The Minnesota Vikings (3-2-1) are heading to the Big Apple to face the New York Jets (3-3) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The game, scheduled to kick off at noon (CT) Sunday, will be just the 11th contest between the two franchises and the sixth played in New York.
The Jets are coming off a 42-34 home win vs. Indianapolis, their second consecutive win. The Vikings captured their second straight victory in a 27-17 win vs. Arizona at U.S. Bank Stadium, giving Minnesota a 6-1 record in October the past 2 seasons (4-1 in 2017, 2-0 in 2018).
Minnesota enters Week 7 ranked 10th in the NFL in total yards per game with an average of 391.2 through six games. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has thrown for 1,921 yards, the 4th-highest total in the NFL. Cousins is one of four QBs (Jared Goff, Phillip Rivers and Matt Ryan) league-wide to rank in the top 10 in each of the following categories: completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns.
WR Adam Thielen is on a record-breaking pace, recording 58 receptions (first in the NFL), the most in NFL history through the first six games of a season. Thielen's 712 receiving yards, also 1st in the NFL, are tied for the third-most through the first six games of a season in NFL history. Thielen and Stefon Diggs join Steelers WRs Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster as the only WR duos in the league to each rank in the top 10 in receptions.
The Vikings defense, which ranks 16th in yards allowed (359.8 per game) in 2018, has held opponents to a conversion rate of 25.0 percent on third downs, the lowest in the NFL. Vikings DE Danielle Hunter is tied with Texans DE J.J. Watt for the NFL lead in sacks with 7.0 and is tied with Colts DE Margus Hunt for the NFL lead in tackles for loss with nine.
TELEVISION:
FOX (KMSP in Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Play-by-Play: Thom Brennaman
Analyst: Chris Spielman
Sideline Reporter: Shannon Spake
LOCAL RADIO:
KFAN-FM 100.3/KTLK-AM 1130
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen
Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline Reporters: Greg Coleman and Ben Leber
Pre-Game Show: Mike Mussman – 10 a.m. (CT)
KFAN and KTLK serve as the flagship stations for the five-state Vikings Radio Network.
SATELLITE RADIO
Sirius: 106 or Streaming 819 (MIN); 133 or Streaming 823 (NYJ)
XM: Streaming 819 (MIN); 231 or Streaming 823 (NYJ)
NORSE NOTES
WR Adam Thielen has six games with at least 100 receiving yards in 2018, trailing only Randy Moss (eight in 2003, eight in 2000, seven in 2002, seven in 1999) and Cris Carter (six in 2000) for the most in a single season in Vikings history.
Thielen's three games with at least 10 receptions this season trails only Cris Carter in (four in 1994 and four in 1995) for the most games with 10-plus catches in a single season.
Vikings DE Danielle Hunter is the only player in the NFL to record a sack in every game in which he's played this season and his six-game streak is a career high for consecutive games with a sack.
In Week 3 vs. Buffalo, TE Kyle Rudolph caught his 17th touchdown pass since the start of the 2016 season, tied with Packers TE Jimmy Graham and Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate for the most among tight ends in the NFL.
Since the start of the 2017 season, S Harrison Smith has six interceptions and 4.5 sacks. He is the only player in the NFL to have at least five interceptions and at least 3.0 sacks in that span.
QB Kirk Cousins' 1,921 passing yards are the second-most passing yards through the first six games of a season in team history. Daunte Culpepper threw for 1,949 yards in 2004.
WR Stefon Diggs' 40 receptions are tied for eighth in the NFL, and his 435 receiving yards rank 19th.
Rudolph (349 receptions) ranks eighth all-time in Vikings history, Diggs (240 receptions) ranks 16th and Thielen (238 receptions) ranks 17th.
Rudolph has started a league-leading (among TEs) 55 consecutive games, which is the longest streak for any TE all-time in Vikings team history. Rudolph's 27 catches in 2018 mark the most in his career through the first six games of a season.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Vikings WR Adam Thielen has set an NFL record (Super Bowl era) with six consecutive games with 100-plus receiving yards to start a season. Thielen's 6-game streak is by far the longest active streak in the NFL.
1. Adam Thielen, 6
2t. Antonio Brown, 2
2t. Taylor Gabriel, 2
VIKINGS-JETS CONNECTIONS
Jets tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson held the same position with the Vikings from 2006-13.
Jets assistant strength and conditioning coach Aaron McLaurin held the same position with the Vikings from 2012-13.
Vikings Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo served as the Jets assistant quarterbacks coach in 2009.
Vikings DT Sheldon Richardson was drafted by the New York Jets 13th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. Richardson, who played in 58 career games (56 starts) for the Jets, won the 2013 _AP_ Defensive Rookie of the Year and was named to the 2014 Pro Bowl while in New York.
Vikings S Andrew Sendejo had a brief stint with the New York Jets in September of 2011. Sendejo signed with the Vikings in November of 2011 and has been with the team since.
Local Connections
The Wilf family, who has led the ownership group of the Vikings for the last 14 seasons, hails from New Jersey and is deeply rooted within the community.
The Vikings have two New York natives on roster: RB Latavius Murray (Nedrow) and DT Jaleel Johnson (Brooklyn). Tashawn Bower is from Somerville, New Jersey, which is about 45 miles southwest of MetLife Stadium.
VIKINGS TOP PERFORMERS VS. JETS
Offense
Latavius Murray: 2 games, 20 carries, 113 yards, 1 reception, 6 rec. yards
Defense
Xavier Rhodes: 1 game, 4 tackles, 3 passes defended
Andrew Sendejo: 1 game, 1 tackle, 1 forced fumble
Harrison Smith: 1 game, 8 tackles, 1.0 sack
VIKINGS BIG DAYS VS. JETS
RB Latavius Murray totaled 113 rushing yards on 20 carries in a 34-20 win against the Jets (Nov. 1, 2015) as a member of the Raiders.
S Harrison Smith had eight tackles and 1.0 sack on QB Geno Smith against the Jets (Dec. 7, 2014) in a 30-24 OT win. In the same contest, S Andrew Sendejo recorded his only career forced fumble after knocking the ball loose from Jets RB Chris Ivory.
CB Xavier Rhodes broke up three passes in the Vikings past matchup with the Jets (Dec. 7, 2014).
VIKINGS-JETS SERIES NOTES
The Vikings trail the all-time series with the Jets, 8-2, having lost the seven of the past eight games, dating back to 1979.
The Vikings 10 games against the Jets are the fourth-fewest games against any opponent (Texans, 4; Ravens and Jaguars, 6).
Minnesota's first win over the Jets was back in 1975, a game played in Minnesota with Bud Grant's Vikings claiming a 29-21 victory. Chuck Foreman caught two touchdowns in the third quarter and rushed for one in the fourth.
The Vikings last visited the Jets in 2010 for a game on Monday Night Football. Brett Favre threw his 500th career touchdown pass — **a 37-yarder to Randy Moss**. Minnesota, however, fell 29-20 for its third loss in four games to open the season.
