Justin Jefferson Keeps Piling on the Records
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson setting records is becoming a weekly occurrence.
Jefferson set a league receiving record for a second week in a row amid a 21–13 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 3. He became the first receiver ever to gain more than 6,600 yards in 68 games or less, and he tied former Vikings wideout Adam Thielen for fourth in franchise history with 6,682 career yards.
Ten days before, Jefferson eclipsed Hall of Fame receiver and former Vikings star Randy Moss for the most 100-yard games in the first five seasons of a career. Jefferson also moved to fifth on the Vikings' all-time list for yardage ahead of former star Jake Reed in a 30–20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8.
Records aside, Minnesota needed a big game from Jefferson on Sunday to snap a two-game losing streak. Jefferson did just that with 137 yards on seven catches, which included his 41-yard reception to set up the go-ahead touchdown in the second half.
"Just all about execution," Jefferson said about the change from a scoreless first half by the Vikings. "So we definitely came out in the second half and came out swinging."
After Jefferson's catch, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jalen Nailor for a 14–10 lead. Darnold finished the night with 28–34 passing for 290 yards and three touchdowns versus two interceptions.
Picks and a fumble didn't doom the Vikings as Colts only scored 10 points off of turnovers, and the Colts only mustered three points besides that. Minnesota's defense limited the Colts to 68 yards rushing, including just 48 from running back Jonathan Taylor and just 159 yards passing by quarterback Joe Flacco.
Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard sacked Flacco twice, and fellow linebacker Jihad Ward got to Flacco once. Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. picked off Flacco once, and the secondary held the veteran quarterback to no touchdowns.
Indianapolis threatened to tie late after a 54-yard field goal by kicker Matt Gay, which made the score 21–13. The Colts couldn't recover the onside kick, however. Jefferson recovered the ball instead to seal the win and avoid overtime a second time with the Colts.
For Jefferson, it also marked the second comeback victory at home against the Colts in his career, but this latest one came easier than the first in some significant ways. In 2022, the Colts built a 35–0 at halftime before the Vikings mounted the biggest comeback in NFL history to win in overtime 39–36. Jefferson had 123 yards and a touchdown in 12 receptions in the victory.
"Just to get a dub [win] ... on a Sunday night, a primetime game, is definitely something that we wanted to happen, especially coming off of two losses," Jefferson said. "It was good to kind of get that taste out of our mouth coming into this week, but we can't stop here."
"We can't just win this game ... and act like everything is all good," he added. "We still have work to do. We still have things to improve on. We just got to go back to work and just keep grinding."
