Watch: Jaire Alexander celebrates Justin Jefferson drop by doing The Griddy (Video)
By Josh Hill
Green Bay Packers
After breaking up the pass, Alexander hit the Griddy right in Jefferson’s face:
Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander hit The Griddy right in Justin Jefferson’s face after breaking up a pass.
Talk is cheap, but it appreciates when actions back up words.
That’s what Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander did on Sunday, going up against Justin Jefferson and backing up the trash he talked all week long about how he was going to shut the best receiver in football down.
Jefferson has entered the MVP conversation — even though skill position players almost never win the award over quarterbacks — due to his outstanding play this year. Jefferson has quickly evolved from an exciting young rookie to perhaps the best receiver in the entire league and is in the same realm as Randy Moss for fans in Minnesota.
But Alexander, who is a standout star in his own right on the Packers defense, wasn’t going quietly into his matchup with Jefferson this Sunday. As if the Packers-Vikings rivalry isn’t already spicy enough, Alexander talked some serious talk all week about how Jefferson wasn’t going to be a problem for him.
Right out of the gate, Alexander seemingly backed up his word.
Alexander let Jefferson know just how unfazed he is defending him when he hit defended a pass and proceeded to hit The Griddy.
Jaire Alexander just did the griddy in Justin Jefferson's face. pic.twitter.com/kjJ3ygl7gp
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 1, 2023
For those who don’t know, The Griddy is Jefferson’s signature touchdown celebration. Alexander wasted no time in twisting the knife and ruffling feathers of not only Vikings players but fans watching at home.
The reaction to this is truly the tale of two fan bases, and what makes the Packers-Vikings rivalry so special.
Packers fans obviously loved the move, with Alexander trolling Jefferson and essentially backing up the trash he talked all week long.
The ref holding back the other ref from throwing the taunting flag on Jaire pic.twitter.com/lMw4eGe43L
— And then, Homer told Bart, don’t be a Simp, son (@November_3rd) January 1, 2023
Jaire owns him
— Santi (@HeirJordan10) January 1, 2023
https://twitter.com/kunalansingkar/status/1609674155422584832
Vikings fans, however, had a different take on it. While Alexander was able to troll Jefferson with his own move, it appeared as though he got away with pass interference to make it all happen.
Jaire Alexander doing the griddy after getting away with pass interference pic.twitter.com/fNXi5MYpoj
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) January 1, 2023
https://twitter.com/yrock7/status/1609674400609013764
They also missed a blatant PI on Jaire Alexander, and taunting so they've been bad for both teams. #Vikings https://t.co/QG33DljyoR
— Jeff Wald (@JeffWaldFox9) January 1, 2023
Alexander’s swagger stems not only from his stellar play of late, but the Packers surge in the NFC Playoff Picture.
Green Bay controls its own destiny, and can sneak into the playoffs as the final Wild Card team if its wins the final two games on its schedule.