The Lions are looking for a little more help in stopping Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson with their recent rule change proposal.
Minnesota Vikings wide receivers have a history of forcing the NFL to change.
As a rookie, Randy Moss dominated the Green Bay Packers, tallying 13 catches for 343 yards and three touchdowns in a pair of divisional wins during the 1998 season.
In the following year's NFL Draft, the Packers drafted defensive backs in the first, second and third rounds. Teams changed how they cover Moss: deploying safeties at the line of scrimmage to try to outphysical "The Freak" and cornerbacks in deep coverage who had the speed to not get beaten deep -- all in an attempt to stop Moss.
Two decades later, another Vikings wide receiver has the Detroit Lions looking to change the game to stop him.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) reacts with Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31)
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
This week, the Lions will bring a rule change proposal to the NFL Owners Meetings, pleading for the league to eliminate the award of an automatic first down as a penalty for defensive holding and illegal contact.
Why? Detroit has buried itself with these penalties, committing more than any other team over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Minnesota has been the biggest benefactor of the automatic first down rule on these calls -- and that's thanks in large part to Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson is nearly impossible to cover -- an automatic first-down machine for any corner reckless enough to press him. And no team has flirted with disaster more than Detroit.
The Lions want to play physical, deploying man coverage on 44% of defensive snaps last season -- the most of any team in the NFL. Their approach has worked sparingly, dependent on how tight of a game the officials called.
In a playoff-like atmosphere in Week 18, Detroit held Jefferson to a modest 54 yards in a 31-9 win after Jefferson went for a combined 414 yards and three touchdowns in the previous three meetings.
However, the Lions' physical style of play comes at the detriment of drawing the most penalties in coverage in the NFL.
Justin Jefferson reaches for the ball between a pair of Lions defenders
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, Detroit has committed 26 defensive holding or illegal contact penalties since 2023.
Another notable statistic: NFL Ref Stats compiled a plus-minus for automatic first downs surrendered for the two penalties and found that Detroit was the worst performer with a -26 rating.
The Vikings have benefitted the most, ranking No. 1 in the league with a +32 rating -- not just due to disciplined defense but because Jefferson forces defenders into impossible situations.
While I couldn't find the number of holding or illegal contact penalties Jefferson drew last season, he did draw nine defensive pass interference calls for 171 yards -- the most by any receiver in the league.
Jefferson, one of the toughest receivers to cover in the league, is a chain-mover even without the ball in his hands. Minnesota benefits from the added penalty yardage and extra series of downs created by his route-running and threat of creating separation.
This doesn't show up on the box score but was accounted for when the Vikings gave him a four-year, $140 million extension last summer.
But instead of adapting like the Packers in 1999, loading up at defensive back and changing their coverage to combat Moss, Detroit is trying to rewrite the rulebook to limit Jefferson's impact.
It's a clear shot from the defending NFC North champions to tip the scales more in its favor -- and no one would be hampered more than the Vikings and Jefferson.
