Vikings Pass Catchers Might Be Too Much for Everyone
The Minnesota Vikings benefited from Green Bay Packers star cornerback Jaire Alexander being out for Sunday’s game. However, that doesn’t mean they needed that sort of help. Sam Darnold torched the defense all day long, and everyone was a target.
Vikings Pass Catchers Might Be Too Much for Everyone
Through the first three weeks of the NFL season, Sam Darnold’s only constant in the passing game has been Justin Jefferson. The superstar wide receiver has remained healthy and available for each of the first four weeks. Jordan Addison went down in Week 1, and T.J. Hockenson remains on the shelf.
When Addison returned on Sunday, Kevin O’Connell really allowed his quarterback to have some fun. Darnold threw 28 passes and connected on 20 of them. Nine different receivers were targeted, with eight of them hauling in a pass. Jefferson posted 85 yards on his six catches and punctuated it with a great catch in the end zone.
For Addison, the return came at a place where he torched Alexander a year ago. Kirk Cousins didn’t have Jefferson’s services, and it was Addison who was asked to step up. On Sunday, he did that to the tune of three catches and a touchdown. He also scored on a rushing attempt. Back in the starting lineup, the second-year wideout quickly made his presence felt.
Beyond just Addison and Jefferson, Aaron Jones continues to factor prominently into the passing game. Darnold stared him down too long on the one interception he threw, but it looked like that call should have been overturned anyway. Jalen Nailor has stepped up in recent weeks and made a crucial contribution in the form of a big 31-yard gain.
Despite T.J. Hockenson being out, both healthy tight ends got in the box score. Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver each hauled in the pair of passes thrown their direction. In total, it’s just too much for opposing defenses to keep up with.
Eventually, the Vikings will get Hockenson back, and his presence can continue to spread the opposition thin. With Darnold making good decisions, he has too many weapons to rely on for the defense to conceivably keep up. We are seeing exactly why there should have been the belief that the former first-round pick could work.
Minnesota will get a chance to keep it rolling next week in London. They’ll face a New York Jets team that just got dropped at home by the Denver Broncos.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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