Justin Jefferson’s top five games in the NFL, defined by receiving yards, including Vikings’ single-game record

Justin Jefferson’s top five games, ranked by receiving yards

5. @ Detroit Lions 12/5/2021 – 182 receiving yards
Minnesota Vikings 27 – Detroit Lions 29

Three of Justin Jefferson’s top five individual performances came on the road against the Detroit Lions. The first of those was his Week 13 performance in 2021, which set a new career-high at the time.

Jared Goff had led the Lions to a 20-6 lead at halftime, while the Vikings were held to just two field goals.

In the middle of the third quarter, Kirk Cousins looped around on a snap from his own 34-yard line and heaved the football down the field. Jefferson made a stunning catch with a defender draped all over him on the opposition’s 20, a red zone trip that the Vikings then converted into a rushing touchdown.

The Vikings pushed their way back to a 21-23 scoreline, but were stopped on the two-point attempt to tie the game. Trailing by two, the defense forced a fumble deep in Lions territory. Cousins then found Jefferson in the end zone for the go-ahead score with less than two minutes to play in the game.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, and the Lions escaped with a 29-27 win at home. Jefferson recorded 11 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown in the game.

4. vs. Green Bay Packers 9/11/2022 – 184 receiving yards
Minnesota Vikings 23 – Green Bay Packers 7

Jefferson’s nine catches for 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers is the highest yards per catch total on today’s list.

This was Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season, and Justin Jefferson started it with a bang.

He caught the first touchdown of the game, and the season, on a 4th and one conversion down on the goal line. He then caught a deep crosser from Cousins that he took for another 25+ yards inside the Packers’ 15-yard line.

While leading 10-0 before the half, Cousins hit his star receiver again, this time wide open between coverage over the middle of the field. Jefferson turned and ran, splitting defenders and diving for the end zone for his second score of the game.

Minnesota held its lead and beat the division rival Packers, marking a great start to the 2022 campaign.

3. @ Detroit Lions 1/7/2024 – 192 receiving yards
Minnesota Vikings 20 – Detroit Lions 30

In Week 18 of the 2023 season, Nick Mullens was the starting quarterback for the Vikings, after rookie QB Jaren Hall had featured in the previous matchup.

The Vikings were playing for pride with a 7-9 record that would see them miss the playoffs, but Justin Jefferson still put on a show.

He had a beautiful toe-tap catch on the sideline in the second half, and late in the third quarter, caught a deep ball over the top from Mullens for a touchdown.

It was a disappointing year for the franchise, but in the season finale Jefferson recorded 12 catches for 192 yards and a score against Detroit.

2. @ Buffalo Bills 11/13/2022 – 193 receiving yards
Minnesota Vikings 33 – Buffalo Bills 30

Justin Jefferson made one of the most famous catches of his young career in this game against the Buffalo Bills.

He caught the first touchdown to open the scoring on the road, with Cousins throwing a deep go ball down the sideline that Jefferson hauled in against tight coverage.

His concentration and control were on full display in this one, with Buffalo playing man-to-man on the Vikings star.

In the fourth quarter, the Vikings trailed 23-27, facing a 4th and 18 play that they desperately needed to keep the game alive. Cousins heaved the football downfield in Jefferson’s general direction, and while falling backwards in mid-air, the receiver was able to steal the football out of the defenders hands with a one-handed grab.

The catch alone would have been sensational, but considering the circumstances, it’s one of the best he’ll ever make.

He then caught another pass to take the Vikings inside the five, holding on through heavy contact to secure the football. Cousins then hit him again over the middle, catching the go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute to play.

The Bills forced overtime with a tying field goal, but Jefferson had been unplayable all day and won them the game in overtime. He caught two crucial passes on the game-winning drive, including a perfectly thrown ball down inside the five that Jefferson secured to set up the game-winning kick.

1. @ Detroit Lions 12/11/2022 – 223 receiving yards
Minnesota Vikings 23 – Detroit Lions 34

While Justin Jefferson has managed three incredible performances at the Detroit Lions’ Ford Field, the Vikings didn’t win any of those three games.

His December performance in the 2022 season marks his career-high and the only time the Vikings receiver has surpassed 200 receiving yards in a game.

The Vikings were 10-2 going into the game, facing the 5-7 Lions on the road.

Jefferson had 11 catches in the game for 223 receiving yards, including 59 yards after the catch. His career-high would have been even higher had he not been denied a touchdown by a controversial call from the officials.

A play was blown dead on a Jefferson catch towards the sideline when the officials believed the receiver had stepped out of bounds. He was on his way to the end zone without a defender inside when the referees blew the whistle, but the replay showed his foot never touched the white line.

The Vikings lost the game, but Jefferson once again asserted his dominance against the rival Lions in their own backyard. He’ll aim to do the same in 2025, but he must be desperate to win one of these games at Ford Field at this point.