Justin Jefferson primed for breakout performance Sunday night thanks to an old nemesis the Vikings have dominated in the past
Whether or not Justin Jefferson has the breakout performance we’ve been waiting for, he will be the center of attention against the Dallas Cowboys.
Sunday night is going to be a huge game for both the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys, with both teams needing to win to keep their fleeting playoff hopes alive.
In Dallas, the biggest factor is going to be how well Dak Prescott ends up playing. He is the engine behind the success of the Cowboys, and it helps to have George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb to throw to on the outside. If the offensive line can prevent pressure from Brian Flores’ defense, it could end up making things difficult for the Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings have dominated Matt Eberflus thanks to Justin Jefferson
Over the course of the last three years, the Vikings have faced a Matt Eberflus defense five times. They went 4-1 in those games, mainly due to the presence of Justin Jefferson.
Even though he only had one game with over 100 yards (October of 2022 with 12 catches for 154 yards), his presence stymied the Bears’ defense. Eberflus did everything he could to stop Jefferson, and it allowed other players to step up.
Have things changed with the Cowboys? The secondary has been a tough spot for them, and our Cowboys beat writer Mauricio Rodriguez confirmed that.
“The one-word answer for you is inconsistent,” said Rodriguez about the cornerbacks. “And that’s largely because of DC Matt Eberflus’ scheme, asking its corner players to play so much zone. For large portions of the season, the Cowboys’ corners have looked straight up uncomfortable. And without the pass rush up front, it’s been an up-and-down year. Where the Cowboys have improved is in communication issues leading to broken down plays.
“I would expect Dallas to keep playing zone coverage and hope McCarthy makes mistakes or errant throws. But I think Jefferson will be open consistently on Sunday night.”
Getting Jefferson open feels like the easy part, especially with how much Eberflus makes Jefferson a priority. Even so, his presence can spring open the likes of Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. Last season in the Vikings’ first game against Eberflus, Addison, Hockenson, and running back Aaron Jones all had over 100 yards from scrimmage, while Jefferson had just two catches for 27 yards. Plus, there is the element of J.J. McCarthy’s inconsistent play.
If the Cowboys focus on Jefferson like the Bears did under Eberflus’ watch, there could be a huge game for the other talented players. If they don’t sell out to stop Jefferson, watch for him to finally have the breakout statistical game we’ve waited for all year long. No matter what happens, he’s the focus on Sunday night.
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