The Minnesota Vikings left for a two-game trip overseas after Thursday's practice, and they arrived in Dublin, Ireland on Friday morning ahead of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will be the first NFL regular season game to take place in Ireland.
A typically stingy Steelers' defense has been less so through three games this season, ranking 26th in the league against the pass (246.7 per game) with the fifth-highest completion rate allowed (71.7 percent and some other metrics that are in the bottom part of the league defending the pass. So the Vikings, if they can protect Carson Wentz well, could find a lot of success through the air on Sunday.
In recent years, as the league has relaxed the rules regarding touchdown celebrations, Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has taken to doing the "Griddy" dance whenever he scores.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has a plan for a celebration if he gets the opportunity against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ireland.
Speaking to the media after Friday's practice in Ireland, alongside teammates Harrison Smith and T.J. Hockenson, Jefferson was asked if he has a celebration in mind for Sunday's game as he plays an overseas game again. He revealed he has something special in mind for a fresh NFL audience.
"We've got a little addition to the Griddy, a little Ireland edition", Jefferson said. "Hopefully, I'll get to bust it out Sunday,......"I definitely want to put on a show, especially since this is the first time we're playing in front of people from Ireland."
When the topic of his potential touchdown celebration on Sunday was brought back up, Jefferson acknowledged he has done some research into Irish culture as he always tries to add new, never-before-seen elements to his "Griddy" routine.
When an Irish Times reporter then asked if he'd call the Ireland edition of his touchdown celebration the "O'Griddy", Jefferson, while smiling, said,
"I might. I might take that, actually."
Jefferson hasn't scored since the Vikings' Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears. With a career rate of basically a touchdown every two games he has played over the course of his career (41 receiving touchdowns in 80 regular season games), it could be said he's a little overdue to score.
If Jefferson breaks his scoring seal against the Steelers on Sunday, an Irish-influenced version of the "Griddy" is sure to be absolutely epic.