Justin Jefferson Talked to Kevin O'Connell About Moving Him More After Packers Loss

The Vikings will need to be ready for Jefferson to face heavy defensive attention in the playoffs.

Justin Jefferson is coming off of the first game of his career in which he was held to just one catch. The Vikings' superstar saw a ton of double coverage looks against the Packers, with top cornerback Jaire Alexander being very physical at the line of scrimmage. The end result was Jefferson recording one reception for 15 yards in a game that got out of hand quickly.

With the playoffs approaching, the Vikings know Jefferson will see similar looks going forward. Whether it's two-deep man under, two-deep zones, or true double-teams, the task for Kevin O'Connell and company is to find ways to get Jefferson the ball even against significant defensive attention.

"It's difficult with anyone (playing corner), just 'cause they have help over top," Jefferson said. "They can just throw their hardest shot at you while you're at the line of scrimmage, not really worrying about getting beat over top. It's an easier job. Detroit was the first ones to really do it heavily, and I feel like Green Bay got that from them."

Undoubtedly, teams will look at what the Packers did against Jefferson and try to replicate it. He said on Thursday that he talked to O'Connell after the game to give his thoughts on ways to counter that type of coverage. 

"I feel like motioning me around, putting me in different positions, and not keeping me stationary (can help)," Jefferson said. "I kind of went over that with KO, putting my touches on what I think should help a little bit throughout the game if we're getting those type of coverages. I feel like we have a good game plan if teams start to go back to that, because on film, it seems to have worked in the past."

It's not as if the Packers unlocked some secret formula that no team had ever tried. Jefferson has seen similar attention in other games and has still been dominant this season, racking up 124 catches for 1,771 yards in 16 games to lead the league in both categories. He's gone over 100 yards ten times, including games with 223, 193, and 184 yards, and is almost certainly going to win the NFL's offensive player of the year award.

"This is not the first time we saw coverage like this, this is not the first time he’s essentially been doubled most of the football game, if not all of the game, and he’s been productive," O'Connell said after the game. "There were some plays out there and we just didn’t make them. Probably a lot of things we’ll be able to look at the tape and improve on to make sure when we get this, as we have multiple times this year, we’ll have the ability to make some plays and come to life as an offense."

A few things worked in the Packers' favor. Alexander is one of the best corners in the league, and he was clearly motivated to play well after Jefferson torched the Packers in Week 1. Jefferson and several other Vikings neglected the coaching staff's recommendation to wear seven-stud cleats for better traction on the Lambeau Field grass, which led to him slipping and falling several times before making the switch. The Vikings' offense also couldn't get much going as a unit on Sunday, with Kirk Cousins facing major pressure behind a banged-up offensive line.

Jefferson enters the Vikings' Week 18 game in Chicago 194 yards shy of breaking Calvin Johnson's all-time single-season receiving record. Being held to 15 yards in Green Bay likely ended his chances of setting that record, especially because he may not play all four quarters of a mostly meaningless game against the Bears.

But at the very least, Jefferson will presumably play for a half or so. And this time, he'll come out of the locker room wearing cleats that are better suited for grass.

"I'm going to wear my studs this time to start the game," Jefferson said with a slight smile.

One week later, Jefferson will appear in an NFL playoff game for the first time in his history-making career. The opponent will likely be the Giants, who he went for 12-133-1 against on Christmas Eve despite seeing plenty of defensive attention.

Whether it's the Giants or any other team the Vikings face in the postseason, one of the top priorities for the opposing defensive coordinator will be limiting Jefferson's production. As the Vikings look to counter those plans with strategies of their own, continuing to move Jefferson around the formation is something they figure to lean on.

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