MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – When the Chicago Bear were busy silencing Justin Jefferson last month, the Minnesota Vikings put Jordan Addison to work.
With the way Sam Darnold threw the ball, the difficult task of defending this passing attack became a real chore. The Bears will conduct further testing Monday night in Minnesota.
“We always say we’re the best duo in the whole league,” Jefferson said after he and his sidekick reached a new high in the Vikings’ storied receiver history last week. Victory 42-21 against Atlanta, which served as something of a breakthrough for an offense that hadn’t yet hit its top gear.
Jefferson and Addison in this game became the first pair of players in the franchise’s 64 seasons to each record at least 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Addison scored three times, giving him 17 touchdowns in just 28 career games. Only Randy Moss (28), Rob Gronkowski (27), Ja’Marr Chase (22), Odell Beckham Jr. (19) and Larry Fitzgerald Jr. (18) scored more before turning 23 .
Addison, the team’s first-round pick last year, has had a rough start to his career off the field with a few driving incidents that could still result in punishment from the NFL. After a contrite arrival In training camp and after a slow start to the season as he suffered a severe ankle sprain to open the game and then suffered another on the opposite foot, Addison took the lead with Darnold as the revitalized quarterback continues to provide winning performances for the Vikings (11-2).
Addison had 23 catches for 410 yards and five scores over the last four games, helping the Vikings extend their winning streak to six despite a constant effort by opponents to send safeties toward Jefferson for double coverage or sometimes triple.
“Especially with the way Justin is defended, normally the player defending Jordan or even if it’s in zone coverage, these guys know they’re being told this guy will be wide open if you don’t get your hands on him, and that couldn’t be more true,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “Now he’s proven that he can play off that contact and play on the field off that contact. .”
Addison’s catch early in the third quarter in Chicago on Nov. 24 was a prime example of this ability to maintain balance and control despite his diminutive stature at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds. Darnold dropped a perfectly placed ball into space in zone coverage between linebacker TJ Edwards and safety Jonathan Owens, whose shoulder-first attempt to bring down Addison near the sideline failed on ‘a match. 69-yard catch and run.
“That’s part of what we projected with Jordan, knowing he had elite quickness, separation skills, fantastic hands and ball tracking,” O’Connell said. “As he’s gotten stronger, he’s worked a lot. It shows in his playing style.”
Jefferson, who is five years into a spectacular career rewriting the NFL receiving record book, had just two receptions for 27 yards in that 30-27 overtime win over the Bears in the week 12. But Addison had eight catches for 162 yards as a tight end. TJ Hockenson had seven receptions for 114 yards and Aaron Jones rushed for a game-high 106 yards that afternoon.
“We assume they’re going to come out and try to stop Justin, but we might get there and it might be something completely different, so everyone just has to be ready to roll at all times,” Jones said. “I feel like we have one of the best skill groups in the league right now.”
Sizzling Sam
Darnold was serenaded with some “MVP” chants late in the game last week as the Vikings pulled away with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. He’s completed 68 percent of his passes over the last four games for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns with no interceptions.
“I think the biggest thing for me is to continue to make good decisions and be able to, when I let the ball rip, let it rip with confidence,” Darnold said.
Difficult times
Bears tight end Cole Kmet admitted the mental toll of this season has taken its toll on him with the team on a seven-game losing streak. A recent pep talk from his father, Frank, who played defensive lineman at Purdue, helped him find perspective.
“He was saying he would give anything to go back and play one more game, to be in the shape I’m in right now and to go out and play football. I think that’s a bit the perspective I want to have in the future,” Kmet said “It’s a tough deal, for sure I just have to keep the mindset that this type of adversity will only hurt me. make it stronger in the future.
On call
The first game with defensive coordinator Eric Washington calling the plays instead of coach Matt Eberflus, who was shot on November 29It didn’t go well. The Bears gave up a season-high 38 points and tied their second-worst total by allowing 452 yards in a loss to San Francisco. Interim coach Thomas Brown said communication issues contributed to the breakdowns in coverage.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a problem with a new player because we still have the same defense. We’ve all been together since spring. The games are the same. They’re just different flows,” Owens said. “It’s just about communicating and executing it.
Whitening
After playing last week in purple, the Vikings will don their “ Winter Warrior » look not only with white jerseys and pants, but also with the first use of a white helmet in franchise history.
“The helmet is already crazy,” outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard said. “I feel like I could sleep in it.” I’m excited to put it on.
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