The Minnesota Vikings are not trying to repeat their Week 8 performance against the Los Angeles Rams, which resulted in a 30-20 loss at SoFi Stadium.
In the defeat, Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 115 yards. No other Vikings pass catcher recorded three catches in the regular season matchup.
As Jefferson heads into his second career playoff game against the same Rams in a wild-card game on Monday, the four-time Pro Bowl WR knows he needs to perform on the biggest stage.
“It’s definitely important to have those moments,” Jefferson told reporters after practice on Friday. “It’s win or go home. You have those moments, or you miss those moments and you wish you had those moments after the season. So, you definitely don’t want to have those type of conversations. This is the second time of me being in the playoffs. Even the last time, we only had one game in the playoffs, and we lost.”
The last time Jefferson played in the playoffs was in the 2022 season when his Vikings hosted the New York Giants and lost 31-24. Jefferson recorded seven catches for 47 yards. Although it wasn’t the typical performance by Jefferson, he knows he needs to deliver a standout moment in Monday’s tilt versus the Rams to help push Minnesota into the Divisional Round.
Minnesota had an opportunity to clinch the NFC No. 1 seed in the final week of the season, but a loss to the Detroit Lions has the Vikings' playoff journey starting on the road. Due to the Los Angeles area having wildfires, Monday’s wild-card game will take place at State Farm Stadium in Arizona.
On Friday, Jefferson earned a unanimous selection for the 2024 NFL All-Pro Team. His former LSU teammate and Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase was also a unanimous pick.
“I didn’t reach out to him yet. Definitely grateful for where we have come from and what we have done in our careers so far,” Jefferson said. “I’m definitely proud of him for being the triple crown winner, and to be an All-Pro is definitely special.
“For us to be on the same team in college, and now we are two All-Pros, first-team All-Pros at that. So, it’s definitely a special bond that we have and it's crazy that we played alongside each other at one point.”
Jefferson has an opportunity to continue his All-Pro campaign against the host Rams at 8 p.m. ET on Monday.
Tickets for Monday's wild-card game will go on sale at 1 p.m. ET Friday morning through Seatgeek.com for Rams season ticket members and 3 p.m. ET to the general public. More information on ticket sales will be provided as soon as possible.