Following a commanding performance against the Houston Texans on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings are 3-0 and breaking several records.
Both Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor, two Vikings wide receivers, caught touchdown passes on Sunday; they have done so in each of the team’s first three games this year.
They are thus the first pair of Vikings in history to do that. Not only is it a first for the Vikings, but it’s also rather uncommon around the league. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who played together for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018, are the last two receiver partners to score a touchdown in each of the first three games of a season.
It’s hardly shocking for Jefferson, the 25-year-old sensation regarded as the NFL’s best receiver. This season, he has already caught 14 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns, including an absurd 97-yard reception last week.
But Nailor has emerged as Minnesota’s obvious No. 3 receiver and, with Jordan Addison out of the game for all of Week 1 save the first half, thanks to an ankle injury.
Nailor was a sixth-round pick in 2022 but has struggled with injuries. Nailor, 25, has three touchdowns on seven catches for 106 yards and three carries for three yards as of Sunday’s game. The Vikings had the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL after Sunday’s games, and that’s without Addison and standout tight end T.J. Hockenson, who is still recovering from an ACL tear from the previous campaign and might be activated in Week 5.
This Minnesota attack could break a lot more records this season with quarterback Sam Darnold leading the NFL in touchdowns, receivers Jefferson and Nailor tied for the most, rusher Aaron Jones ranking in the top 10, and reinforcements on the way.
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