Big plays could be at a premium at noon Sunday against the defending champs.

In a preview of Week 7 games shared Thursday by analytics website Pro Football Focus, a few key statistics pertaining to Minnesota's matchup at home against Philadelphia (4-2) were pulled into view.

Firstly, the Eagles defense, coordinated by Vic Fangio, is careful not to allow chunk passes. Since 2024, Vangio's unit has permitted explosives (20-plus yards) on just 10.6 percent of pass plays. That's the lowest rate in the league – and a hurdle for the Vikings (3-2) and their offensive playmakers to overcome.

Of course, the availability of second-year corner Quinyon Mitchell factors into that dilemma. Mitchell exited Thursday Night Football last week with a hamstring injury and was limited at practice Wednesday.

He's a candidate to shadow Justin Jefferson if Vangio so chooses.

Mitchell, the 22^nd overall draft pick in 2024, has played 99.1 percent of his snaps on the perimeter (Jefferson has aligned wide on 82.5% of his snaps versus 14.2 in the slot) and is second among NFL cornerbacks with a 48.6% completion rate allowed as the nearest defender, according to Next Gen Stats. Mitchell also ranks in the Top 10 in passes defended, passer rating against and yards per target allowed.

Even if the Eagles hold Jefferson under the 11 catches (on 14 targets) for 159 yards he recorded in the 2023 meeting, they'll have to contend with Jordan Addison and a bevy of other Minnesota playmakers.

Philadelphia has loads of offensive star power in its own right – namely Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert and DeVonta Smith – but the Vikings defensive scheme could dim its light via the blitz.

Based on PFF numbers, Brian Flores' group is among the league's finest when sending extra rushers, limiting offenses to 3.7 yards per play (No. 2 in the NFL). That figure drops even lower, to 3.3 yards per pass play (No. 1). Opposing quarterbacks have registered a 68.8 passer rating against the blitz package.

Here's an interesting wrinkle to consider.

Hurts is an improved player versus the blitz this season. In such scenarios, he boasts career-bests in passer rating (101.5) and completion rate (67%). His 6.7 yards per attempt, however, is a career low.

In other words, explosive pass plays against pressure are fewer and farther between for the Eagles.

Hurts is coming off a season-high 283 pass yards in Philly's loss to the Giants on TNF. Also in that game, the 2020 second-round draft pick who eventually supplanted Carson Wentz, was picked off for the first time since Week 10 of 2024, ending his streak of passes without an INT at 304 (longest in Eagles history).

Check out PFF's full slate of brief but insightful Week 7 game previews here.

'Jets' flies under the radar

Add nature photographer to the résumé of Minnesota's global superstar Jefferson.

The Vikings wide receiver, whose skills on the gridiron are virtually unrivaled and whose fashion sense has gained him fame in the non-sports world, as well, typically can't go places without being recognized.

Unless he's undercover.

Neal Justin of the Minnesota Star Tribune wrote in an article Thursday that Jefferson was afforded the chance to dupe more than cornerbacks in the latest episode of "Eli Manning Presents: The Undercovers."

In the Prime Video series produced by Eli and Peyton Manning, the hard-to-miss Jefferson was camouflaged with a curly haired wig, fake nose, bucket hat and glasses to get into character as Darius Frost, a nature photographer who knows nothing about football, dotes on birds and seems out of place snapping shots at a flag game. The disguise was so good it stumped Myles Price and Vikings teammates.

Across the 30-minute episode, Frost, a.k.a. Jefferson, attempts to prank coaches and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at the team's headquarters in Eagan. In one segment, Frost takes a headshot of Adofo-Mensah and jokes about his "General Manager" title, saying he thought the initials stood for "Great Man." That prompted a confused look on Adofo-Mensah's face to turn into a smile – "I like that!"

Jets tried cluing in Adofo-Mensah on the secret as he walked out of one of the Vikings studio rooms, drawing attention to his flashy smile by pointing at his grill and saying "I heard [Justin] has teeth like this," but Adofo-Mensah didn't connect the dots until "Frost" requested him to return for a photo redo.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell knew of the under-cover bit, but couldn't believe how different Jefferson looked with a face concealed by makeup. In addition to roaming the grounds at TCO Performance Center, Jefferson made a visit to West St. Paul Dome to learn about flag football and fake out participants there.

"It's interesting to see if I have a future in this acting job," Jefferson quipped at the cameras.

You can read a little about Jets' feature appearance here, and can stream the episode on Prime.

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