Analysis: Under siege, Aaron Rodgers fortunate likely farewell vs. Vikings is in London

There are as many reasons to pick the Vikings this week as there are Jets offensive linemen who were woefully incapable of protecting 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers against a similar blitz-heavy scheme in last week’s 10-9 upset loss to Denver at home.

The Broncos have the highest blitz percentage in the league (44.1), according to Pro Football Reference. The Vikings are second (40.8).

The Broncos rank second in the NFL in sacks (16). The Vikings rank first not only in sacks (17), but knockdowns (20) and pressures (62).

The Broncos pressured Rodgers 17 times. They hit him 14 times. They sacked him five times. They made coach Robert Saleh wince too many times.

“That would make you sick if he were a 20-year-old quarterback,” he said when asked about Rodgers taking that kind of beating at his age and coming back from a torn Achilles.

“You want your quarterback feeling comfy back there and he definitely wasn’t comfortable.”

What happened last Sunday will make Rodgers the happiest guy in London this Sunday.

Why?

Because his 31st and likely final game against the Vikings will be played at Tottenham-Hotspur Stadium — a friendly, neutral site — and not U.S. Bank Stadium, which is anything but friendly and neutral when it comes to Rodgers.

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If you’re a Vikings fan and you’re not happy about the Purple surrendering a home game to play again in London, you’re not wrong to feel that way.

Could there have been a better way to say good riddance to Rodgers — 18-11-1 against the Vikings — than defensive coordinator Brian Flores hitching his high-pressure schemes to 73,000 fans heckbent on hating Rodgers while hooting and hollering for the NFC’s only undefeated team?

The last time B-Flo and the V-Fans got together at The Bank, Houston committed four straight pre-snap penalties while getting blown out. The Texans false-started five times, the same number the Jets had against Denver.

Tuesday, Flores essentially was handed this hot-potato:

“Is it hard giving up a home game at U.S. Bank Stadium when you’re 4-0 and playing Rodgers?”

Flo smiled and paused long enough for the reporter to say, “It’s a loaded question.” The Vikings love their fans, but also are at the forefront of selling the NFL in London.

“I would say it’s a little loaded,” Flores said.

“Are you going to punt?” Flores was asked.

“I wouldn’t say I’m going to punt, but I’m very happy to go to London and have that experience,” he said with a laugh. “Have that experience with this team. My family is going with us so that’s going to be great. My boys are excited to go to London. So is my daughter. I want to hear the accents. Big Ben. Things of that nature.

“I’ve played out there so there’s some crowd noise there as well. Not like U.S. Bank, but there is some crowd noise. So … that’s my long-winded way of punting.”

In other words, yes, anyone in his shoes would love an assist from U.S. Bank Stadium. The Jets are desperate. Rodgers isn’t the type to stay down long. And the Vikings’ defense needs a boost after a shaky finish to Sunday’s great start at Lambeau Field.

That being said, the Jets will still struggle.

Left guard John Simpson is ranked 52nd among 76 NFL guards in pass blocking, according to Pro Football Focus. Right tackle Morgan Moses, who was sidelined last week, is ranked 70th among 78 tackles. His replacement, first-round pick Olu Fashanu, ranks 75th after his first NFL start.

Left tackle Tyron Smith, the decorated former Cowboy, is 33 and looks old. Center Joe Tippmann gave up a sack and two pressures against Denver.

Rodgers can’t move like he used to. He was sacked on a blitz up the middle on his first play Sunday. With 1:50 left and facing fourth-and-10, he was dropped easily with a blind-side blitz.

Rodgers’ famous ability to manipulate defenses with his cadence also backfired. His linemen were the ones jumping. Simpson jumped on fourth-and-goal at the 1, which led to a field goal.

“We [run through] it every day in practice, we change cadences every walkthrough,” Rodgers said. “It’s a weapon. That was way out of character for us.”

Flores said he doesn’t expect Rodgers to stop using his hard count as a way to slow the pass rush.

“I’m just going to go with the 20 years [of success] that I’ve seen,” Flores said.

Good idea, Flo. Unlike U.S. Bank Stadium, Rodgers’ cadence will be heard in London.