Inside The Vikings

Justin Jefferson's One-Handed Catch in Buffalo Wins Best Play at ESPYs

Jefferson had the best play in sports in 2022.

Will Ragatz

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At the 2023 ESPYs on Wednesday night, Justin Jefferson took home the "Best Play" award for his miraculous, game-saving one-handed catch in Buffalo last season. Beating out golfer Michael Block, UCLA women's soccer player Ally Lemos, and Florida gymnast Trinity Thomas, Jefferson won the award for his unbelievable grab in the Vikings' dramatic upset victory over the Bills.

It's a play you can watch a thousand times and still struggle to comprehend.

"Always dreamt of this moment, making these memorable plays," Jefferson said while accepting the award. "There's so many things that I want to accomplish, things that I want to prove to myself. This is the start of it, but there's more to come, as always."

Trailing by four with less than two minutes to play in a Week 10 showdown at Highmark Stadium, the Vikings faced a 4th and 18 with the game on the line. Kirk Cousins dropped back and just chucked it up for Jefferson, who was surrounded by several Bills defenders. No. 18 rose up and somehow pulled the ball away from Buffalo's Cam Lewis with one hand, rotating his body as he fell to complete the catch.

The Vikings went on to win 33-30 in overtime in one of the craziest games of the year. Jefferson finished the season with 1,809 receiving yards and was named the NFL's offensive player of the year. 

Now he has an award for the best play of the year in all of sports.

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Will Ragatz
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