The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are getting set for a huge NFC North divisional clash this weekend in Green Bay. The Vikings enter the matchup as one of the best teams in the NFL with a 3-0 record. The Packers are 2-1, even without quarterback Jordan Love for the last two games, both wins.
This Sunday’s matchup could have major end-of-season implications, and the fun has already begun.
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Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson was asked about star Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander on Thursday, who mocked Jefferson’s touchdown dance the last time the two players were on the field together in 2022. Jefferson made it known he’s not worried about the Packers Pro Bowl cornerback.
“He likes to do that stuff to get inside someone’s head,” Jefferson said to reporters Thursday. “I’m not really tripping on that. I’m going to just get my Griddy in his end zone. So, I’m not tripping on it at all. I’m excited for the matchup.”
In Week 1 of the 2022 season, Jefferson had a monster game against Alexander and the Packers, reeling in nine receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns. After the game, Alexander called Jefferson’s performance a “fluke.”
In Week 17 of that same season, when Jefferson had just one catch for 15 yards, Alexander mocked the Griddy celebration right in front of Jefferson’s face.
Jefferson knows that Alexander is the type of player who tries to get under your skin. He also knows it won’t work on him.
“Always just [trying] to knickknack at every little thing and just try to play the head game,” Jefferson said. “Just try to hit you a little extra or try to push you a little extra than normal people do. But I understand that it’s a tactic. It’s a tactic to get inside my head and to mess up my game plan and what I’m doing, but it doesn’t really work.”
Jefferson even went as far to say: “I can’t wait to go up against it honestly.”
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While Alexander’s mind games are one of the many reasons he’s among the elite cornerbacks in the game, Jefferson doesn’t even worry about the cornerback in front of him. That’s one of the many reasons he’s a three-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro honoree, an Offensive Player of the Year award winner, and the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
“I really don’t care about the matchup, honestly. I feel like he cares more of it than I do,” Jefferson said. “That’s every team, no [knock] at Jaire. That’s every team and how they scheme up against me and how they try to play me. So, it doesn’t matter if I’m going up against Jaire or if I’m going up against the worst corner in the league, it doesn’t matter.”
Jefferson is off to another great start this season, with 14 receptions for 273 yards and three touchdowns. He’ll need to have another big game if the Vikings want to leave Lambeau Field with a 4-0 record.
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