The Minnesota Vikings brought J.J. McCarthy back under center for a challenging road matchup against the Detroit Lions, with added pressure to prove he belongs as the team’s starting quarterback.
McCarthy completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards, threw two touchdowns, and had one interception, while also adding a rushing touchdown in the 27-24 victory over their NFC North rival.
After the Vikings’ win over the Lions, CBS Sports NFL analyst Danny Kanell shared a blunt analysis of what he saw from McCarthy.
“I thought he was really impressive, going on the road against one of the better defenses and one of the better teams in the entire National Football League,” Kanell said on “CBS Sports HQ.” “I thought he played with a ton of confidence. The throw he made to Justin Jefferson was a great ball.
“Now, you’re throwing Justin on the outside. He made a great catch there, but he’s throwing the ball with a ton of confidence. He is not afraid to take many of those chances because he does have some really good weapons out there. He knows what he can do mobility-wise because he can escape and run. And it was his first time back in the lineup for a while.”
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Now Has Confidence After the Win
Kanell elaborated even more that while there were questions regarding McCarthy, this game against the Lions is a confidence booster for the young quarterback.
“So I thought this was huge for his confidence,” Kanell added. “I don’t think he lacks any, but I still see a young player who’s a little more volatile out there. You get some good throws, you get some bad throws. He’s got to get more consistent, but I think he is playing with a ton of confidence right now for a young player.”
J.J. McCarthy Earns Praise From Vikings Teammate
After the victory over the Lions, Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson spoke with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and didn’t hold back on the praise for McCarthy.
“What a baller,” Hockenson said. “He’s a vet through and through. You wouldn’t think it by his age, but the way he carries himself, the way he performs on Sundays, and the way he operates our offense, it shows you that.”
McCarthy also spoke candidly about his own performance, but he didn’t hesitate to credit the team. The support from his teammates gave him the tools to produce at a high level and helped boost his confidence upon his return from injury.
“Obviously a lot of excitement … and I’m just so proud of the guys,” McCarthy said. “We fought, we had a different energy this week, a different level of focus. But there’s a lot more we can clean up. We haven’t reached our potential. We haven’t even gotten close yet.”
It will be interesting to see if McCarthy can carry this performance over into Week 10 when the Vikings take on the Baltimore Ravens. Moreover, the victory over the Lions puts Minnesota back in the NFC playoff picture.
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