NFL History Made: Justin Jefferson Record Breaking…
Justin Jefferson first burst into the NFL scene in 2020 when he was selected 22nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft. Since then, the 25-year-old wideout has arguably been the best wide receiver in the league.
Entering the 2024 campaign, there was some speculation about whether or not Jefferson could maintain his pace in the league. This was largely due to quarterback Kirk Cousins leaving in the offseason after signing a four-year $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Sam Darnold took over as the starting quarterback in Minnesota and has looked good under center for the Vikings. Jefferson hasn’t missed a step with Darnold throwing him the ball despite Darnold’s mediocre play before joining the Vikings.
On Sunday, Jefferson made NFL history during the team’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans. He broke Tory Holt’s record for most receiving yards in a player’s first five seasons in the league (6,784). Jefferson is at 6,801 and counting.
Entering the contest, the Vikings’ star was 55 yards shy of breaking Holt’s record. Jefferson surpassed that in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. Impressively, the superstar wideout broke Holt’s record in 10 fewer games.
The Vikings still have seven games remaining on the schedule after Week 11. Jefferson has a chance to separate himself from the rest of the pack. Entering the game against the Titans, Jefferson is averaging 92.3 yards per game. The Vikings star is on pace for 1,569 receiving yards this season.
Minnesota has several intriguing matchups to end the season. They play the Chicago Bears twice, the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions. A Week 11 win over the Titans gives the Vikings a 95% chance to make the playoffs.
The remainder of the schedule is rather favorable for Jefferson. Chicago is the best passing defense amongst those listed teams, as they’ve allowed the third least yards through the air entering Week 11 (1,876). The Cardinals, Falcons, Seahawks, Packers, and Lions are either in the middle of the pack or near last in that category.
Look for Jefferson to be a key piece in the Vikings’ offense as the franchise aims for its first playoff appearance since the 2022 season.
