Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson got the better of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
The two-time Pro Bowl receiver dominated the Packers’ defense, especially the secondary. Even with Jefferson’s reputation, watching the highly touted Packers defense struggle as poorly as they did with Jefferson was rather surprising.
Jefferson scored two touchdowns in the first half to put the Packers in a major hole at halftime. In the first half, it seemed like the Packers made no adjustment on Jefferson. He finished the day with nine receptions for 184 yards receiving.
Packers CB Jaire Alexander wanted Jefferson
Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander didn’t match up consistently against Jefferson in the game. It was a surprising decision for the defense to make. Consider 2020, albeit when Jefferson was a rookie, but Alexander locked Jefferson down.
Alexander made an interesting comment to the media following the game. Per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Alexander hinted that he asked the coaches to change the Sunday game plan so he could match up against Jefferson.
Request denied.
Green Bay Packers need to figure out their personnel
It’s clear by Sunday evening that the pregame choices were not what was best for the team. The Packers would have been served better by putting their second-team All-Pro cornerback on the NFC’s best wide receiver.
Alexander’s matchup wasn’t the only coaching decision that struck fans and analysts odd. As Zach Jacobson with CBS Sports pointed out, head coach Matt LaFleur’s decision to go for a fourth-and-one without A.J. Dillion was also questionable.
The Packers will need to sort these concerns out in practice before their prime-time matchup against the Chicago Bears. The coaching staff didn’t seem to be in sync with their players in Week 1.
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