Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson will be returning to his home state of Louisiana this season in Week 5.
After two NFC North division matchups against the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, followed by two games against the Florida teams in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins, the Vikings will travel to face the New Orleans Saints right before their bye week.
Moreover, this matchup at the Caesars Superdome means a lot to Jefferson, given that it’s only the second time he’ll be playing in his hometown. The Vikings star was born in St. Rose, Louisiana, and attended Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana, approximately 25 miles west of New Orleans.
On May 15, Jefferson spoke about what it meant to play in his home state, given that his first experience playing in New Orleans was early in his NFL career, during the COVID era.
“I’m excited,” Jefferson said on the May 15 edition of “Good Morning Football.” “I’m excited for sure. The last time I’d been to New Orleans was, I think, Year 2 or the COVID year, one of the two. So it’s been a couple of years, and I’m definitely looking forward to being in front of my family and friends.
“Of course, being in the stadium where I won the national championship, just all of the great memories that I’ve had growing up and over the years of playing football. And I’m always trying to beat the home state.”
Justin Jefferson Ready to Play Against the CBs on the Schedule
The last time the Vikings played the Saints in New Orleans was on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2020, at the Caesars Superdome with COVID restrictions in place. As a result, Jefferson will get the full experience this time around of playing the Saints in a packed Caesars Superdome.
Furthermore, Jefferson is ready for whatever cornerback the Saints, or any team for that matter, throws at him to try to stop him.
“[The teams on the Vikings’ schedule] definitely got a couple corners that I’m going to face this year that I don’t think I have faced in previous years,“ Jefferson added. “So I’m definitely looking forward to that—no individual names at this very moment.
“Y’all already know it’s going to circle back, and the matchups are going to be talked about. Just the exciting moments and the exciting matchups are always talked about. So I’m looking forward to it as always.”
Vikings HC on Two Divisional Games to Start the Season
As mentioned, the Vikings get two division opponents right out of the gate in Week 1 and Week 2. Head coach Kevin O’Connell shared his thoughts on the challenging task of securing divisional wins, given how many expect the NFC North to be a tight race for the division title.
“It seems like this is where the league has gone, especially with all the excitement of the season and knowing how competitive these divisions are, and ours is clearly one of the most competitive divisions in football,” O’Connell said in a May 14 video on the Vikings’ YouTube channel.
“So getting two, one at home and one on the road to start the season is a big opportunity to start fast. Those division games are important, and we will have to be ready to go, knowing how strong our division is going to be.”
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