The nice thinker and scholar Santana Moss as soon as mentioned, “Huge time gamers make large time performs in large time video games.” This concept that the star gamers rise to the event within the largest video games of the season is confirmed each in principle and in observe, the largest instance being Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp within the Tremendous Bowl final 12 months.
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson put collectively one of the crucial spectacular large receiver performances I’ve ever seen within the Vikings 33-30 time beyond regulation victory over the Buffalo Payments. Jefferson had ten catches for 193 yards and a landing, and a bevy of highlights in between.
Popping out of LSU, Jefferson was seen by many as a main slot receiver who was smoother than different receivers who may battle on the surface in opposition to physicality. He’s emphatically put that to relaxation in his third 12 months, going up and over defenders to make spectacular catches. His seven contested catches within the Payments sport is by far probably the most in a single sport this season, and much more spectacular wanting round the remainder of the league.
Justin Jefferson had seven contested catches in yesterday’s sport, based on PFF. Solely 17 receivers have seven contested catches your complete season.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) November 14, 2022
One of many issues that stood out about Jefferson’s sport in opposition to the Payments is the power to battle via contact on the prime of his route. The Payments, regardless of being injured on the place, are nonetheless a gaggle of bodily corners, and Jefferson was preventing via contact on the catch level to get open and make performs after the catch. His first goal was like this, on a 3 man dagger idea. WR KJ Osborn runs a go path to filter the only excessive security, Adam Thielen runs an over route to remove the robber, and Jefferson runs a dig behind Osborn.
This offers Jefferson a one-on-one, however the nook is being bodily throughout the route. Jefferson doesn’t let the contact faze him, makes the catch after which will get some severe yards after the catch as effectively.
On his landing catch, he shakes off the urgent nook with an outdoor stem and stacks him sufficient to create a throwing window, then goes over the DB to make the catch. A powerful total play. He by no means appears open till the throw is made.
Then, in fact, we now have the catch that’ll go down as probably the greatest in Vikings historical past, together with the Minneapolis Miracle. 4th and 18 with the sport on the road, the Payments are operating Cowl 2, and Jefferson runs an out breaking route from the slot and will get a one on one with the security, and pulls down the ball with one hand. Within the largest second of the season. An enormous time participant, making a giant time play.
Jefferson has solidified his spot among the many league’s finest on the place, and his skill to make large time performs has come in useful for a Vikings workforce that now has the Tremendous Bowl of their sights.