Time (for me) to lighten up on AT...
Justin Jefferson deserves every bit of the extra eyeballs that defenses glue to him on a weekly basis, but it still was surprising to see a unit coached by Bill Belichick lose track of Adam Thielen's whereabouts while in the red zone during the fourth quarter of a tie game.
Since the start of the 2020 season, Jefferson's rookie year, only three players have caught more red-zone touchdown passes than Thielen's 23. Travis Kelce, a future Hall of Fame tight end, has 28. Davante Adams, a first-team All-Pro the past two years, has 27. And Cooper Kupp, last year's NFL Offensive Player of the Year as only the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to win receiving's Triple Crown, has 24.
Of those four players, Thielen needed the fewest red-zone targets by far (46) to reach his total. Adams needed 72, while Kupp needed 69 and Kelce 61. Meanwhile, Thielen's former teammate, Stefon Diggs, has 21 red-zone scores in 69 targets since he landed in Buffalo in 2020.
And yet Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell knew heading into Thursday night's game that eventually Thielen would become wide open in the end zone. He knew Belichick's defense would give Kirk Cousins the perfect look. All it required was being patient and waiting long enough for Jefferson's greatness to draw more attention and manpower than Thielen's very goodness.
Against a single-high safety look, the Vikings ran a crisscross with Jefferson running left to right and Thielen running right to left from the other side. The Patriots' eyeballs and that one deep safety followed Jefferson. Then the football found Thielen for the go-ahead-and-stay-ahead 15-yard touchdown in a 33-26 game.
It looked way too easy for a guy of Thielen's very goodness. Of course, Jefferson's greatness appears to have no ceiling within sight.
Once the game ended, Thielen's humility allowed him to effortlessly go on and on about Jefferson's rightful spot as the best receiver in the league.
"Consistency is what sets him apart from everyone else," Thielen said. "There are guys in this league that can make big plays. Go out there and have 100-yard games. But his consistency, to have big game after big game after big game when everybody is trying to stop him at what he does … They have eyes on him wherever he is and when he continues to have that consistency that's what sets him above everyone else and makes him the best in the game."
Those extra eyes on Jefferson also leaves plenty on the bone for the league's best No. 2 receiver. Jefferson caught the night's first touchdown pass, a 6-yarder that gave him a third red-zone TD reception this year and a 13th in his three-year career. Thielen simply plugged along catching nine balls for 61 yards (6.8) on 10 targets while Jefferson turned his nine catches into 139 yards (15.4) on 11 targets.
Jefferson is the talk of the league with 81 catches for 1,232 yards and five touchdowns. Thielen checks in at a mere-mortal 54 catches for 553 yards and three touchdowns, all three of them in the red zone.
But get this …
- Thielen's 54 catches are not just more than any other No. 2 receiver. They would lead 22 of the league's 32 teams, including nine of the 14 teams currently in position to make the playoffs.
- His 553 yards would lead 12 teams while his touchdown catches would lead 10 teams.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Nice article. Believe it or not I think Thielen is undervalued by many Vikings fans. He just keeps doing his job at a very high level.
As the season has gone along, I do think Thielen has lost a step from his prime. He's just not getting as much separation as he did a few years ago. Part of me wonders if it's the type of routes he's being asked to run in this offense... Or if it is really the start of an athletic decline....
But regardless, he's a great leader, works hard, and can still make plays when his number is called. It's really a testament to his character that he has no jealousy or envy with other WRs on the team. He's always been supportive of his teammates when it was Diggs star emerging and then Jefferson's... and he's never really gotten his due nationally in the media for being such a good player the last five + years.
I really hope Kirk continues to look his way cuz our offense moves the ball much better when we're spreading it around. Get Jefferson his, but let Hock, Thielen, and KJ feed too.
Big question (for me) going into next season will be is KJO ready to take that step into WR #2...
I'd luv for AT to remain here till his career ends, for the very reasons Wet articulates. It'll always come down to cap space too.
Says a lot about Thielen to have those numbers and yet it doesn't seem like he is having his typical year. He doesn't seem to be anywhere near 100% healthy, every game you see him at some point having a hard time getting up and getting to the sidelines. I think he has been really gutting it out. At some point, it may be supportive to let him rest a few games. Reagor had a big catch last week and I would like to see him and Nailor get more reps.
Unlike Diggs, Thielen has accepted the role as the number two receiver. Also, he tries to make the most of it with limited opportunities.
I'd describe AT as "Reliable". He's not the burner stretching the field, but he's a smart vet keeping the drives alive. Solid, valuable player still.
IMO, Adam has lost a bit physically. Not surprising, but he's still a good #2. But next year if they draft a WRer high, which they might as that could be the BPA, you'll see him phased out. Its the natural order of things, he's been a great Viking.
@"purplefaithful" said:So, if AT has more catches than the #1 on 2/3s of the teams and yards and TDs are better than 1/3, then perhaps it is the pass offenses that are struggling, not just AT.But get this …
- Thielen's 54 catches are not just more than any other No. 2 receiver. They would lead 22 of the league's 32 teams, including nine of the 14 teams currently in position to make the playoffs.
- His 553 yards would lead 12 teams while his touchdown catches would lead 10 teams.
Or simply, AT is doing very well in 2022.
@"StickyBun" said: IMO, Adam has lost a bit physically. Not surprising, but he's still a good #2. But next year if they draft a WRer high, which they might as that could be the BPA, you'll see him phased out. Its the natural order of things, he's been a great Viking.I wont be surprised to see AT somewhere else next year, as his contract is just the easiest target, but its not because of a lack of production, when JJ is getting as many looks as he is, and then add in the other weapons, just not that many touches to go around.
@"JimmyinSD" said:I don't see AT playing anywhere else but here. Of course, new contract. KOC gave him a game ball after Pats game and pretty much said he is a role model for the team.@"StickyBun" said: IMO, Adam has lost a bit physically. Not surprising, but he's still a good #2. But next year if they draft a WRer high, which they might as that could be the BPA, you'll see him phased out. Its the natural order of things, he's been a great Viking. I wont be surprised to see AT somewhere else next year, as his contract is just the easiest target, but its not because of a lack of production, when JJ is getting as many looks as he is, and then add in the other weapons, just not that many touches to go around.
@"minny65" said:I dont want him to, but how much of a hair cut is he willing to take to keep playing in purple? same with Harry, and a few other vets need to be this conversation as well, Hunter, Kendricks...@"JimmyinSD" said:I don't see AT playing anywhere else but here. Of course, new contract. KOC gave him a game ball after Pats game and pretty much said he is a role model for the team.@"StickyBun" said: IMO, Adam has lost a bit physically. Not surprising, but he's still a good #2. But next year if they draft a WRer high, which they might as that could be the BPA, you'll see him phased out. Its the natural order of things, he's been a great Viking. I wont be surprised to see AT somewhere else next year, as his contract is just the easiest target, but its not because of a lack of production, when JJ is getting as many looks as he is, and then add in the other weapons, just not that many touches to go around.
@"minny65" said:Yes, but that is long forgotten by March when business decisions are made.@"JimmyinSD" said:I don't see AT playing anywhere else but here. Of course, new contract. KOC gave him a game ball after Pats game and pretty much said he is a role model for the team.@"StickyBun" said: IMO, Adam has lost a bit physically. Not surprising, but he's still a good #2. But next year if they draft a WRer high, which they might as that could be the BPA, you'll see him phased out. Its the natural order of things, he's been a great Viking. I wont be surprised to see AT somewhere else next year, as his contract is just the easiest target, but its not because of a lack of production, when JJ is getting as many looks as he is, and then add in the other weapons, just not that many touches to go around.I hope he agrees to a restructure and retires with the team. Hated seeing John Randle go to the seahawks and taint his rep. These types of stories are so special for the Viking lore.
Edit Post (mod action — author will see a notice)
Warn Poster
Suspend User (3 days)
The user will be suspended for 3 days and will receive an email with the reason and information about how to appeal.