Week 13 - Jets @ Vikes Support Group

What I’m watching

Lewis: The chess match between Kevin O’Connell and Robert Saleh. The former has an offensive background. The latter specializes in defense. The two faced off in 2020 when they were both coordinators in the NFC West. Their two matchups were close, but Saleh got the upper hand twice. They now lead different teams with distinct personnel strengths. O’Connell leans heavily on a play-action passing game based out of 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers). Saleh, meanwhile, deploys a heavy dose of zone coverage with a front that can apply pressure. Which coach will be able to circumvent the other’s scheme more effectively? The answer may tell the tale of what happens in the game.

Krawczynski: Justin Jefferson versus Sauce Gardner. The Jets rookie cornerback has been incredibly impressive, backing up his flashy name with all the confidence and ability you could want. Watching him go toe-to-toe with Jefferson will be a showcase of two of the league’s rising young stars. Let’s see if the third-year receiver can teach the young DB a thing or two.

Biggest concerns

Lewis: The Vikings’ pass defense. Minnesota is giving up an NFL-high 8.25 yards per attempt through the air. Only three teams have allowed that many yards per attempt in the last five years, and those teams finished a combined 14-34. Make no mistake about it, the Vikings have missed cornerback Cameron Dantzler, who has not played since Week 9 due to an ankle injury, and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, who has been absent since Week 8 with a calf injury. Still, the ease with which quarterbacks have moved the ball through the air is concerning against a Jets team that has dynamic pass-catching options (Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, etc.).

Krawczynski: The Jets are flying high with new quarterback Mike White. You all saw the acclaim White received from his teammates in his postgame interview last week after the blowout of the Bears. That was no spontaneous thing. The Jets were showing their new QB how much they support him — and probably sending a message to Wilson about how to lead a team. Beware a team that is playing with not only the motivation to win games, but to send bigger messages. That’s what the Jets look like right now.

Biggest opportunities

Lewis: Kirk Cousins. Last week against the Patriots, Cousins turned in his best performance of the season, per EPA. Can he follow that up against another elite defense? The Cowboys and Patriots rank first and second in defense, per DVOA. The Jets rank fourth. They boast the youngster Gardner, former first-rounder Quinnen Williams and a host of under-the-radar impactful talents: cornerback D.J. Reed, edge rusher John Franklin-Myers and linebacker C.J. Mosley, to name a few. Cousins’ ability to navigate the pocket, extend plays and execute down the field is going to be critical again.

Krawczynski: Greg Joseph. With a defense as good as New York’s, points could be at a premium for the Vikings this week. The Vikings can ill afford too many missed kicks, especially the extra points that have given Joseph so many issues (he has already missed five this season). With confidence in him among Vikings fans a little shaky, Joseph could calm the masses with a big day.

Most interesting storyline

Lewis: Is Jefferson stoppable? But for a two-week blur against the Eagles and Lions and the Dallas debacle two weeks ago, the 23-year-old wide receiver has caught at least six passes and tallied at least 98 yards in every game. He has torched different types of double coverages. Elite cornerbacks such as Marshon Lattimore and Xavien Howard have had trouble hanging with him. It’s hard to fathom Jefferson continuing to stack impressive weeks at this rate, but it’s becoming even harder to imagine him failing to do so. What will he accomplish against another stout defense? This is why we watch.

Krawczynski: The Vikings offense against an elite defense for the third straight week. It was carnage against Dallas, then a very impressive rebound against New England. How do they handle the Jets? This stretch of opponents is great prep for the playoffs. These challenges are significant. The weaknesses in the units are less obvious. The need for quality play up front is paramount. When you look at the rest of the Vikings’ schedule, and many of the wins that came earlier in the season, this stretch represents the chance for the purple to face the kinds of tests they will see in the postseason. It’s a great opportunity.