Even with the Cowboys‘ three-game winning streak that pushed them to 6-5-1 before last week’s loss to the Lions, Dallas had ranked among the most disappointing teams in the NFL this season, likely on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. But ahead of them on the disappointment scale, no doubt, was the Minnesota Vikings, who were 14-3 last season but opted to let free-agent Sam Darnold walk and replace him with JJ McCarthy, the team’s 2024 first-round pick.
While Darnold has thrived with the Seahawks, McCarthy has struggled badly in his first season as the Vikings starter, missing six weeks because of injuries to his ankle and hand, plus a concussion. He has not been great when healthy, either, going 3-4 as a starter with a 56% completion rate, 1,092 yards passing and nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
His quarterback rating is just 67.4, and at 57.5, his Pro Football Focus grade is just 37th out of 40 quarterbacks rated by the site.
Brian Schottenheimer: JJ McCarthy ‘Has a Nice Future’
While there is palpable discontent with McCarthy in Minnesota, especially with Darnold playing the way he is playing, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer still sees a bright future for the young QB. He was asked what he remembered about watching McCarthy on film at Michigan ahead of the 2024 draft.
“I saw a winner. I really did,” Schottenheimer said. “I think you saw a guy that had great poise, I saw athleticism, I saw a guy with good arm talent. I just liked the way he played the game. There was moxie—reminds me a little bit of Bo Nix. They’re both, they’ve got good size, they move around, they compete. They use their weapons really well. He played great against Washington.
“I am sure the things they’re looking at with him are, he’s got to take care of the football, they’ve turned it over a little bit too much this year. But a really talented young player who I think has a nice future in this league.”
Cowboys ‘A Real Test’ for Vikings
In his seven starts coming into the Cowboys game, McCarthy has produced very modest passing numbers, only topping 200 yards one time–back in Week 10 against Baltimore. McCarthy had three touchdowns though only 163 yards against the Commanders last week, in a 31-0 rout, and has thrown for just 133.3 yards per game in his last three outings.
That’s a good thing for the Cowboys, of course, who need to pull themselves back together after allowing 44 points to Detroit last week. McCarthy himself seems to be putting more stock in how the Cowboys played in their first three games after trading for Quinnen Williams than in Week 14.
“From an overall scheme standpoint, Matt Eberflus has been doing this for a while, and I have tremendous respect for him—how he calls the game and coaches his players,” McCarthy told reporters. “Up front, though, they’re really strong, especially with those two new additions [of Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark]; it’s going to be a real test for us.
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