers, was pretty blunt about his performance, calling it "below my standard." He threw three interceptions that day. Three. For a guy who treats turnovers like a personal insult, it was a shocking collapse.
How Sam Darnold Stayed Just Clean Enough
On the other side, Sam Darnold wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire, but he did enough. He finished 14 of 31 for 179 yards. Not great, right? But he managed the game and leaned heavily on Justin Jefferson, who finished with 6 catches for 92 yards.
🔗 Read more: Miami Heat New York Knicks Game: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
The real MVP of that game, though, was the rookie kicker Will Reichard. This kid was a "dog," according to Jefferson. He nailed three field goals, including a 54-yarder and a 41-yarder in the fourth quarter that basically forced the Jets to chase a touchdown they weren't going to get.
The Jets actually had a chance at the end. They always do, don't they? With 44 seconds left, Rodgers threw a ball toward Mike Williams near the 9-yard line. Stephon Gilmore—the veteran corner the Vikings brought in for exactly these moments—snagged the pick and ended it. Vikings 23, Jets 17. Minnesota stayed undefeated at 5-0, and the Jets headed back to Jersey with a 2-3 record and a lot of questions.
Why This Rivalry is Historically One-Sided
Believe it or not, before the Vikings started this recent three-game winning streak, the Jets actually owned this series. If you look at the all-time record, the Jets lead 8-4.
The Vikings struggled for decades to figure New York out. Between 1970 and 2010, Minnesota only beat the Jets once. That was way back in 1975. Think about that for a second. For 35 years, the Vikings were basically the Jets' punching bag whenever they happened to meet.
- 1982: Jets crush Vikings 42-14.
- 2002: Jets win 20-7.
- 2010: Jets win 29-20.
Things finally started to shift in 2014. That was the game where Teddy Bridgewater threw an 87-yard touchdown to Jarius Wright in overtime. It remains the second-longest overtime pass in NFL history. Since then, the momentum has completely flipped. Minnesota has won the last three meetings (2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2024).
💡 You might also like: Louisiana vs Wake Forest: What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Rematch
So, when do we get to see Vikings vs New York Jets again? Because of the way the NFL scheduling rotation works, these cross-conference games don't happen every season.
The 2025 season is mostly set, and the Vikings are actually heading back overseas to play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin and the Cleveland Browns in London. But the Jets aren't on that immediate radar until 2026.
According to the 2026 schedule projections, the Minnesota Vikings will be the "away" team against the Jets. That means a trip to MetLife Stadium. By then, the landscape will look completely different.
The J.J. McCarthy Era vs. The Jets' Future
By 2026, the Vikings will be fully entrenched in the J.J. McCarthy era. His 2025 season was a rollercoaster—he had a pick-six in his debut against the Bears but also became one of the youngest QBs to throw three touchdowns in a single game since Tommy Kramer in 1977.
By the time the 2026 matchup rolls around:
📖 Related: Lo que nadie te cuenta sobre los próximos partidos de selección de fútbol de jamaica
- McCarthy will be a third-year starter. He’s already shown he can handle the pressure, but he’s still working on that consistency.
- The Jets' QB situation is anyone's guess. Will Aaron Rodgers still be slinging it at 42? Or will New York be on to their next "franchise savior"?
- The Defense Factor. Brian Flores has turned the Vikings' defense into a nightmare for veteran QBs. If the Jets don't have a mobile threat by 2026, they might be in for another long afternoon.
Misconceptions About This Matchup
People often think because these teams are in different conferences (NFC vs AFC), there's no real "beef." That's kinda wrong.
The "Sam Darnold Revenge" narrative was huge in 2024, but the connection goes deeper. You've got coaches like Kevin O'Connell who are part of that same Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan coaching tree that influences so much of the league today. These teams know each other's schemes better than you'd expect.
Another big misconception? That the Jets are always the underdog. Historically, as we saw, they've actually dominated Minnesota. It’s only the last decade where the Vikings have found their footing.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking at this matchup for future reference or just trying to sound smart at the bar, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Kicker: In low-scoring, defensive grinds like the 2024 London game, the kicker is everything. Will Reichard proved that. Don't overlook the special teams' impact when these two play.
- The "Ex-Factor": Whether it's a quarterback like Darnold or a veteran corner like Gilmore, players facing their former teams always seem to have an extra gear in this specific series.
- Location Matters: The Vikings are 4-0 in London. If this game ever gets moved to a neutral international site again, bet on the Purple. They just seem to handle the travel better than almost anyone else in the league.
- Turnovers are the Key: In the last four meetings, the winner has been determined almost entirely by the turnover margin. Rodgers’ three picks in 2024 were the death knell for New York.
Keep an eye on the 2026 schedule releases. While we won't see them clash in 2025, the building blocks are being laid right now for a massive showdown at MetLife. McCarthy will be looking to prove he's the real deal, and the Jets will be desperate to stop their losing streak against the North.