He’s on pace for best NFL WR season — ever. Here’s Chiefs’ plan vs. the Vikings’ star
The record for NFL receiving yards in a season is 1,964.
And through four games in 2023, Minnesota receiver Justin Jefferson is pacing to obliterate that total.
Jefferson, a fourth-year pro out of LSU, leads the NFL in receiving with 33 catches for 543 yards. Extrapolate that out, and Jefferson is not only on track to be the first 2,000-yard receiver ever ... he’s trending at his current rate to get to 2,308.
It’s not surprising, then, that members of the Chiefs defense spoke plenty this week about trying to combat the Vikings’ star receiver.
“He’s a competitor,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said of Jefferson. “He’s a guy we’ve got to be concerned about.”
For a variety of reasons, too.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said what stands out to him about Jefferson’s film is his physicality catching the football. Yes, Jefferson is talented and has an exceptional ability to read coverages. But Mahomes loves that Jefferson will go up and get the football while willing to put his body at risk.
“You can tell he loves competing. He loves winning,” Mahomes said. “So, I think that’s what makes a lot of great players in this league, and that’s why he has so much success so early in his career.”
That’s not all the Chiefs have to fear, though.
Spagnuolo, for example, has been preaching to his guys this week about the importance of taking proper “angles to the completion point.” It’s a complex way of saying if you don’t meet Jefferson at the juncture he catches the ball, he will make you miss in open space, with the potential to go the distance.
Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams reinforced that point this week. Though Jefferson has gone viral for his jump-ball-type catches, Williams has been just as impressed with his run-after-the-catch ability. That also shows up in the stats, with Jefferson ranking second in that category according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics.
So how do the Chiefs go about trying to limit him?
Justin Reid says the first key is identification.
The Chiefs safety said he’s made an effort in film study this week to begin by determining where Jefferson is on each play. The Vikings are usually creative with this, moving Jefferson inside and outside, and sometimes even into the backfield.
Reid said Jefferson’s starting point can sometimes provide a “tell” — or a tipoff — on what the offensive play might be based on Minnesota’s previous tendencies.
Williams also points to something more straightforward for the Chiefs defense to accomplish against Jefferson and the Vikings: just being themselves.
KC has thrived this year with Spagnuolo preaching to his players to keep their two Cs: confidence and chemistry. And while Jefferson will be difficult to go against, the Chiefs defense has succeeded thus far by remaining technically sound while properly executing assignments.
“So we’ll continue to do that: Play with discipline, technique, alignment and do our thing, our deal,” Williams said. “If we play the type of football we know we can play, we think we’ll have a good game.”
Spagnuolo also mentions another factor: The Vikings can burn defenses that choose to laser-focus on Jefferson.
TJ Hockenson is the team’s clear No. 2 option, as he’s tied for first among all tight ends in catches (25) and third in receiving yardage (203).
“It’s really hard to put a lot of attention on a wideout and a tight end. That’s tough to do,” Spagnuolo said. “You’ve got to pick your spots.”
Combine Jefferson and Hockenson with quarterback Kirk Cousins — he leads the NFL with 11 touchdown passes — and Reid said the Chiefs’ defense is preparing for a significant challenge against the 1-3 Vikings.
“Although their record doesn’t reflect it,” Reid said, “I think this is probably the best offense that we’ve gone and played this season.”
