Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggled against the Green Bay Packers, completing 12 of 19 passes for just 87 yards and throwing two interceptions while taking five sacks in the 23-6 loss at Lambeau Field on November 23.
The Vikings’ offense struggled all game, scoring only six points in the first half and getting shut out in the second. Minnesota’s defense tried to keep the team in the game, but the Packers steadily added points to put the game out of reach.
After the Green Bay game, McCarthy addressed his confidence level, even as his struggles continued and he managed just 87 passing yards.
“Confidence is always high, no matter what, because the guy’s in that room, because of the trust and faith in my abilities,” McCarthy told reporters postgame. “We have to put things together, keep putting days together, plays together, and execute better at the end of the day.”
Vikings Don’t Appear Ready to Pull J.J. McCarthy
At 4-7, it wouldn’t make sense to take out McCarthy now; the playoffs are a distant memory, and now it’s all about the young quarterback to show he’s the guy for next season. With just a few games remaining in the 2025 NFL season, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell remains fully confident in the player.
“It’s all about his preparation,” O’Connell told reporters after the loss. “It’s all about going back to work and understanding, ‘Hey, this is a new week, very tough road trip ahead of us. We’re going to need our quarterback to have the best week of preparation out of anybody on our team.’ But then we also need all the other phases of our team and the other guys in that huddle with them to do the same, and just keep on staying the course.
“When we find improvement, when we find consistent examples of it, let’s not be in a position where we’re ever going to be a team that celebrates that short-term success. We’re going to be a team that needs to just continue to press onward and execute even better and do your job even better.”
The Vikings Might Be Asking Too Much of J.J. McCarthy
Furthermore, O’Connell believes the team’s own struggles are likely causing them to lean on McCarthy to navigate difficult situations.
“It does require, as a football team, not doing things that lose games,” O’Connell added. “Special teams turnover, I believe, in two out of our last three games. And then ultimately, the defense is out there battling. They’re trying to get the ball back for us as much as [they] can.
“But then there [are] some things where you can’t have breakdowns around to consistently sustain. So as some of those things happen or you start stacking negatives, that becomes incredibly difficult for any quarterback, never mind a guy just still in this single-digit world of career starts and all that.”
After falling to the Packers, Minnesota sit three games under .500, and any playoff hopes for the 2025 NFL season are likely over. The remaining games will give McCarthy more reps, while the Vikings’ front office faces decisions on whether to target a veteran quarterback this offseason.
Minnesota’s offense is built to compete immediately, so McCarthy will need strong performances in the coming weeks to cement himself as the starter. If his play continues to mirror what he’s shown since returning from injury, the team will likely look for a quarterback capable of challenging him and pushing him to earn the starting role.
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