Justin Jefferson warns NFL rivals Vikings are ‘a complete team’ and ready for deep playoff run after tough Lions loss
JUSTIN Jefferson challenged his Minnesota Vikings team to bounce back from their Detroit Lions devastation and make a deep playoff run.
And the superstar wide receiver warned that Minnesota is a “complete team” with all bases covered.
The Vikings finished with a 14-3 record, one of the best in the NFL this year.
But they lost a NFC North and No. 1 seed decided against the Detroit Lions in Week 18.
That meant they finished up as the No. 5 seed and face a road trip to the Los Angeles Rams on wild card weekend.
But Jefferson backed his resilient team to fight back from their loss in Detroit.
“I take it as a learning game,” he told select UK-based reporters.
“The best part about it is it wasn’t win or go home and it was about learning.
“That environment we were in was a playoff atmosphere.
“I feel like having that experience as a team is definitely going to help us out.
“Taking that experience and seeing the things we can do better, and going into this week with a whole different mindset.”
Minnesota finished 13-4 in 2022 and won the NFC North that year.
But they were beaten in the wild card round of the playoffs by the New York Giants.
“It feels totally different this year,” Jefferson said.
“The connection we have as teammates and brothers on the team is something that wasn’t the same as two years ago.
“Two years ago we had a lot of close wins and games that went to the last drive.
“But this year we’re putting points on people and beating teams by more than 21 points.
NFL Wild Card Weekend schedule
Saturday, January 11:
- No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4 Houston Texans, 4:30 pm ET (CBS, Paramount+)
- No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens, 8:00 pm ET (Prime Video)
Sunday, January 12:
- No. 7 Denver Broncos at No. 2 Buffalo Bills, 1:00 pm ET (CBS, Paramount+)
- No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 pm ET (Fox, Fox Deportes)
- No. 6 Washington Commanders at No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:00 pm ET (NBC, Peacock, Universo)
Monday, January 13:
- No. 5 Minnesota Vikings at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN, ABC)
“The weapons we have on both sides of the ball, especially our defence getting as many turnovers as they’ve got this year, it feeds off everywhere.
“This definitely feels like more of a complete team but we’ve got to finish it and having one game in the playoffs is not enough.”
The playoff clash with the Los Angeles Rams was moved to Arizona due to the deadly wildfires in California.
State Farm Stadium in Glendale will host the Monday night clash.
Los Angeles is the No. 4 seed having won the NFC West.