Film Study: Slowing down Jefferson?

How did the Bears really approach Jefferson? Let's have a look at the tape

© Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

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By Matthew Coller

When the dust settled on Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, the Minnesota Vikings walked out with one of their most impressive offensive games of the Kevin O’Connell era with 452 total yards. Not many of those yards were attributed directly to Justin Jefferson but what about indirectly due to the coverage being shifted his way? That’s what coaches and players were saying after the game. Can we spot it on the All-22 tape? Let’s have a look…

“Slowing down” Jefferson

We begin with an early shot play to Jordan Addison, who made a remarkable catch with the Bears defender hanging all over his back. The wider view of the play shows the Bears have a cornerback pressing Jefferson and a safety over the top. TJ Hockenson and Addison also run vertical routes while Trent Sherfield and Cam Akers are underneath to occupy the linebackers. As Jefferson goes into his break toward the middle, the safety tries to follow him and the zone linebacker picks up Jefferson too while the outside corner stays outside. (Side note: The safety slams into Hockenson, no flag somehow.) Addison is left one-on-one and beats his man to the football.

Having two players on Jefferson through his entire route and three different players involved in the coverage didn’t leave anyone to help with Addison, who took full advantage.

This effect gets easier to see in the red zone. Addison’s touchdown was a direct result of the attention on Jefferson. The Vikings send Jefferson in motion and he starts his route on the same side as Addison. When both receivers come across the middle, the Bears linebacker begins to chase Addison and then realizes Jefferson is coming behind him and slams on the breaks. Darnold reads that he’s focused on JJ and delivers a strike to Addison for the touchdown.

Notice the spacing too. Sherfield runs a flat route to the pylon, taking his player completely out of the way and they keep Cam Akers in to protect, stopping the safety from getting a free run at the QB off the edge.

Darnold’s other touchdown was also caused by the sheer terror that Jefferson would roast the Bears out of existence. When JJ takes off from the line of scrimmage, there are three defenders around him. It looks for a second like he’s going to have space in the back corner of the end zone because the outside corner is covering Jalen Nailor. As soon as the corner drifts back to give extra attention to Jefferson, Darnold fires underneath for the score.

Over and over, the biggest plays of the game involved Jefferson, just not in a way that’s going to help your fantasy team.

On Hockenson’s game-winning reception, the Bears press JJ at the line of scrimmage and track him man-to-man but as he runs a crosser the safety stays in his spot to play Jefferson rather than traveling with Hockenson and the deep safety is too far back to make up the difference.

In the end, Darnold finished with one of his highest QB ratings, QBRs from ESPN and PFF grades of the season by taking advantage of what the defense gave him. The success was built off Jefferson drawing a ton of attention, particularly in the key spots of the game. The Vikings spent a first-round pick on Addison and traded a second-rounder for Hockenson for exactly this reason. Can’t stop everybody.

Going forward, teams will need to think twice before they try to dedicate their entire gameplan to taking away one player. That’s a huge win for the Vikings.

Not to mention that Jefferson still produced yards in the form of pass interferences, one of which directly led to a touchdown. It was the best 2-catch, 27-yard game you’ll ever see.

Contributors to the run success

The Vikings ran for 124 total yards on the day and the RB duo averaged 5.0 yards per carry. How did they bounce back from a rough day on the ground against the Titans? That begins with a wide receiver.

The Vikings started with a successful rush on a pitch play to Jones. His signature run hasn’t quite been as explosive recently but on this one Kevin O’Connell uses Trent Sherfield the same way Robert Woods or Cooper Kupp did in Los Angeles. Sherfield blocks the defensive end as Brian O’Neill swings around and flattens the safety. Dalton Risner gets to the second level and Jones has a highway to run for a chunk play.