Vikings unleash Justin Jefferson in 23-7 win over Packers in Kevin O’Connell’s debut
2 years ago
Justin Jefferson #JustinJefferson
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks around the stadium before his first start as a Head Coach before a NFL football game against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
An NFL Kickoff banner is seen in U.S. Bank Stadium before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
A U.S. Bank Stadium sign is seen before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Green Bay fan Dustin Javers and his Vikings fan brother Spencer Javers sport contrasting outfits as they celebrate the Vikings/Packers game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2021. “Mom gave us too much purple as a kid and I went to the dark side,” said Dustin about becoming a Packer fan. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Green Bay fan Dustin Javers and his Vikings fan brother Spencer Javers sport contrasting outfits as they celebrate the Vikings/Packers game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2021. “Mom gave us too much purple as a kid and I went to the dark side,” said Dustin about becoming a Packer fan. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Packer fan Jessica Smith and her Viking fan mom Mary Smith try to keep civil to each other as they wait to get into U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2021. The Cloquet pair are attending their first Vikings/Packers game together, “Jessica has been a Packer fan since kindergarten much to the chagrin of the rest the of the family,” said Mary about her daughter. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
A trio of Viking fans whoop and holler as they walk towards the gates before the start of the Vikings game at against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2021. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Fans arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Fans arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah walks on the sideline before the start NFL football game against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up before the start of a NFL football game against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) walks onto the field with teammates before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine (6) tosses the football around before the start NFL football game against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Cine was listed as inactive for Sunday’s game. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Fans watch players warm up before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell talks with quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) catches a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter (99) knocks down a Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) pass in the first quarter of a NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) dives into the end zone against Green Bay cornerback Eric Stokes (21) for his second touchdown on the game in the second quarter of a NFL football game against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) walks into the end zone fir his first touchdown on the day in the first quarter of a NFL football game against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates his touchdown against Green Bay with fellow wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) first quarter of a NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, left, celebrates with head coach Kevin O’Connell after catching a 36-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Za’Darius Smith (55) sacks Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) in the first quarter of a NFL football game against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Za’Darius Smith (55) celebrates his sack of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) in the first quarter of a NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (97) is pumped after the Vikings defense stopped the packers on the one yard line in the second quarter of a NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (4) fights forward for a first down as several Green Bay attempt to pull him down in the second quarter of a NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 11 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Green Bay Packers linebacker Krys Barnes (51) is helped by medical personnel after getting injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Vikings sat Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson throughout the preseason. On Sunday, they unleashed them.
Cousins threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jefferson, and the third-year wide receiver caught nine passes for 184 yards. It added up to a season-opening 23-7 victory over Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium in the first Vikings game under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
O’Connell, the offensive coordinator last season for the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, wasted no time in rolling out his new attack. In the first half, Cousins threw for 208 yards, and Jefferson had five catches for 158 yards and both of his touchdown receptions. Jefferson gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead on a 5-yard grab on fourth down in the first quarter and a 17-0 advantage in the second quarter on a 36-yard reception.
After his second touchdown, the crowd chanted to Jefferson, “MVP. MVP. MVP.”
For the game, Cousins completed 23 of 32 passes for 277 yards.
The Vikings took a 20-0 lead in the third quarter when Greg Joseph tied a team record for longest field goal with a 56-yard boot. Paul Edinger in 2005 and Blair Walsh in 2012 share the record.
The Packers closed within 20-7 on a 2-yard touchdown run by A.J. Dillon late in the third quarter. But the Vikings defense then took over, getting sacks by Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum when the Packers had the ball next.
Minnesota’s new 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Ed Donatell produced four sacks. One was from edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, who played the past three years with Green Bay.
The Vikings took a 23-7 lead on Joseph’s third field goal of the game, a 29-yarder with 6:48 left.
Chris joined the Pioneer Press in 2013 to cover the Vikings. He was a longtime NBA writer with the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. Before coming to Minnesota, he covered the Miami Heat and Dolphins for Fox Sports. Since joining the Pioneer Press, Chris has won 10 awards in Pro Football Writers of America contests and in both 2021 and 2022 was named a national top-10 beat writer by the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE). Chris is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he spent his college years watching the losingest team in the history of Division I-A football.
