There are thousands and thousands of plays ran each and every season across the NFL.
The Vikings, for example, had 1,082 total offensive snaps in 2020, while Minnesota's defense was on the field for 1,074 plays.
As with every year, there were a few plays that especially stood out. Take Dalvin Cook's 50-yard screen pass for a score in Minnesota's win at Lambeau Field in Week 8. Or Eric Kendricks' diving interception against the Cowboys in Week 11.
But a pair of plays made by Vikings wide receivers are among the best of the best, and they are now up for the NFL Play of the Year for the 2020 season.
Voting is open now and can be found here.
Justin Jefferson's first NFL touchdown is among the choices, as the 22nd overall pick dazzled in Week 3 against the Titans.
The first-rounder caught a pass on a deep crossing pattern but quickly put the moves on cornerback Johnathan Joseph and safety Kenny Vaccaro at the Titans 23-yard line.
He ended up in the end zone with a 71-yard touchdown catch (doing The Griddy, of course) on a play that highlighted his seven-catch, 175-yard performance.
Jefferson ended his rookie season with 88 catches for 1,400 yards, the yardage total setting a Super Bowl-era record. He also had seven scores.
Adam Thielen's one-handed score in Week 11 against the Cowboys is also among the candidates.
Thielen had a pair of scores against Dallas, but his first score came from the 2-yard line and required just one paw. The wide receiver stuck his right hand out to corral the pass as he got both feet down for the spectacular score.
Thielen had 74 catches for 925 yards in 2020, but he also was a magnet for the end zone. He had 14 touchdown catches, which is the third-most in a single season in Vikings history.
Kiper projects OL to Vikings in 1st mock draft
Longtime ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr., has released his first mock draft of the offseason, and he has the Vikings addressing their offensive line in the first round.
Kiper recently tabbed USC's Alijah Vera-Tucker, who played both tackle and guard with the Trojans, to land with the Vikings at the No. 14 overall pick.
Kiper wrote:
Speaking of rising prospects, Vera-Tucker has scouts around the league buzzing after a tremendous season. He moved from guard to left tackle and dominated for the Trojans. At 6-4, 315 pounds, he could play either position at the next level.
The Vikings must solidify their offensive line around Kirk Cousins, even after spending second-round picks on Ezra Cleveland (2020) and Brian O'Neill (2018) in recent years, and Vera-Tucker could be the long-term answer on the left side of the line. Cousins plays best when his running game is humming, and Vera-Tucker is a great run-blocker.
Vera-Tucker appeared in 31 career games in college, starting 19 of them.
He was not linked to Minnesota in the first edition of the Vikings 2021 Mock Draft Tracker, which was posted last month.
The second edition of the tracker will be released next week on Vikings.com.
