The Minnesota Vikings have lost five of six games since their bye week, and their playoff chances are all but gone at 4-7 heading into a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks and former quarterback Sam Darnold in Week 13.
The struggles of quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota offense have been well-documented lately, but this note from ESPN puts a finer point on it.
"The Vikings have lost five of their past six games, averaging 16.8 points per game. They are tied for the fifth-lowest PPG in the NFL during that span (since Week 7)."
McCarthy has been unplayably bad the last couple of games, and the Week 12 loss to the Green Bay Packers was the low point. He also entered concussion protocol after the game, and with him officially ruled out, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will make his first career start in Seattle on Sunday.
Brosmer has eight pass attempts over three appearances this season. Some Vikings fans will say he can't be any worse than McCarthy has been, and a good sampling of stats backs up that thought.
A bold prediction for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13 would cure some ills
In line with the struggles of the last six games, Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has not topped 80 yards in any of those contests. In three of the last four, he hasn't even gotten to 50 yards.
If Jefferson were to, for lack of better terms, break and be more open with his frustration than he has been, no one would blame him. But he continues to publicly support McCarthy, when other receivers of his stature would surely go a different direction under the circumstances.
The Seahawks are a middle-of-the-pack pass defense by yardage allowed this season (14th in the league), but they are top-10 by completion percentage (63.2 percent; 10th) and passer rating allowed (84.5; seventh). With starting left guard Donovan Jackson out for Sunday's game, Brosmer will have an extra challenge in a tough environment.
As part of his bold NFL predictions for Week 13, Garrett Podell of CBS Sports had one about Jefferson.
"Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson snaps six-game streak under 100 yards vs. Seahawks"
"Normally, predicting 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson hitting 100 yards receiving wouldn't be a bold prediction. However, he's on a six-game streak under 100 yards receiving, which is the longest such streak of his career. That's not because Jefferson has forgotten how to play football -- he's the NFL's all-time receiving yards per game leader with a 93.5 average."
Podell noted some of the bad numbers McCarthy has produced as part of his case, while predicting Jefferson would overcome those struggles (before McCarthy was officially ruled out) or Brosmer's inexperience to clear 100 yards for the first time since Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns.
When it comes down to it, Jefferson topping 100 yards on Sunday may happen due to the Vikings being forced into a pass-heavy game script as double-digit underdogs. However, Brosmer will likely have a narrow target tree, and Jefferson would be a natural focal point for his attention, with 10-plus targets.
Getting more production from Jefferson on Sunday won't cure all of the Vikings' ills. But it would automatically make the offense look like a more capable operation, which will be very important regardless of the game result or who is under center.