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The second division team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, faces Justin Jefferson from the Minnesota Vikings

Jefferson leads the NFL in receiving yards this season and is on pace to break the record for most receiving yards in the first five seasons

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said it best.

When it comes to the success that Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings have had this season, one name comes to mind.

“Justin Jefferson,” Pederson said with a laugh before listing other factors that contributed to their success. “…Justin Jefferson is obviously an elite receiver in this league who can have a devastating impact on you.”

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The league leader in receiving yards comes to town on Sunday. And with him comes a host of problems for defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's team.

“He’s at the top of the game in terms of receivers,” Nielsen said Thursday. “So we have to keep an eye on him.”

Jefferson has rushed for 783 yards on 48 receptions this season, including five receiving touchdowns. He rushed for 6,682 yards in his career, consistently torching defenders and doing his iconic griddy dance after scoring.

He is just 103 yards away from breaking the record for most receiving yards in the first five seasons of his playing career. But the Jaguars don't expect him to use it any differently than usual.

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“We’re going to play like we played,” Nielsen said of the possibility of shadowing Jefferson. “There will be times when he will be on guard in critical situations and things like that. But we’re going to stay who we are and continue to stay the course and keep going with this defense.”

This game plan does not typically involve players shadowing the receivers. But with cornerback Tyson Campbell extended in the offseason, there's a chance to do other things defensively against Jefferson.

“I think there are two ways to look at it,” Pederson said Wednesday. “You can take your best corner and put him on the best receiver, or you can put your best corner on the second receiver and put two players on the best one. That's what teams do. That’s what defenses do.”

What concerns Campbell is that he chooses to stick to the game plan instead of sticking to the game plan. He is in favor of sticking to the program. But that doesn't mean he's afraid of the challenge.

“I’m for anything,” Campbell said when asked about potentially asking coaches to accompany Jefferson. “Whoever stands in front of me.”

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