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The Call: N.Y. Jets at Vikings

By Matt Vensel

December 7, 2014 at 1:30AM

Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Gerald Hodges (54) chases the action during the NFL week 10 football game against the Washington Redskins on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013 in Minneapolis. The Vikings won the game 34-27. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli) ORG XMIT: PSMN01 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

WEEK 14: NOON VS. N.Y. JETS • ch. 4 (100.3-FM, 1130-AM)

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One man's prediction: The Vikings get another opportunity Sunday to shoot at mediocre fish in the barrel that is TCF Bank Stadium. The New York Jets have a lame-duck coach in Rex Ryan, a quarterback they don't trust to throw the football in Geno Smith, and a secondary with a bunch of players you have probably never heard of. The Jets are a bad team, one that even the five-win Vikings should be able to handle with ease.

Three keys

Plugging the leaks

The Vikings have allowed more than 100 rushing yards in each of their past four games, the most recent being the Carolina Panthers, who piled up 178. Up next is a Jets offense that ran all over the Miami Dolphins for 277 yards, led by Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory, on Monday yet somehow still lost. Missed tackles have been a problem, and players have plugged the wrong lanes. But if the Vikings can fix those things Sunday, they should be in good shape.

Patterson, the backup

After second-year wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson played just three offensive snaps in the win over the Panthers, offensive coordinator Norv Turner confirmed that Patterson had been demoted. Charles Johnson will get his third straight start at split end, leaving Patterson to pick up the leftover snaps whenever Johnson needs a breather. It has been quite a fall from the spotlight for Patterson, a Pro Bowl kick returner last season. Could this demotion be the jolt he needs to finally get going?

Where's harvin?

Former Vikings first-round pick Percy Harvin is with his third team in three seasons, playing wide receiver and a little bit of running back for the Jets. His numbers in New York — 182 receiving yards, 96 rushing yards and no touchdowns — don't exactly make defenders shudder in fear. But he remains a big play waiting to happen, so the Vikings will have to keep an eye on him as the Jets move him all around.

Player to watch

Gerald Hodges

With standout rookie outside linebacker Anthony Barr expected to sit out Sunday with a knee injury, Hodges, a second-year player from Penn State, will likely step into the starting lineup again. Hodges filled in for Chad Greenway earlier this season. Now he will slide over to Barr's strong-side spot. The responsibilities are similar, but Hodges might be asked to blitz more, something Barr excels at doing.

Second-year quarterback Geno Smith was sacked twice and threw for only 65 yards in a Week 13 loss to Miami. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)