Are the Vikings dead without Jefferson? Not so fast...

Eternally optimistic Vikings fans will rise in the wake of Justin Jefferson's ashes.
Are the Vikings dead without Jefferson? Not so fast...
Are the Vikings dead without Jefferson? Not so fast... /

Sixty-some-odd years of never winning the big game has hardened Minnesota Vikings fans into eternal optimists with a never-say-die attitude. The sky is falling just hours after news broke that Justin Jefferson will miss at least four games with a hamstring injury, but once the dust settles there will be a wave of positivity. It's the Minnesota way and it's going to look something like this: 

The Bears aren't very good and the Vikings are talented enough without Jefferson to win at Soldier Field on Sunday. A victory would put Minnesota at 2-4 and no worse than two games out of the final playoff spot with a bunch of beatable opponents ahead. 

Well what about the 49ers on Monday, Oct. 23? That'll be tough, but maybe lightning strikes and the Vikings improve to 3-4? Even if they lose, 2-5 looks bad but the Vikings definitely have a chance to beat the struggling Packers at Lambeau in Week 8 and then they have five straight against the Falcons, Saints, Broncos, Bears and Raiders. All of those are winnable and they might have Jefferson back by the Saints game. 

Anything is possible and Vikings fans will be quick to note how even 2-5 could turn 8-5 if all goes right. 

Purple fans will convince themselves (some of us included) that the metrics suggest the Vikings should be much better than their 1-4 record indicates. Just look at how good Pro Football Focus makes them look.

Overall, PFF says Minnesota is the 7th-best team in the NFL. Their offense ranks 5th by PFF metrics and their pass blocking is 2nd-best in the league. What? Yes, that's a real stat! It gets better: The Vikings' run blocking is No. 1 in the NFL, per PFF. 

The defense ranks 16th, which is middle of the pack and good enough to win games if the offense stops fumbling the football. And their special teams ranks 12th. Those are all signs of a team that can't be held down for long. 

Justin Jefferson in the Vikings huddle.
Justin Jefferson in the Vikings huddle / Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) stands in the huddle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

There is a lot of ammo to give Vikings fans hope. Jefferson is down but that gives rookie Jordan Addison, who was described by quarterback Kirk Cousins as "the real deal," a chance to blossom into a beast. He has 27 targets through five games. Jefferson had 52 balls thrown his way and those are going to have to go somewhere else, many of them likely Addison's way. 

There's no way T.J. Hockenson continues to drop passes like he has in losses to the Charges and Chiefs, right? He's the highest-paid tight end in the league and he'll show up with Jefferson down. 

And in what world do the Vikings stink when the offensive line is actually good? This is like the Upside Down and all of the wacky things needed to derail a talented team are happening. Murphy's Law has been a staple through five games and that can't won't last. 

All those fumbles and so few recoveries by the Vikings? That tide will turn. 

And there aren't many more games against elite quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes. Few teams beat those guys and now the Vikings get their filling of Justin Fields, Jordan Love, Derek Carr, Desmond Ridder, Russell Wilson and Jimmy Garoppolo.

Are the Vikings really dead and it's just a matter of writing the 2023 obituary? 

Not so fast. The Vikings are wounded, but it'll take more than Jefferson's hamstring to kill those who bleed purple


Published
Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Title: Bring Me The Sports co-owner, editor Email: joe@bringmethenews.com Twitter: @JoeBMTN Education: Southwest Minnesota State University Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Expertise: All things Minnesota sports Nelson has covered Minnesota sports for two decades, starting his media career in sports radio. He worked at small market Minnesota stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before joining one of the nation's highest-rated sports stations, KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. There, he was the producer of the top-rated mid-morning sports show with Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen.  His radio experience helped blossom a career as a sports writer, joining Minneapolis-based Bring Me The News in 2011.  Nelson and Adam Uren became co-owners of Bring Me The News in 2018 and have since more than tripled the site's traffic and launched Bring Me The Sports in cooperation with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation umbrella. Nelson has covered the Super Bowl and numerous training camps, NFL combines, the MLB All-Star Game and Minnesota playoff games, in addition to the day-to-day happenings on and off the field of play.  Nelson also has extensive knowledge of non-sports subjects, including news and weather. He works closely with Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to produce a bevy of weather and climate information for Minnesota readers.  Nelson helped launch and manage the Bring Me The News Radio Network, which provided more than 50 radio stations around Minnesota with daily news, sports and weather reports from 2011-17.