LONDON — Stephon Gilmore is about as cool as they come.
Super chill, some might say.
Gilmore showed his composure and ball skills Sunday in picking off a pass by Aaron Rodgers to put Minnesota's 23-17 victory over the New York Jets on ice at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Gilmore locked down Mike Williams and adjusted properly to the football, securing the catch as he went to the turf.
Teammates celebrated by making snow angels on the pitch, and the Vikings lined up for two snaps in the victory formation to run out the final 44 seconds.
Gilmore participated in his first Border Battle last week and faced the former Packers nemesis QB for the first time in Purple, recording his 32nd career interception.
The pick completed a trifecta of interceptions — just the sixth time in Rodgers' career in which he tossed three interceptions in one game.
Andrew Van Ginkel started the pickin' party with his second pick six of 2024 in two games against New York teams.
The outside linebacker dropped into coverage and secured Rodgers' seventh pass of the game.
He quickly found his stride and picked up blocks, going 63 yards for the score. It was the longest pick six by a Vikings linebacker since Eric Kendricks' 77-yarder in Week 1 of 2016 at Tennessee.
Van Ginkel also returned a pick 10 yards for a touchdown in Week 1 at the New York Giants.
Camryn Bynum also intercepted Rodgers later in the first quarter, corralling an overthrow down the middle for his second interception of 2024.
Minnesota limited Rodgers to a passer rating of 54.9 on 29-of-54 passing for 244 yards with two touchdowns.
Here are four more observations presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Proud LASIK Partner of the Minnesota Vikings, followed by a scoring summary:
1. Darnold saves TD
Sam Darnold entered Week 5 as the NFL's leader in passing touchdowns.
Although he didn't add to the tally Sunday, he turned out to be a preventer of a touchdown at a critical juncture.
A toss from the QB to running back Ty Chandler was lost and recovered by Quincy Williams.
Darnold managed to shove Williams in the back just enough to cause the linebacker to fall after a 22-yard gain instead of the score.
Van Ginkel was able to intercept Rodgers three plays later and make it a 10-0 lead for Minnesota.
Darnold had an up and down day, feeling consistent pressure and taking some heavy hits, including one that knocked him out of the game for one snap — a 24-yard pass by Nick Mullens to Aaron Jones, Sr.
He finished 14-of-31 passing for 179 yards with one interception and a passer rating of 50.3.
View game action photos from the Vikings vs. Jets matchup in Week 5 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
2. Cobbling an offense after Jones leaves game
Jones suffered a hip injury in the game, so that left the carries for Chandler, Myles Gaskin and fullback C.J. Ham.
Ham rushed two times for 10 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter to make it a 17-0 game.
Chandler grinded along for 30 yards on 14 attempts. Jones rushed for 29 yards on seven carries before leaving the game.
Justin Jefferson led Minnesota with 92 receiving yards on six catches.
View postgame celebration photos from the Vikings 23-17 win over the Jets in Week 5 of the 2024 season.
3. Mixed bag on special teams
Kicker Will Reichard delivered a wonderful international debut, starting the day's scoring with a 54-yarder.
He was also true on two extra points, as well as field goals of 53 and 41 yards.
Punter Ryan Wright pinned the Jets deep in their own territory on a pair of punts, including one that Trent Sherfield, Sr., swatted to keep it from going in the end zone.
But the Vikings also had some struggles on punt returns and suffered a roughing the kicker penalty by Ivan Pace, Jr., that gave the Jets a fresh start after what would have been a punt on fourth-and-10.
New York took the second chance and turned it into a 32-yard field goal that shifted momentum toward the Jets midway through the third quarter.
4. Milestone sack for The Hitman
Harrison Smith recorded a sack of Rodgers late in the second quarter to boost his career total to 20.5.
It gave him 2.5 sacks of Rodgers in 21 games against the former Packer.
Smith celebrated by signaling a heavyweight belt, akin to the way Rodgers has done for years.
The Vikings safety joined an elite list of players who recorded at least 30 interceptions and 20 sacks.
Charles Woodson (65 interceptions and 20 sacks), Larry Wilson (52 and 21), Ronde Barber (47 and 28), LeRoy Butler (38 and 20.5) and Brian Dawkins (37 and 26) are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rodney Harrison (34 and 30.5) is the other player who is in the "30-20 club."
