It was an absolute heartbreaker final. The Minnesota Vikings defeated the New Orleans Saints 28:25 in the first NFL London Game of the year – due to a missed field goal by the Saints in the very last second. But also because Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson finally played a starring role in the Vikings’ game again.

London – It was 5:09 p.m. English local time when Justin Jefferson finally got to unwrap the “Griddy” at Tottenham Stadium in London.

Only a few seconds earlier he grabbed the ball from Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and casually strolled towards the end zone of the New Orleans Saints to make it 24-22.

Greg Joseph converted the ensuing extra point to make it 25-22.

After two games without a touchdown, Jefferson was finally allowed to dance again in the United Kingdom. He had longed for it so much and announced his “Griddy” days before the game. “I didn’t fly eight hours here and then not win and not show the English fans a ‘Griddy’,” the pass receiver said.

And he was to keep his word. In the end, the Vikings won 28-25 after a curiously missed field-goal attempt by the Saints in the very last second, Will Lutz kicking the ball awkwardly against the uprights.

Justin Jefferson: Star wide receiver in London with next show for the Vikings

That “sometimes it’s frustrating when you’re dealing with two or three opponents on the turf at the same time now. Because you want to play a lead role in the game, collect yards and score points.”

In short: Jefferson was fed up with the supporting role of the past few games. According to his self-image, the 23-year-old is only made for leading roles. And that’s exactly what he finally played again against the Saints.

Even his direct counterpart Marshon Lattimore could not change that. The cornerback really did everything he could to make life difficult for Jefferson in front of 60,639 loud fans.

Lattimore against Jefferson – a truly fiery duel in England.

Already at the line of scrimmage, the two opponents looked each other deep in the eye and as soon as the ball was in play, the Saints star followed the Vikings’ pass receiver like a shadow, like a limpet, couldn’t be shaken off – well almost.

Because Jefferson kept finding ways and means to elude his “guard” in London. By the middle of the third quarter, Jefferson had already collected more yards than in the two previous games combined: 82 to 62 yards at that point, in contrast to the two duels with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions in the weeks before.

In the end it would be a total of ten caught balls, 147 yards and a touchdown for Jefferson. Strong numbers. Befitting of a wide receiver like him, Jefferson would probably say himself.

Minnesota Vikings: teammates with high praise for Jefferson

“To me, he’s the best wide receiver in the league,” teammate Adam Thielen said in the belly of the arena after the game. “It’s outstanding to have a player like that on the team who’s always good for special moments and who has special skills.”

At the same time, he said, Jefferson is not only a sensational athlete but also an extremely pleasant person. “That is a wonderful combination. That’s why you root for such people even more to make their dreams come true.” And Jefferson is definitely well on his way to doing so.

“I gave him a ‘game ball’ today”,

And he quickly followed it up with the appropriate explanation: “But not only because he went ahead today and put in a very good performance, but also because of his whole attitude as far as the past few weeks are concerned. He has stayed calm despite the last two games against the Lions and Eagles when things were not going well for him. He’s continued to work on himself, take responsibility within the team and we wanted to give him some one-on-one situations again today against an absolute top cornerback in the league, Marshon Lattimore, where he could prove himself – he did that very impressively. For that reason, Justin also more than earned this ‘game ball’ today for many reasons. “

Minnesota Vikings star Jefferson “just needs to get back in the end zone “

The leading man himself, who was voted “Player of the Game”, was also highly satisfied with his performance. “It was about time to show the ‘Griddy’ again – especially here in London. I just had to be in the end zone again. The game really felt great,” said Jefferson.

And about his duel with Lattimore, the pass receiver said: “He really followed me everywhere. It was extreme and of course very difficult. But then again, Lattimore is a top star in this league. But this time I got the upper hand.”

That there was a bit of trash talk involved here and there was not unusual for Jefferson. “Both Lattimore and I love a challenge and we both want to win. When he’s made a play he’s squeezed me some lines, when I’ve made a play I’ve squeezed him some. It’s just normal, that’s the sport.”

So Jefferson, nicknamed the Jets, then boarded the plane back to Minnesota thoroughly satisfied. “Eight hours of flying without a win really wouldn’t have been nice,” the pass receiver then reiterated, before announcing that he was “going to sleep on the plane right away.”

No wonder, after all, he wants to be wide awake again next week. Then the “Vikings” will host the Chicago Bears in their home stadium in Week 5. With Jefferson in the leading role.