Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy’s path toward success vs. Dallas Cowboys just got significantly easier for him and Justin Jefferson
With the Dallas Cowboys benching cornerback Trevon Diggs, it makes things that much easier for wide receiver Justin Jefferson and quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
One of the more difficult things this season for the Minnesota Vikings has been the lack of production for wide receiver Justin Jefferson. It’s been a tough year for the multiple-time All-Pro, as he’s caught just 64 passes for 810 yards and two touchdowns. He has just two 100-yard games, and neither came on the continent of North America.
Now, it’s not because Jefferson has been playing poorly. Quite the opposite, actually. He looks just as good as ever. The issue has been quarterback J.J. McCarthy‘s inconsistent play. Things got better against the Washington Commanders, and his job against the Dallas Cowboys might be the easiest he’ll ever see.
Dallas Cowboys and Trevon Diggs’ relationship takes a turn
The matchup against the Cowboys’ defense, led by Matt Eberflus, is a great one for the Vikings. They rank 29th in EPA/play and 30th in EPA/dropback in the NFL. They are also coming off a 44-point shellacking that the Detroit Lions gave them last week.
It won’t be easy for the Cowboys, and now things will be a little harder, as star cornerback Trevon Diggs won’t be playing on Sunday night.
The words “soured” and “been severed” used to describe the relationship between the two parties are far from good. Diggs was a second-round pick out of Alabama in 2020 and has been a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2021. That season was an impressive one, as he intercepted 11 passes with two of those going for touchdowns. It’s also the reason why he’s been so up-and-down, as Diggs lived and died by the interceptions.
It’s been a rough few years on the field for Diggs. He’s played in just 19 games over the last three seasons after signing a massive contract extension following the 2022 season. He tore his ACL in the second game of the 2023 season and struggled upon his return.
Without Diggs, the Cowboys still have DaRon Bland on the other side, but it’s their depth at the position where Jefferson and McCarthy can attack. Shavon Revel, the Cowboys’ third-round pick this past April, will likely get the start on the other side, while Reddy Steward, who the Vikings released at final cuts this August, is likely to play in the slot.
Eberflus has a history of trying to load up on Jefferson with double and triple teams, but that will be significantly harder to do with a lack of depth at cornerback.
Get ready for an explosive night on Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys News
The Dallas Cowboys just made a very telling decision on Trevon Diggs’ future that felt inevitable all along
Sure looks like this is it.
Minnesota Vikings News
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.
