Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell says his team's 4-0 record means 'nothing' against Jets in London

WATFORD, England (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings are undefeated so far this season — and undefeated in international games in franchise history.

Don't tell coach Kevin O'Connell, though.

“A lot of people have taken note of the start that we’re off to," he said. "As I tell our guys every single time I get to stand in front of them, that means absolutely nothing.”

The Vikings (4-0) arrived in London on Friday and will try to improve on their perfect record when they face Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets (2-2) on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“We’ve got to go out for four quarters this week and re-establish ourselves — our identity, our play style, our football philosophy — it's got to be re-established on a week-in week-out basis,” O'Connell said. “That’s how you win consistently in this league.”

The team has had “a chip on our shoulder since the very beginning of the season,” he added.

The Vikings are 3-0 in the regular-season games they've played abroad — all in London.

As planned, two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson returned Friday after the team opened his practice window. He tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee last Dec. 24 in the Vikings' Week 16 game last season.

“It was great, honestly, to see him in that helmet, to see him running around, to kind of be with the team, it's great,” star receiver Justin Jefferson said. “To see him happy out there running routes and being with the team again, I can’t wait until he’s fully back out there with us. That’s another dynamic force that we’re going to add to our offense.”

Hockenson, who started the season on the physically unable to perform list, will have 21 days to continue ramping up before the Vikings must add him to the active roster. He was limited in practice and officially ruled out for Sunday's game.

O’Connell said Hockenson “looked really good."

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold says revenge is not on his mind when he faces his old squad.

“I wouldn’t say so, being pretty far removed from the Jets organization,” he said of the team that drafted him third overall in 2018.

He'll probably say hello to a few former teammates — defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, linebacker C.J. Mosley, safety Ashtyn Davis and long snapper Thomas Hennessy are the only players remaining from Darnold's last Jets team in 2020 — and some of New York's backroom staff.

“Other than that, for me it’s just a really good opportunity to play solid football,” he said.

Besides, Darnold has beaten the Jets before. In the 2021 season opener, after being traded in the offseason to Carolina, he led the Panthers to a 19-14 victory over the Jets.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, right, poses with Nausicaa Dell'Orto, Captain of the Italian women's national flag football team, during a news conference after NFL football practice at The Grove in Watford, England, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold speaks during a news conference after NFL football practice at The Grove in Watford, England, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones speaks during an interview after NFL football practice at The Grove in Watford, England, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell speaks during a news conference after NFL football practice at The Grove in Watford, England, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18), second left, works out during NFL football practice at The Grove in Watford, England, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and Nick Mullens (12) look on during NFL football practice at The Grove in Watford, England, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kodai Senga, who has thrown just 5 1/3 major league innings all year, is the surprise Game 1 starter for the New York Mets when they open the NL Division Series on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Senga joined the Mets ahead of the 2023 season on a $75 million, five-year contract and became an All-Star in his first season. He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

The 31-year-old Japanese pitcher made just one start this season as he dealt with injuries that included tightness in his right triceps. The team’s projected No. 1 starter this year, Senga also was sidelined by a strained left calf.

“I think if I thought it was difficult I wouldn’t be ready,” Senga said Friday through an interpreter. “So I’m ready for tomorrow. And however much I can control my body and control how the game goes tomorrow is going to be big.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said ahead of a Game 1 workout at Citizens Bank Park that Senga is “ready to go” but declined to say how many pitches his starter could throw.

“We always had hopes,” Mendoza said. “But it's been the whole year. What made us feel comfortable with this decision was he was the one that wanted the baseball.”

Pete Alonso used a dose of pumpkin power to hit a three-run homer off closer Devin Williams in the ninth inning Thursday to put the Mets up for good in a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the decisive third game of their Wild Card Series.

“The rehab process, it’s been up and down, but recently it’s definitely been turning the right direction, and to bring me to this point it’s definitely gone well,” Senga said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - New York Mets' Kodai Senga pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, July 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)