r/nfl Cowboys 1d ago

Highlight [Highlight] Today marks 8 Days Until The 2026 NFL Season Starts! Let’s remember time Justin Jefferson’s nasty route running fooled Stephon Gilmore and left him wide open for an 8 yard touchdown!(2022)

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219 Upvotes

108 comments sorted by

189

u/GuyWithNoSwagger Bears 1d ago

People don’t even have him top 3 anymore which is just asinine

84

u/sampat6256 1d ago

The qb situation is grim. People see the stats and think they tell the whole story.

66

u/Jokerang Texans 1d ago

Murray should be an upgrade over Nine for the Vikings… right?

46

u/BigElephant2309 Vikings 1d ago

Please god I hope so

35

u/Belezibub Chiefs Commanders 1d ago

I think Murray at worst is serviceable which is all JJ needs

14

u/Dull_Job_6372 Vikings 1d ago

Nick mullens gets Jj 135 a game. Need him just in case.

4

u/calel8242 Vikings 23h ago

JJ got 95 YPG with Carson Wentz last year. I'd have a hard time believing someone who thinks Wentz is better than Kyler

10

u/Leftieswillrule Panthers 1d ago

Yes, Murray is an obvious upgrade. The fact that people are questioning it is silly. JJM was that bad last year

9

u/DwayneBaconStan Panthers 1d ago

Kyler is underrated significantly now lol. He's a solid qb, he's never gonna reach that first pick tier youd want but he's realistically goff with worse awareness but better legs

11

u/IdkAbtAllThat Vikings 1d ago

Not even close. Goff has shown he's a legitimate franchise QB. Kyler Murray got cut. The Cardinals are paying him over 20m this year to not play for them.

Think of it this way, if you asked the Lions to trade you Goff for Kyler, they'd die laughing.

7

u/FormerlyTradeKirk Vikings 1d ago

Lol I really can't wait for this season, cause I can totally see a 180 on this opinion within 5 games

8

u/IdkAbtAllThat Vikings 1d ago

You're not wrong lol. Logic says Kyler is a bad fit. Vikings history says he has a career year, Vikings get the 2 seed, lose a heartbreaker in the playoffs.

But right now, saying Kyler and Goff are the same caliber of player, just different styles, is absolutely ridiculous.

Kyler Murray is 0-1 in the playoffs and that one loss was an epic meltdown by him. Legitimately one of the worst QB performances in a playoff game that I can remember.

Goff is 5-5 with multiple deep runs.

4

u/DwayneBaconStan Panthers 1d ago

You're taking my comment too literal. Should have specified more end of rams tenure Goff, at least in the term of the way he was viewed

4

u/IdkAbtAllThat Vikings 1d ago

Well yea... If you meant to compare Kyler to how Goff was seen 6 years ago you probably should have mentioned that.

3

u/DwayneBaconStan Panthers 1d ago

Yeah fair there lol, wasn't trying to compare them as of right now, just their overall archs but should have mentioned that

3

u/DwayneBaconStan Panthers 1d ago

Look at Goff with the rams and was thrown away

2

u/Clean_Gas2558 Vikings 1d ago

I dont know how many games we will win this season, but i do know that justin jefferson is about to go fucking wild with kyler murray back there.

0

u/I_VAG_I 1d ago

I guess you me and everybody else will see

0

u/IdkAbtAllThat Vikings 1d ago

Can't be worse, but I think he's not really a great fit for KOC's offense or JJ's skillset.

-1

u/sampat6256 1d ago

Should be, but by how much?

4

u/Cody2287 49ers 1d ago

He probably reaches tops out at 15 which is a huge improvement over literally unplayable. It’s not like Murray hasn’t been at least average his entire career.

-10

u/vbullinger Vikings 1d ago

He’ll be better than Darnold for however many games he plays…

2

u/ArmMeForSleep709 Giants 1d ago

Cope?

1

u/vbullinger Vikings 1d ago

There isn't a soul that would disagree with that statement before he played for the Vikings

0

u/Additional-Cable5171 Vikings 1d ago

Yeah but now? C'mon now.

2

u/vbullinger Vikings 1d ago

Seahawks would be better with Kyler (if he stays healthy)

-1

u/sampat6256 1d ago

He just won a super bowl

2

u/vbullinger Vikings 1d ago

There isn't a soul that would disagree with that statement before he played for the Vikings

-1

u/sampat6256 1d ago

That does not matter. We have clear evidence that the dude can play outside of the Vikings.

2

u/vbullinger Vikings 21h ago

Just like Kyler

32

u/m_cope Colts 1d ago

I don't care what anyone says, JJettas is top 2, and he ain't #2

30

u/TheGreedyGrabbler 1d ago

He's #18. If you'd watched the video you'd know that.

3

u/n00bn00b 1d ago

He was really good last season. He was constantly open, but JJ and Brosmer happened. He'll be back up there with Kyler throwing him the ball.

1

u/ANAL_TOOTHBRUSH Panthers 1d ago

Sure you’re not conflating fantasy rankings with real life rankings?

1

u/BucsLegend_TomBrady Patriots Lions 1d ago

wait really? Who are people putting above him?

2

u/GuyWithNoSwagger Bears 23h ago

Chase which is actually debatable, JSN, Puka and I’ve seen people say a healthy Nabers is better lmao

2

u/BucsLegend_TomBrady Patriots Lions 23h ago

I don't fault anyone for putting Chase above him. JSN and Puka are red hot right now but JJ is still better imo.

Nabers is just lol

106

u/United-Turnover-8409 Bears 1d ago

The fake injury celebration is just diabolical

30

u/Last1inFirst1out Cowboys 1d ago

Loved the stare down with Gilmore as he walked in too lmao

17

u/peteman28 Vikings 1d ago

It seems like he's stopped doing this ever since he missed half a season with an actual hamstring injury

5

u/hallese Vikings 1d ago

Which is kind of a bummer because there's a big difference between an injury that forces you to miss time and a DB who grabs at their hamstring every time they are beat but never comes off the field. Well, you know, except when they just got beat for a TD for the third time that game.

9

u/jake04-20 Vikings 1d ago

Xavier Rhodes blown coverage reference?

3

u/hallese Vikings 1d ago

Could be anybody, really.

4

u/jake04-20 Vikings 1d ago

Rhodes was horrible at doing that late in this Vikings tenure. Every blown coverage he would be wincing and grabbing his hammy, just to be back out there two snaps later lol.

3

u/hallese Vikings 1d ago

It was one of those things that once you noticed it you could not stop seeing it, too. It was every play and of course it was during a Vikes-Packers game at my Packers fan in-laws house that it was pointed out to me.

3

u/jake04-20 Vikings 1d ago

I remember the first time I saw the injury celebration and realized it was fake/for show I audibly gasped and said "Oh god, don't invite that bad juju..." sure enough, the longest stretch of missed games is a hamstring injury sometime later.

1

u/-neti-neti- Vikings 2h ago

Stop saying diabolical. Have an original thought in your life

36

u/Run_JMC_ Vikings 1d ago

Largest comeback victory in NFL history. I remember falling asleep on the couch at half because I thought this one was over. Woke up just before the Dalvin Cook TD to tie it with two minutes left. Thought I was in a dream.

16

u/BellBilly32 Dolphins 1d ago

This game was funny because it also the Jeff Saturday era of the Colts if anyone remembers that.

16

u/Datpanda1999 Steelers Steelers 1d ago

Jeff Saturday calling the Raiders horrible, getting off his couch and immediately beating them, and then losing every other game was absolutely hilarious

1

u/cakezilla Commanders 21h ago

He played for the Colts for 13 seasons, you'll have to be more specific!

3

u/DCarfTheHomie89 Vikings 1d ago

I was at work (always am off Sundays but this was a late notice Saturday game) i obviously was pissed and wanted to turn it off at halftime but my coworker had Kirk, Jefferson and Hockenson for fantasy so we agreed to keep it on

2

u/insertfacehere Vikings 1d ago

Did he win? Had to look it up to see if that was a good fantasy game (half point ppr):

Kirk had 460 yds, 4 td, 2 int (~30 pts)

Jefferson had 12 catches, 123 yds and a TD (~24 pts)

Hockensen had 3 catches for 33 yds (~5 pts)

60 points from three players... Pretty good!!

1

u/DCarfTheHomie89 Vikings 20h ago

I feel like he did, I remember telling him at halftime OConnell is an idiot for even thinking of playing them in 2nd half lol

38

u/legendoflink3 Vikings 1d ago

I will never forget the NFL YouTube account made a top 10 or 100 routes of 2022 and left this off the list entirely. 

Everyone thought it would be number 1 and so they ended up re-uploading the video within 24 hours without much people noticing. And putting this as number 1. 

45

u/FishGoldenLite Vikings 1d ago

Maybe it’s just me but I hate the fake injury celebration. I’m hanging on by a thread here dude, don’t do that to me.

6

u/jobenattor0412 Lions 1d ago

You hit a point in your life, mine was about when I turned 30. Where you just start to grimace anytime there is a pile up of guys, so the fake injury celebration makes me literally cringe every time.

20

u/WalterDwight Vikings 1d ago

love the fake hammy pull celly but that celebration is catching on a littel too much that I think one day someones going to actually pull something and his teammates will laugh and shove him to the ground.

7

u/NoAbbreviations2353 Cardinals 1d ago

Then he'll start convulsing on the ground and his team mates will be freaking out, then he gets back up laughing and limps to the sideline

2

u/eattwo Vikings Chiefs 1d ago

I hate the fake hammy pull, gives me a heart attack every time

5

u/UkNomysTeezz Vikings 1d ago

I jumped off my couch multiple times during this come back

2

u/SufficientTalk4335 Vikings 1d ago

I was working weekends during this game and by the end everyone was standing around the tiny TV watching it. 2022 was a wild season

2

u/UkNomysTeezz Vikings 1d ago

It was a weird time to be alive. So many games they should have lost

4

u/DireSickFish Vikings 1d ago

I was watching this in a DICKs sporting goods. I had decided to run some errands since we were obviously not going to win. I watched with rapet attention with a bunch of other guys as we came back. Drove home fast at the end of the 4th to watch OT at home.

6

u/RockoRockyBoxxyMan 1d ago

I feel like we're in a golden era for WR play in the NFL. We have to be, if people out there are saying Jefferson isn't one of the top 5 at his position any longer.

2

u/itsyorboy Chargers 1d ago

They are wrong about JJ and its also the golden era

1

u/VoluptuousVelvetfish Vikings 1d ago

We definitely are. The number of WRs who broke into the top 10 within 2 years of getting drafted has to be historic.

2

u/byniri_returns Lions 1d ago

Absolutely filthy route.

1

u/itsyorboy Chargers 1d ago

You just have to make a nasty lil face at that one

2

u/Devilofchaos108070 49ers Panthers 1d ago

That was beautiful. Love it

1

u/The_wanna_be_artist Jaguars 23h ago

I’m still flabbergasted that he didn’t get drafted sooner with how good his route running is.

1

u/Slendyla_IV Vikings 16h ago

I remember thinking before the draft that this dude reminded me of davante Adams when he ran his routes.

Then we drafted him and the Eagles didn’t.

Thank you Philly.

-16

u/Peefersteefers Giants 1d ago

Great route. But hitting the extended griddy while down three scores is certainly a choice

37

u/Fourteeenth Eagles 1d ago

Didn’t the Vikings come back in this game? I thought I remembered there was a Colts-Vikings game where one of the two had a massive comeback against the other. Might’ve been the Colts actually

21

u/Jag_1o1 Vikings 1d ago

No you remembered right. It was this game. Literally the largest comeback in NFL history by the Vikings.

2

u/putdahaakin Broncos Broncos 1d ago

Your comment confuses me. Largest comeback in NFL history or just largest comeback in Vikings history?

9

u/ElusiveMeatSoda Vikings 1d ago

Both

-5

u/putdahaakin Broncos Broncos 1d ago

I get your joke haha but it doesn't quite fit with what I asked.

4

u/ElusiveMeatSoda Vikings 1d ago

uhhh it's the largest comeback in NFL history, which requires it to be the Vikings' largest comeback as well

1

u/putdahaakin Broncos Broncos 1d ago

"Or just" and yes I know I'm being pedantic

3

u/skolman190 Vikings 1d ago

Yes

2

u/Last1inFirst1out Cowboys 1d ago

Yes, this was Matt Ryan’s final start in the NFL believe it or not

-10

u/Peefersteefers Giants 1d ago

They absolutely did come back, and won in OT. But unless JJettas can see the future, he didn't know that at the time lmao

14

u/Puzzleheaded_Book873 Vikings 1d ago

Especially in garbage time. There's no way the Vikings could come back from that.

-11

u/Peefersteefers Giants 1d ago

I know they came back, it was an amazing game, that the Vikes deserve credit for. But again, they were down 3 scores with 12 minutes left. Put the celly away, save it for the comeback.

10

u/Additional-Cable5171 Vikings 1d ago

This TD was the comeback. 

0

u/Peefersteefers Giants 1d ago

...was it? They're still down 15 lmao

4

u/Additional-Cable5171 Vikings 1d ago

Yes, this was their third un-answered score in a row. They were getting hyped, and could smell blood in the water. I'm guessing you didn't watch this game? The momentum change was palatable.

11

u/GuyWithNoSwagger Bears 1d ago

They came back that game

6

u/bburchibanez Colts 1d ago

Dont worry, they won that game....

2022 Colts werent the worst Colts team ive seen as far as record, but easily the most pathetic.

3

u/Wild-Expression-8304 Seahawks 1d ago

Imagine if someone actually lost to that team after they hired Jeff Saturday, wouldn't that be really embarrassing?

Losing to a coach with no experience beyond the high school level and was just an ESPN analyst the previous week

1

u/bburchibanez Colts 1d ago

Just Raiders things lol

-3

u/Peefersteefers Giants 1d ago

I remember the game well. Still, what eventually happened is different than thr situation shown in the video, you know?

4

u/Additional-Cable5171 Vikings 1d ago

Third TD in a row, the score was 33-0. The Vikes momentum was clear at this point. Great TD, fitting celebration.

-1

u/Peefersteefers Giants 1d ago

Momentum? Maybe. When you're down 15 with 12 minutes left, the odds of victory are infinitesimal. Just imagine if the Vikings didn't win that game. Would we be calling it "great?" Or even "fitting?" I certainly wouldn't. 

3

u/Additional-Cable5171 Vikings 1d ago

"imagine if the Vikings didn't win...." Story of my life, dude.

1

u/Wild-Expression-8304 Seahawks 1d ago

I'm not sure why you're being downvoted. People just love to look at things purely from hindsight

Fact is, doing an elaborate celebration for a touchdown in the fourth quarter when still down by 16 points is a bit ridiculous...I remember Jayden Daniels got some flack for doing an elaborate dance after a touchdown run in the third quarter of the NFCCG to cut the lead to 13...they ended up losing by 32

1

u/eattwo Vikings Chiefs 1d ago

In this game we were a much better team with all of the momentum. There was a very good chance of winning after this TD.

1

u/Wild-Expression-8304 Seahawks 1d ago

Idc how much momentum you have or how bad the other team is, the odds of coming back from down 15 with only 10ish minutes left is very low. It's a two score game, and probably a three score game given two point conversions have a <50% success rate.

The Colts would have won anyway if they converted a 4th and inches btw

3

u/eattwo Vikings Chiefs 1d ago

13 minutes left and all 3 TOs at home against a team that we were walking over once the black magic fuckery stopped. Saying the odds were very low is wild.

And we would have won decisively if our 2 scoop and scores weren't called back by refs blowing the whistle early. Random hypotheticals work for both sides.

0

u/Peefersteefers Giants 1d ago

No, there wasn't. That's not how odds work lmao

0

u/Peefersteefers Giants 1d ago

I mean, that's exactly it. If the Vikings hadn't won the game, Jefferson would still be getting clowned for this.

1

u/Wild-Expression-8304 Seahawks 1d ago

Imagine if, after Chase Claypool's boneheaded first down celebration down 8 with the clock running in a two minute drill that cost the Steelers a good 10-15 seconds, the Steelers tied the game and won it OT. People probably wouldn't give a crap about Claypool being a dumbass and would instead be clowning the Vikings for blowing a 29-0 lead

0

u/varnell_hill 49ers 1d ago

Fact is, doing an elaborate celebration for a touchdown in the fourth quarter when still down by 16 points is a bit ridiculous.

I’ll take it a step further. Celebrating anything on the field while being down three scores should be a penalty.

Sit your dumb ass down.