MINNEAPOLIS -- On the first play from scrimmage Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, the most productive receiver in football lined up on the left side of the formation. The nearest defender was aligned 7 yards away. So at the snap, the Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson calmly sprinted 13 yards downfield. He cut sharply into an out route, with Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Jones still 5 yards away, and caught Kirk Cousins' well-timed pass for a 16-yard gain.
That general pattern repeated itself three times on the Vikings' opening possession, and another three more times on their second, as Jefferson destroyed single defenders who were either backpedaling in man coverage or sitting deep in a zone.