Dec 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.
It was just a playground football transaction.
That’s the primary takeaway detail from Justin Jefferson’s touchdown that propelled the Minnesota Vikings to a 27-24 triumph in Seattle and a 13-2 record through 16 weeks.
In short, the communication headset between head coach Kevin O’Connell and quarterback Sam Darnold faltered with four minutes left in the game, leaving a couple of plays up to Darnold’s discretion. He delivered.
Here’s the touchdown pass from Darnold to Jefferson:
That wasn’t an O’Connell masterclass as one might expect. Darnold made the magic happen with a side dish of Jefferson’s speed and clutch antics.
O’Connell said after the game, “I was trying to get him a call, and my headset, the last thing he heard was the formation. So, his ability to get a play called, and I’ve got to be honest with you, I don’t know what he called. I just know that when I saw him have space and go run like he did, I was relieved. I know what that play call is, QB Run Left. What it seemed like.”
If Minnesota wins its next two games, it will secure homefield advantage throughout the postseason tournament.
“It was kind of an adjustment on the route based upon how Justin reacted in the moment. We had talked a little bit about that sequence. He would be on the back side and if they wanted to shove coverage over to him, we thought Jordan Addison or T.J. Hockenson on the front side,” O’Connell continued. “But how it played out is he got such a clean, good release on the inside release he felt the vertical grass and took it, and in honor of Randy Moss, threw the mailbox sign up, and Sam saw him as he climbed up in the pocket.”
Jefferson produced his top game of the season when the Vikings needed it most, while Sam Darnold will remain a fringe participant in the MVP conversation. His reclamation tale is undeniable.
O’Connell added, “I want those guys to have some freedom in those moments, especially we do a lot of things with Justin and Sam, seeing the coverage, and then with some route opportunities to get to at the line of scrimmage, and I think those guys have just gotten so comfortable with that stuff that they are able to execute it like they did which was maybe the play, absolutely the play of the game, maybe even considering just a moment and the circumstances of the season as well.”
Darnold also told reporters about the Jefferson touchdown that he called a play everyone would know. It must be pretty elementary to all players that throwing the rock to Jefferson on a go-route is the special sauce.
The Vikings are early two-point favorites at home in Week 17 to defeat the Packers. Hopefully the headsets work.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
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