Justin Jefferson’s electric 2022 debut puts him among Vikings royalty

Justin Jefferson helped propel the Minnesota Vikings to a dominate Week 1 win against an NFC North rival.

Minnesota Vikings wideout, Justin Jefferson, had himself a day. The Vikings’ Week 1 game saw them host long-time rival Green Bay in a game that had a playoff-like feel. After a narrow playoff miss in 2021, the Vikings knew that starting off on the right foot could make all the difference.

At least for now, it paid off. The Vikings dominated the contest from the opening kick, frustrating ex-Super Bowl champion and league mainstay Aaron Rodgers in the process. The 23-7 win helped bring the Vikings to the top of the NFC North in the opening week, joining the Chicago Bears at 1-0. For Jefferson, though, it was a day he’ll never forget.

The former LSU Tigers superstar torched the Packers’ defense with a 184-yard, two-touchdown day while bringing in nine balls. His numbers put him in a special place in Vikings history, one that has been achieved by few.

Per ESPN Stats and Info, Jefferson has edged his name into the history books as the second player in team history to have at least five games with 150 yards or better. The other is an obvious name — Randy Moss. Moss, who bounced around the league for several seasons, had six games with that stat line by age 23 while in Minnesota.

Vikings star Justin Jefferson entered Randy Moss territory thanks to Kevin O’Connell

The Vikings cleaned house completely during the 2021-22 offseason, including hiring a new head coach in Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell had previously been with the LA Rams as the team’s offensive coordinator, where he helped the team transition from Jared Goff to Matthew Stafford at quarterback during the last two seasons and contributed to their Super Bowl win.

The Vikings will travel to the City of Brotherly Love in Week 2 to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET Sept. 19 on Monday Night Football.