Talking to reporters a couple of months ago, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell understood the gravity of the situation. Not only had the Vikings just lost star receiver Justin Jefferson for an indefinite period of time to a hamstring injury, they were 1-4 and in danger of the season spiraling out of control.

Asked if the offense was going to have to change in the interim, O’Connell nodded his head up and down, acknowledging that everything functioned with Jefferson at the forefront. He attracts multiple defenders nearly every time he breaks the huddle, and while he’s more than capable of beating a double team, or even an occasional triple team, his presence opens up things for his teammates, which is equally important in the grand scheme of things.

It’s not hyperbole to say Jefferson literally makes the offense go, and thus, it was fair to wonder if the Vikings were going to be able to move the ball without the singular person for which the system was designed.

It’s like building the perfect Formula 1 car, then giving the keys to a 16-year-old who just got a driver’s license. It doesn’t matter that the thing can still go fast. Not when it’s lacking the driving force behind the whole operation.

“You foundationally build around a player of Justin’s caliber,” O’Connell said. “It’s a mindset I’ve had since the moment I got the opportunity to be the head coach of this team.”So, the fact that the Vikings are somehow now 6-6 makes anything seem possible with Jefferson finally on the verge of returning. If the Vikings can get the ball rolling against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium, it could serve as a springboard heading into the playoffs.

It can’t be overstated how impressive it is that the Vikings were able to go 5-2 without their best player. There were so many different players who stepped up in his absence, including star tight end T.J. Hockenson, rookie receiver Jordan Addison, veteran receiver K.J. Osborn and even slot receiver Brandon Powell.

You almost started to forget the Vikings were missing such a significant piece of the puzzle.

“It required all of us to really look at different ways of activating other players and still find ways to build our offense,” O’Connell said. “There was a lot of growth and confidence gained throughout that time.”

Even when they lost franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins to injury, then replaced him with journeyman Josh Dobbs, things continued to run smoothly, for at least a couple of weeks. As frustrating as some of Dobbs’ recent struggles have been, his life is about to get much easier with Jefferson on the field.

“He’s the best receiver in the game, in my opinion,” Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “He really has shown up throughout his career at all levels, short, intermediate, downfield. He’s a hard guy to get up and press. He’s a hard guy to play off of at the line of scrimmage. There’s really not a lot that he can’t do.”

Though that could unlock another dimension for Dobbs as he gets comfortable in the offense, he recognized that it’s important that he doesn’t get tunnel vision. There’s a balance between giving the best receiver in the game a chance to make a play on a 50-50 ball and being careless.

“I’ve got to still go through my same process,” Dobbs said. “You can’t go forcing balls, because obviously teams are going to have to plan for Justin Jefferson out there, right? We’ve still gotta play football, and when the big plays are there, I know he’ll make them for us.”

Not surprisingly, Jefferson used a good chunk of this week to make sure he’s on the same page with Dobbs moving forward. They have been throwing together before, during and after practices, developing a connection, so they can hit the ground running during games.

“I feel like we’re going to be good,” Jefferson said. “As long as he has confidence in me, I have confidence in him.”

Theoretically, it’s going to be much harder to defend the Vikings in these final games this season. If they send double coverage toward Jefferson on a particular play, for example, they run the risk of leaving everybody else in single coverage. That doesn’t even take into account the threat of Dobbs making things happen with his legs. He has done it with such regularity over the past month that he has started to attract a spy to limit the damage.

It’s going to be impossible for opposing teams to take away everything everywhere all at once.

“Every defense is in a conflict with J.J. out there,” Hockenson said. “If they try to double-team him and they don’t spy the quarterback, that gives Josh an opportunity. If they spy the quarterback and try to keep him in the pocket, that gives everybody a 1-on-1 matchup. It’s conflicts all along the board. and we’re just looking to try to attack that.”

Asked if he anticipates being defended any differently after missing so much time, Jefferson smiled, almost as if he is daring opposing teams to send single coverage his way.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “I’m most likely going to get the same coverages that I did before. It’s nothing new. We still have the same game plan of moving me around and putting me in different positions to get the ball.”

It’s back to what the Vikings know best when the offense is on the field.

“Listen, they’re going to try to double-team him, and he’s still going to win,” Hockenson said. “It’s going to be fun to watch him. It’s a blast to have him back out there. His presence is awesome. You’ve got to love J.J. in the huddle. He’s always smiling, and then he gets a look on his face, and it’s go time.”