Multiple Vikings Hit Huge Milestones in Week 14
The Minnesota Vikings didn’t necessarily look all that impressive on offense this weekend.
However, they did just enough to earn a 3-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Even with the lackluster showing, multiple Vikings were able to hit huge milestones on Sunday afternoon. It’s a further reminder that, despite some struggles over the past month, this remains a very talented football team. Here is a look at a few of those Vikings milestones.
Justin Jefferson’s Receiving Yards Record
It was a short-lived return for Justin Jefferson as he exited this game during the second quarter with a chest injury.
However, the star Vikings receiver was on the field just enough to make franchise history. Jefferson caught two passes on Sunday for a total of 27 yards, ensuring that he passed Randy Moss for the most receiving yards through a player’s first four seasons in Vikings franchise history.
Jefferson now sits at 5423 yards through his first four seasons while Moss recorded 5396 yards in his first four seasons from 1998-2001. Considering Jefferson has missed seven games this season and the majority of an eighth, this is a huge testament to just how dominant he’s been throughout the start of his career.
T.J. Hockenson’s Receptions Record
The Vikings have a history of talented pass-catchers at the tight end position, including players like Steve Jordan, Jermaine Wiggins, and Kyle Rudolph. On Sunday, T.J. Hockenson passed all of them with his five receptions.
This game moved him to 85 receptions on the season, and in doing so, he passed Rudolph for the most receptions by a tight end in Vikings franchise history. Rudolph recorded 83 receptions during the 2016 season, which at the time broke a 35-year-old record that was held by Joe Senser.
Many single-season records have been broken in recent years since the NFL regular season was expanded from 16 games to 17, but there is little that can be taken away from Hockenson’s new record considering he did so in the first 13 games of the season. He has a very strong chance of putting together just the 10th 100-reception season by a tight end in NFL history.
Kevin O’Connell Ties Win Record
Enough cannot be said of how Kevin O’Connell has transformed the Minnesota Vikings during his first two seasons as head coach. After two losing seasons before he came in, O’Connell earned his 20th career win as a Vikings head coach, tying Dennis Green for the most wins by a coach through two years.
Green did so from 1992-93 by winning 11 games during his first season of 1992 along with a nine-win season during 1993. O’Connell’s Vikings won 13 games during 2022, and now, they are up to seven wins through 2023 with four games remaining.
8 Reactions to the Vikings’ Defensive Victory over the Raiders
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.