MINNEAPOLIS -- Justin Jefferson stepped to the microphones last week and delivered a revelation that nearly slipped through unnoticed. During his weekly news conference with local reporters, the Minnesota Vikings' receiver casually divulged that coach Kevin O'Connell had "kind of dialed it down for us" on offense as the team prepared for its Week 9 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Vikings' offense hadn't exactly struggled this season -- it entered the game ranked ninth in scoring (24 points per game) and 11th in yards per play (5.7) -- but it had gotten bogged down in recent weeks, ranking 23rd in efficiency and 31st in offensive penalties since the start of Week 5.