This mismatch may be too much for Chicago Bears to handle
The Chicago Bears are going to have their hands full with Justin Jefferson. If you have been watching the NFL over the past two seasons you know that Justin Jefferson is quite good, breaking the rookie record for yards, and then topping that season in year two. While Jefferson is dominant on his own, one of the best things the Minnesota Vikings have done this season moves him around, so he can get the cornerback matchup that is best for him.
So far this season Jefferson has lined up on the left side for 42% of his snaps, the right side for 20%, and he has been in the slot on 36% of his snaps.
If Jaylon Johnson plays, it at least means that Jefferson would see Johnson on 42% of his snaps. However, if that does not happen, there is going to be plenty of Justin Jefferson against Kyler Gordon.
Chicago Bears will struggle to defend Justin Jefferson
If you have been watching the Chicago Bears this season you know how big of a mismatch that is. Kyler Gordon leads the NFL in yards allowed, and yards allowed from the slot. The slot may be where Jefferson breaks the back of Gordon.
Jefferson has 149 yards on 11 catches from the slot. That is eight in the NFL, and as we highlighted that is coming on just 36% of his offensive snaps. In fact, Jefferson averages 2.57 yards per route run in the slot. That is behind only Noah Brown of the top ten slot receivers and is right ahead of Cooper Kupp, who averages 2.52 yards per route run in the slot.
On the flip side, Kyler Gordon allowed 2.97 yards per snap so far in the slot. He has allowed 16 catches for 229 from the slot.
With Jefferson putting up 2.57 yards every time he is in the slot, and Gordon giving up 2.97 yards every time he is in the slot, we have an all-time mismatch here.
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The Minnesota Vikings only line up Jefferson in the slot on 36% of the snaps, but the Chicago Bears should realize that every snap that he is not in the slot is a gift from the opponents’ offensive coordinator.
This is one mismatch that may be too tough for the Chicago Bears to handle. Keep an eye on how often the team sees Justin Jefferson in the slot against Kyler Gordon on Sunday.