Colts corners have been solid but can they stop Justin Jefferson and the Vikings?
The Indianapolis Colts have had good secondary play but they’ll be challenged by Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.
Although the Indianapolis Colts are entering Week 15 at a disheartening 4-8-1, Indy has enjoyed a quality defense this season. Despite a few late-game woes, the Colts’ defense has been one of the better units throughout the season. With multiple Pro Bowl-worthy players in the front seven, the defense is rounded out by a secondary with established craftsmen like Stephon Gilmore, and emerging playmakers like Isaiah Rodgers.
On Saturday, that secondary will be facing arguably its biggest test of the season when the Colts face off against the Minnesota Vikings for a Week 15 matchup. Not only are the Vikings 10-3 with the second-best record in the NFC, but they have one of the best receivers in football with one of the most explosive passing attacks. That receiver is Justin Jefferson, and he’s also accompanied by Adam Thielen, TJ Hockenson, and others.
As a team, Minnesota passes for 246.4 yards a game, the eighth-best in the NFL. Jefferson leads that attack just like he leads the NFL in receiving yards with 1,500 through 13 games. Jefferson also has six touchdowns and several impressive receptions. He’s coming off a game against the Lions where he had 11 receptions for 223 yards. Now, it’s the Colts’ turn to try and slow him down.
Will the Colts slow Justin Jefferson down?
As stated earlier, Indianapolis’ defense has been playing really well this season but the secondary hasn’t done all that good in games against elite receivers. In Week 8 against the Washington Commanders, Terry McLaurin had eight receptions for 113 yards, including a 42-yard catch that set up the game-winning touchdown. In Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Davante Adams caught nine passes for 126 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown that put Vegas ahead before Indy reclaimed the lead to win. CeeDee Lamb had five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown in Indy’s Week 13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Considering those games, there’s definitely cause for concern about Justin Jefferson against the Colts. The success that McLaurin, Adams, and Lamb had wasn’t all on the corners either. They moved around a lot to challenge everyone in the secondary. Unfortunately, the Vikings like to get creative and move Jefferson around a lot too. If Stephon Gilmore mirrors him all game, or if Jefferson only lines up against Gilmore or Isaiah Rodgers, Indy has a chance.
That may not be the case though. Minnesota will definitely try to orchestrate matchups that benefit Jefferson, and with Kenny Moore unlikely to play, the depth and talent of the Colts’ secondary will be tested on Saturday.
