1. Thanksgiving 1998, Moss style
If the Vikings Week 5 win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football was Randy Moss’ coming out party to NFL fans, then Minnesota’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Dallas Cowboys was Moss’ coming out party to the world.
Watching football has become a Thanksgiving tradition in the United States and in 1998, the entire country got to watch Minnesota’s rookie receiver carve up the Cowboys’ defense.
Minnesota Vikings
Moss had just three catches in the matchup, but they all resulted in mesmerizing touchdowns.
On the Vikings’ very first offensive drive of the game, the receiver walked into the end zone after catching a 51-yard pass from Minnesota quarterback Randall Cunningham. Later in the first quarter, Cunningham connected with Moss again for a 56-yard touchdown.
With Dallas creeping back into the game in the third quarter, Moss took a short screen pass and ran 56 yards down the edge of sideline until he crossed the goal line and put six more points up on the board for the Vikings.
Minnesota won the game and the legend of Randy Moss was officially born. The young receiver finished with three catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns.
It’s was a day when the country realized just how special of a player Moss was and it was a performance that no Vikings fan will ever forget.