Justin Jefferson Can Break Another NFL Record on Sunday
The Minnesota Vikings had to play the last seven games without their superstar wide receiver, and not many expected the 1-4 start of the team. But led by quarterback Kirk Cousins’ resurgence, the Vikings are now 5-5 and fighting for a playoff spot.
The emergence of rookie Justin Jefferson as the leader of the Vikings’ receiving corps has played a major role in the team’s reversal of fortune. In Week 11 of the NFL season, Jefferson has the chance to make history again and break an NFL record set by Hall of Famer Randy Moss.
After being selected 22nd overall in the 2020 NFL draft, Jefferson has become an integral part of the Vikings offense, catching 77 passes for 1,182 yards and seven touchdowns this season which puts him on a record-breaking pace. He needs only 35 yards to surpass the rookie mark for a single season of 1,313 yards set by Moss in 1998 – a record that seemed unbreakable until this year.
Jefferson has been on a tear since Week 6 when he hauled in his first 100-yard game against the Atlanta Falcons and has compiled six 100-yard games since then. He has three games with 145+ receiving yards trailing only the legendary Moss for most 145+ yard games in a rookie season.
In the Vikings’ Week 11 game against the Carolina Panthers, Jefferson is in prime position to break the record and become the first rookie receiver to enter the 1,400-yard club. Given that he has been putting up consistent numbers all season long, it is a feat that could easily be achieved.
Even if Jefferson falls short this week, he has plenty of other opportunities as the Vikings still have five games left on the schedule. And if there’s one thing that is certain, it is that Justin Jefferson has a bright future ahead of him in Minnesota.
The opportunity to break an NFL record set by one of the greatest players to ever play the game is an incredible experience for a rookie, and Jefferson has proven that he belongs in their ranks. He has already shown glimpses of greatness over the course of this season, and his hard work and dedication have been an inspiration to everyone around him.
It is not often that a rookie equals or surpasses a record set by one of the most iconic players of all time. But given how far Jefferson has come in such a short amount of time, it seems that he is destined for greatness. Jefferson has already made history and is well on his way to breaking yet another record in the NFL this Sunday.
