Justin Jefferson breaking one of Randy Moss’ records on Thanksgiving seems fitting. Moss, a Hall of Fame receiver, put on a clinic against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day as part of his outstanding rookie season in 1998.More than two decades later, Jefferson broke Moss’ NFL record for most receiving yards in three seasons (h/t ESPN). During the first half of the Vikings’ Thanksgiving nightcap against the Patriots, Jefferson broke Moss’ record.
During the Thanksgiving game, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings smashes Randy Moss’ NFL receiving record.
Jefferson had 4,109 receiving yards entering Thursday’s game, 54 yards short of Moss’ record of 4,163 yards. With 9:44 left in the first half, he passed Moss on a seven-yard grab. Greg Joseph’s game-tying field goal was aided by the reception.Jefferson, who had earlier in the half grabbed a touchdown pass, set the mark in just 43 games. Moss established the record after finishing his third season with the Vikings.
Jefferson’s 23-year-old career has been eerily comparable to Moss’ beginnings with Minnesota. Jefferson, like Moss, is a former first-round choice who, at the age of 20, was slightly younger than Moss when both were picked by the Vikings. As rookies, both athletes dominated the NFL. Moss set an NFL rookie record with 17 touchdown receptions while guiding the Vikings to a 15-1 record during the regular season. As a rookie, Jefferson set the franchise rookie receiving yardage record with 1,400 yards.
During the Thanksgiving game, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings smashes Randy Moss’ NFL receiving record.
Both athletes followed up their outstanding rookie seasons with outstanding sophomore performances. Moss was named to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row. Jefferson was second in franchise history in single-season receiving yards (behind only Moss), and he joined Moss, Cris Carter, and teammate Adam Thielen as the only Vikings wideouts to grab 100 receptions in a season.