Justin Jefferson sprinted, pivoted, back-pedaled and leapt.

Despite three defenders nearby in gold and black, "Jets" somehow secured the football and got both feet in-bounds before going to the painted turf in New Orleans.

"Hometown kid, trying to make the play … he does!"

Adam Amin's play call on the FOX broadcast carried the admiration and astonishment often prompted by Jefferson's highlight-reel grabs.

The touchdown — scored just miles from where Jefferson grew up — helped Minnesota win its fifth straight game entering the bye week. The Vikings receiver was all smiles after the outing, during which he totaled six catches for 79 yards.

Not every game features flashy stats by Jefferson — but as long as the team is winning, he isn't too concerned about personal numbers. Take Week 2, for instance, when the Vikings battled the Bears in less-than-ideal weather conditions:

Jefferson sprinted, smoothly turned inside and let the football drop over Chicago's Tyrique Stevenson, Sr., and into his arms.

Steady rain failed to faze the receiver, who secured the catch for 30 yards just two plays into the divisional matchup. Jefferson's 588^th career reception contributed to Minnesota's Week 2 win. It also moved him past Hall of Famer Randy Moss for second in franchise history for career catches.

Jefferson left soggy Soldier Field with a modest stat line of three catches for 55 yards — but in the win column, which is all that ultimately matters to the phenom receiver.

"Of course I would love to have 150 [yards], three touchdowns, just the fantasy stat line. I definitely would love that," a smiling Jefferson said. "But with these conditions … it wasn't that type of game. Which is totally fine. As long as we're coming off the ball, executing our plays and just being a factor in the win, that's all that matters."

The Vikings road victory marked Jefferson's seventh straight at Soldier Field, where he has yet to suffer a loss. He's helped Minnesota start the season 6-0 and stand as the league's last remaining undefeated team.

Jefferson's priority since being drafted 22^nd overall in 2020 has been stacking wins. Along the way, he's also put together a résumé that rivals the league's greatest receivers.

With four catches against the Colts Sunday, his career total has now reached 602.

New standards have never been new for Jets, who's consistently surpassed benchmarks set by Moss — starting during his rookie season with seven games of 100-plus receiving yards. He went on to set the NFL record in 2022 for the most receiving yards in a player's first three seasons, once again passing Moss and Odell Beckham, Jr. That same season, he notched his 20^th career game with at least 100 yards through the air, besting Moss' 19 through three seasons.

They say records are made to be broken, and Moss holds no ill will toward the younger pass catcher — quite the opposite, really. In fact, Moss roots for and watches Jefferson proudly, an older pseudo sibling seeing his kid brother succeed.

In an interview last year with TMZ Sports, Moss noted he's "a big fan" of Jefferson's.

"I've always been a fan of a complete football player where you can score from anywhere on the field, and Justin brings that to the table," Moss said.

The game has evolved since Moss' pro career, of course, including the addition of a 17^th regular-season game, which admittedly impacts the stat books. It doesn't, however, influence a player's raw talent … which is exactly what Moss recognizes and respects in Jefferson.

"I think Justin Jefferson is on pace to become, arguably, the greatest ever," Moss said with a grin. "And definitely the greatest Viking to ever do it."

The compliment can't get much bigger coming from "The Superfreak" himself.

Jefferson never has and never will take for granted the respect he's garnered from Moss and relationship he's formed with him.

In August, Moss flew in for the Vikings joint training camp practices with the Ravens. The Vikings Legend observed the on-field action but, more importantly, also spent time in the team's meeting rooms, offering insights to Minnesota's receivers.

Jefferson called it "a really cool thing" for Moss to invest in the next generation of talent. He described "eye-opening conversations" with Moss and "Three Deep" counterpart Cris Carter, emphasizing the value of such dialogue. Carter's 1,004 receptions with Minnesota provide Jefferson with the next milestone to pursue.

"Being a fan of Randy, and him coming to these joint practices and just being a fan of me and wanting to help me and work with me, it's really cool to get those types of tips from him," Jefferson said. "He's in retirement; he doesn't have to be out here."

Though Jefferson's 2025 production decreased comparatively (he still exceeded 1,000 receiving yards) with just two touchdowns on the season, he maintained a positive mindset and kept his nose to the grindstone.

He's ridden the roller coaster of offensive up-and-downs over the years, navigated catching passes from 10 different Vikings QBs and weathered defensive double teams on nearly a weekly basis.

And still, Jefferson time and time again comes down with contested balls that prompt murmurs of "Did he really just catch that?"

"He's unbelievable," said Carson Wentz, who started in Week 2 when Kyler Murray was in concussion protocol. "The guy's good. The guy's so good. He's the best in the world at what he does, and sometimes you've just got to give him a chance. There's games that come and go, and maybe there's limited opportunities for him because teams are very aware of where he is, and coverages dictate that sometimes. But … when it goes his way, he usually finds a way to come down with it."

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell noted after Minnesota's Week 1 win against Green Bay that Jefferson "just finds a way" to make something happen.

"Trust his ability," O'Connell said of a 39-yard TD catch by Jefferson. "A lot of guys will struggle in those moments of a late weave or things like that because then you still have to track the ball and know where you are and get your feet down. I think so much of that play was Justin's greatness happening.

"He's clearly one of the best players on the field," O'Connell added. "There's a reason he gets introduced last. There's a reason why when he scores, it just feels different."

Jefferson is situated for a higher yardage total than in 2025 and already has surpassed his touchdowns total from last season with three — but his goal remains more wins than last season.

"He's got enough experience now to see the big picture, which is so unique for that position," O'Connell said. "And just the maturity and standard he sets for everybody around here, it's phenomenal to see where he's at from a leadership standpoint."

During a recent Good Morning Football segment, former linebacker Manti Te'o made a similar observation.

"One thing I love about Justin Jefferson is after he got paid that big contract, his tenacity didn't change," Te'o said. "His competitive greatness didn't change, his attention to detail, his leadership — all of those things — his willingness and want to win, didn't change."

There's no doubting Jefferson's status as an elite receiver.

He takes nothing for granted, though, and he'll continue to demonstrate equally top-shelf work ethic.

"Statistically, he's just getting started," O'Connell said. "Where he goes from here, the sky is the limit, for sure."

Jefferson's custom chains and jeweled smile may draw attention, but diamonds out-sparkle the ego of a player who certainly is proud — but also is still humbled by his heroes.

"It just means a lot," he reflected, "to be in these different conversations with Randy and see the different things that I've accomplished since stepping foot in this league. It's very special.

"It's really a blessing from God to be able to compete with the greats in this league, the people that I've looked up to my whole entire life, people that I've dreamed of being like and even being better than," Jefferson continued. "That's always something that I've tried to achieve, being in those conversations with the greatest of all time.

"When it's all said and done, I want to be in those conversations and want to be at the top of those lists," he added. "In order for that to happen? I have to compete with [players like Moss], beat their records. I have to do things either they've done before — or become the first one to do it."

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