The 2022/23 season saw numerous players evolve into franchise star names and potentially future hall of fame talents as they helped cement their team as a viable playoff threat throughout the course of the season.
However, there were some truly sublime individual displays through various contests that caught the global attention of the NFL media and fanfare which will now be talked about for many years to come.
These were some of the best individual game performances during the 2022/23 season:
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Justin Jefferson – Week 10 vs Bills:
While the superstar Wide Receiver may have been in-game performances on the stat sheet, many fans may gravitate towards this phenomenal contest between two juggernauts of the NFC and AFC as his standout game of the year thanks to one incredible play.
In a back and forth game that may well rank as the best of the 2023 season, the Vikings were trailing 27-23 with 1:54 left on the clock in the fourth quarter and on a 4th and 18, meaning that if they did not convert on this play then the Bills would likely claim a vital win to end off a shootout in Buffalo.
With Vikings QB Kirk Cousins backed up inside his own 20 yard line, he would send up a hail Mary throw in the direction of Jefferson who would leap far into the air and catch the ball in what can best be described as arguably the greatest reception in NFL history.
Jefferson’s catch helped the Vikings score a valuable touchdown following a Bills turnover which would send the game into OT where the Vikings would eventually win, with Jefferson finishing the game with 193 receiving yards and a touchdown, yet it was that infamous catch that made all the headlines following an incredible game at Highmark Stadium.
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Travis Kelce & Patrick Mahomes – Week 5 vs Raiders:
While it may seem unfair to pick two sublime performances in one game for this selection, it does however prove just how deadly the Kelce and Mahomes combination has been throughout the NFL regular season and playoffs as they were both able to linkup numerous times to win Kansas City its third ever Lombardi trophy.
If there was one game that truly cemented their status as perhaps the best TE-QB combination since Brady and Gronkowski, then it would be their outstanding performance’s against bitter rivals Las Vegas during their week 5 prime time broadcast.
Kelce and Mahomes combined for a staggering four touchdowns with the eventual MVP throwing for 292 yards on 67% completion all whilst taking an absolute beating by Raiders All-Pro Defensive End Maxx Crosby who recorded two major sacks on Mahomes, with the Chiefs also entering the new season as firm favorites to win another Superbowl according to the latest NFL odds on BetUS.
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Rayshawn Jenkins – Week 15 vs Cowboys:
The rejuvenation of the Jacksonville Jaguars was one of the NFL best stories throughout the 2023 season as the formally bottom-dwelling Jags were able to win the AFC South for the first time since 2017 and overcome a 27-0 deficit in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
Whilst there were many excellent displays from the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Evan Engram, Christian Kirk and Travis Etienne Jr. to name a few, perhaps the best individual performance likely came from Jags safety Rayshawn Jenkins in their overtime win over Dallas.
In an entertaining game at TIAA Bank Field, Jenkins was able to secure a valuable pick in regulation time that would inspire Jacksonville to take the contest to OT where they could not take advantage of winning the coin toss on offense.
However, with the Cowboys marching further up the field, QB Dak Prescott threw a pass across the sideline which was deflected and snatched up by Jenkins who ran the ball back into the endzone for an OT pick-six which would seal the game for the Jags in dramatic fashion, with the safety also forcing a valuable fourth quarter fumble in their week 18 showdown against rivals Tennessee which would ultimately win the Jags the game and their division title.
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Jalen Hurts – Superbowl LVII vs Chiefs:
While Jalen Hurts and his Philadelphia Eagles would ultimately lose a tremendous Superbowl outing vs the Kansas City Chiefs, this loss was of absolutely no fault to Hurts as he proved all the doubters wrong and showed that he does belong in the top category of QBs in the NFL today.
Hurts played an outstanding game and could likely have taken home the Superbowl MVP award despite losing, with 304 passing yards on 71% completion and a touchdown, as well as three rushing touchdowns through 70 yards and zero picks thrown.
His only major blunder came with a fumble during the early stages of the second quarter when Nick Bolton collected a loose ball and ran it back into the end zone to tie the game up at 14-14, with this overall performance being a true testament to Hurts’ recent efforts to improve at the NFL level and that he can lead a team to postseason success as the Eagles are now looking to return to the big stage next season.
