By Blessing 
Justin Jefferson Speaks Out on Vikings’ Road Playoff Game After 14-Win Season
The Minnesota Vikings wrapped up a remarkable 14-3 regular season last year, setting the stage for what fans hoped would be a deep playoff run. Their final game of the season was a high-stakes showdown against the Detroit Lions, with everything on the line — the NFC North title, the conference’s top seed, and the crucial first-round playoff bye.
Detroit ultimately dominated that Week 18 matchup, winning 31-9 and securing home-field advantage. That loss pushed Minnesota into a wild-card slot, despite their impressive record, and sent them on the road to face the Los Angeles Rams. The result? A tough 27-9 defeat that ended their season earlier than expected.
The situation sparked conversations across the league: Should a wild-card team with a superior record be forced to play on the road? Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson recently shared his thoughts on that very question.
“Yes, especially with the season that we had last year, to go and play away, it definitely was a little different,” Jefferson told Yahoo Sports, via ProFootballTalk. “It definitely needs to go into consideration and something that we need to figure out because having 14 wins … normally doesn’t go to play away in the playoffs.”
Jefferson was quick to acknowledge that his team had their chance to secure home field and didn’t capitalize. He didn’t use the road setting as an excuse, but emphasized the broader issue of fairness in playoff seeding.
The topic even reached the league office, as the Lions submitted a proposal to reseed playoff teams based solely on regular-season records. However, that motion didn’t gain traction and was eventually withdrawn.
Despite the disappointing end, Jefferson had another stellar season. He finished second in the league in receiving yards (1,533), recorded 103 catches, and scored 10 touchdowns — proving once again he’s among the NFL’s elite.
Though playoff rules won’t be changing next season, if the debate resurfaces, there’s no doubt Jefferson will be a vocal supporter for change.