(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings began their 2023 season with a devastating loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On a short week, the Vikings will now travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles, a historically tough matchup for them.
The Eagles dominated the Vikings last year, which started a rivalry between Justin Jefferson and Darius Slay.
As Jefferson noted to USA Today’s Judd Zuglad via Pro Football Talk, “There’s definitely some tension going into the game.”
Justin Jefferson: “Definitely some tension” after poor game against Eagles, Darius Slay last year. https://t.co/uF0K7oPG4g
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 13, 2023
Slay is the Eagles’ top defensive back and is widely viewed as one of the best DBs across the NFL.
When he defended Jefferson during their matchup in 2022, Jefferson had just six catches for 48 total yards.
This is a far cry from a typical week for Jefferson, who routinely posts 100+ yard weeks.
Slay got the best of him in last year’s matchup, but can Jefferson win the battle this season?
In their Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, Jefferson had nine receptions for 150 yards, which is closer to a typical week for him.
With any luck, Jefferson will carry this strong performance into Week 2, overpowering Slay with his athleticism and speed.
The Eagles are slated to be one of the NFC’s top teams again this season.
A Vikings win would not only showcase their abilities but bring their record up to 1-1.
Starting the season with a 0-2 record is not necessarily a death sentence, but it is a tough hole to crawl out of.
Can Jefferson and the Vikings offense find a way to keep the ball away from Jalen Hurts, sneaking out of this game with a win?
The post Justin Jefferson Admits There Is ‘Tension’ With 1 Eagles Player appeared first on The Cold Wire.