Minnesota Vikings at New York Jets: Key information and First Quarter Open Thread

We are just an hour away from what will hopefully be another successful Sunday of Minnesota Vikings’ football! Today, the purple travels to the East Coast to take on the New York Jets, and they’re searching for their first ever road victory over Gang Green. Can they get the job done today? If they do, it will mark their third consecutive victory and give them some pretty serious momentum.

Here is everything you need to know about today’s game.

Time: Sunday, 21 October, noon Central time

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Television coverage: KSTP-9 in the Twin Cities, Channel 709 on your DirecTV Sunday Ticket, and a bunch of other FOX affiliates that you can find right here

Radio coverage: Vikings Radio Network, Sirius Channel 106, XM Channel 231 (NYJ feed)

Line: Vikings -4, Over/Under 45

Prediction: Vikings 24, Jets 20

Three keys

1) Confuse quarterback Sam Darnold - Historically, rookie quarterbacks have not fared terribly well against Mike Zimmer’s defense, though we have seen one exception to that this season. Darnold has acquitted himself fairly well in his rookie season, so the Vikings are going to have to do more in order to get him off of his mark in this one. If they can do that, they should be able to have success against a short-handed Jets team.

2) Stop the run - The Jets will have running back Isaiah Crowell in this one, and he’s been very good as the Jets’ lead back this season. He put up over 200 yards a couple of weeks ago in the Jets’ win over Denver, and getting him established early will be a big part of New York’s offense. The Vikings need to keep the Jets “behind the chains” in this one so they can get after Darnold in obvious passing situations.

3) Take advantage of the Jets’ injury situation - The Jets come into this one without two of their top three cornerbacks and two of their top three receivers. The Jets’ cornerback situation should spell good things for the Vikings’ offense, as Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs should be able to exploit some corners that aren’t going to be able to keep up with them. On paper, the Vikings are the more talented team, and they need to play like it this afternoon.

Know the Foe: Gang Green Nation

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As we generally do, we will roll out a brand new Open Thread at the start of each quarter, ladies and gentlemen, so be sure to keep your eyes open for that. Otherwise, enjoy today’s game, and hopefully we’ll be celebrating a Vikings’ victory later this afternoon.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!