Why Did The Vikings Hide Justin Jefferson From Us For Two Weeks?

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I doubted the gambling brains in Vegas and I should know better. By some divine miracle, the Vikings looked like a completely new team today. Outside of the final drive, Kubiak went back to running the football (Dalvin Cook had over 100 yards and a TD) and they unleashed Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson completely blew the top off of an empty US Bank Stadium, to the tune of 175 yards and one touchdown, for three quarters of Sunday’s game. He was able to show off his complete skill-set… and his toolbox is impressive, when opened.

I knew Justin Jefferson could catch the ball and that he ran good routes. I did not know he had the playmaking ability I saw in his first career touchdown catch. Shaking off those receivers looked — and I really hate that I’m typing this, but I’m just reporting my honest feelings in the moment — Randy Moss-like.

I know. I never compare anyone to Randy Moss and I hate that I’m doing it now. It’s not fair to Jefferson. I’m sure Diggs and other receivers have done the same-type of things through the years. I can’t explain why it felt so Randy-like this time around.

Where Were the Vikings Hiding JJ?

I don’t want to hear about lack of preseason games or lack of gameplan knowledge or anything else. There are no excuses for why Justin Jefferson was not a bigger part of the Vikings offense, before today. Did you watch the last two weeks? Kirk Cousins could have played WR for himself, and been more productive that Bisi Johnson.

Now, in a game where Chad Beebe returns from injury, Justin Jefferson was suddenly the second-best WR on roster? What happened over the last seven days? Nothing. We should have seen Jefferson earlier. He is clearly a talent that this offense missed in weeks one and two.

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I vowed NOT to jump back on the Minnesota Vikings bandwagon after week 3… no matter how good they looked. I’ll admit, I had one foot back on after JJ’s touchdown, but I couldn’t lift my second foot off the ground before it took of without me.

The Vikings secondary still sucks and the offensive line can’t protect Kirk unless the play-action works. Someone tell Kirk and Gary to just throw the ball to Justin Jefferson more next week. We’ll call it the “Jefferson Ratio”. Very original.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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