Justin Jefferson with a big day as the Vikings outlast the Chargers

Justin Jefferson turned in some impressive plays as the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Los Angeles Chargers.

Last season, Justin Herbert topped wide receiver Justin Jefferson in the voting for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

On Sunday in Los Angeles, the Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings exacted a little revenge.

The second-year wide receiver led the way for Minnesota, catching nine passes for 143 yards in the Vikings’ 27-20 victory. While he was held out of the end zone, this marked the tenth time in his young career that Jefferson eclipsed over 100 receiving yards in a single game.

Perhaps more impressive than the sheer production, was how Jefferson delivered. Early in the game Kirk Cousins looked his way on a crossing route over the middle, and despite tight coverage around him, the LSU product found a way to win at the catch point and then bully his way towards the first down marker:

This comes on a 2nd and 20 play midway through the second quarter. Jefferson makes the reception with a defender draped on his back, and if he gets tackled right there it is still a good play, as the Vikings will face a manageable third-down situation. But the receiver is not done, as he drags three defenders along with him past the first-down marker.

Midway through the third quarter, the Vikings trailed the Chargers by four. Facing a 2nd and 7 in their own territory, Cousins and the Vikings looked to Jefferson on a vertical route along the left sideline.

Again, the receiver found a way to deliver:

This is a phenomenal catch from Jefferson, who has to contort his body back towards the football, extend for the reception and somehow manage to come down in bounds. As you can see on the replay angle, he almost makes the impossible look routine.

Still, Cousins was not done targeting Jefferson in the vertical passing game, and his receiver was not done making splash plays. With the fourth quarter winding down, the Vikings faced a crucial third down in their own territory. Clinging to a seven-point lead with just over three minutes remaining, a first down would truly put the Chargers in a difficult situation.

Again, Jefferson was sent streaking down the sideline, and he came through with another twisting reception for a pivotal first down:

With the ball thrown towards the boundary, Jefferson again contorts himself to the football at the high point and, as he is crashing to the SoFi Stadium turf, manages to tap that second foot in-bounds to complete the play. While the work at the catch point is impressive, do not forget his release off the line. As you can see from the replay angle, Jefferson has both the footwork and the upper-body strength to beat press alignment and technique.

The win moved the Vikings to 4-5 on the season, and with the Atlanta Falcons losing to the Dallas Cowboys, the Vikings are now sitting in eighth place in the NFC, just outside the playoffs. They still have a pair of games left with the Green Bay Packers remaining, as well as a pair of games with the Chicago Bears, so there is a chance the Vikings find away to make the NFC North a bit interesting down the stretch, while remaining in playoff contention.

More days like this from their talented second-year receiver will certainly help.