During Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson was clearly the team’s most productive player on the offensive side of the ball as he hauled in 11 catches for 159 points. But in his mind, it sounds like one bad play he made overshadowed a lot of the good he did on the field.
Just before halftime, the Vikings were driving deep into Eagles’ territory with a chance to tie or take the lead in the 10-7 game. That’s when Justin Jefferson caught a pass and took it 30 yards to the goal line. But unfortunately for the Vikings, he fumbled just before the goal line and the ball went out of the end zone, giving possession back to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles scored a long field goal before the half to make it a 13-7 game, meaning Jefferson’s fumble was effectively a 10-point swing in the game. And he is putting a lot of blame on himself for the loss.
“I’m putting it a lot on myself,” Jefferson said according to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Fumbling in the end zone like that when we need points and we’re driving and having that momentum. I was telling my teammates that’s on me and it won’t happen again.”
The reality is that the Vikings wouldn’t have even been able to make it a close game without Jefferson, but he’s still shouldering the blame for the loss.
