GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jaire Alexander wanted Justin Jefferson.

He got him, with Alexander’s dominant performance spearheading the Green Bay Packers’ blowout victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

A no-brainer decision? Probably. But the genesis of it started early in the week with defensive coordinator Joe Barry and secondary coach Jerry Gray talking to Alexander and fellow cornerback Rasul Douglas.

“I think any time you do those things, you’ve got get the players’ feel,” Barry said on Thursday, having long since turned the page to Sunday’s showdown against the Detroit Lions with a spot in the NFC playoffs on the line.

“I think comfort is the wrong word because [the way] both those guys are wired. We reached out to them early in the week. Coach Gray does a great job overall, but especially in situations like that, just talking to the player, getting the player’s feel, getting their approach and then obviously streamlining it into the game plan.”

With Alexander and Douglas playing elite-level football, Jefferson caught 1-of-5 passes for 15 yards and Thielen caught 1-of-4 passes for 16 yards. Combined, they had 220 yards in the first game – 184 yards and two scores by Jefferson – but only 31 yards on Sunday.

“Those guys did a heck of a job all week with the plan and then going and executing it,” Barry said.

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