Minnesota Vikings signal-caller J.J. McCarthy didn’t look like he had it together in the slightest for the opening three quarters of his first NFL start against the Chicago Bears on “Monday Night Football,” but then winning time arrived and he flipped the script completely.
McCarthy led Minnesota to three straight touchdowns in the final stanza, turning an 11-point deficit into a 10-point lead and ultimately a three-point win at Soldier Field on September 8.
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson went the first three periods without a catch before nabbing two balls on the Vikings’ first possession of the fourth quarter, including a 13-yard touchdown. On the next drive, McCarthy linked up with running back Aaron Jones for a TD pass and made good on a subsequent two-point conversion to put Minnesota up 20-17.
McCarthy then used his feet to rush for a 14-yard score that put the Vikings up 10 points and proved the game-sealing drive, even though the Bears found the end zone once more and got possession back deep in their own territory with nine seconds remaining on the clock.
The 22-year-old Vikings QB spoke with sideline reporter Lisa Salters at relative length following the game.
“It’s surreal, your first NFL win,” McCarthy said of his experience Monday. “Getting the win, that’s what I’ll remember most. Justing being here in [my] hometown, it’s a dream come true. To all the kids out there, it’s possible. And I just love my guys and can’t wait to go to war next week.”
J.J. McCarthy, Vikings Teammates Gelled as Game Progressed
GettyQuarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
Salters asked what changed for McCarthy following an interception he threw early in the third quarter, which Bears cornerback Nashon Wright returned 74 yards for a touchdown, putting Chicago up 11 points.
“Honestly, we were just figuring it out,” McCarthy responded. “We were playing one play at a time. And coach [Kevin] O’Connell got in some great play calls, and we just executed.”
Salters pressed the young QB for more insight on what went so wrong for the first three quarters and how he flipped it into something so right down the final 15-minute stretch.
“It’s just all 11 being on the same page. I feel like it’s game one, there’s a lot of things we gotta clean up,” McCarthy said. “But I was really, really proud of how we responded because there’s gonna be a lot of gritty games in the future.”
Salters noted that McCarthy remained upbeat and vocal on the sidelines throughout the tough portions of the evening and asked him what he said to his teammates during those interactions.
“That we gotta believe. That’s one thing we can do,” McCarthy said. “It’s as simple as that.”
J.J. McCarthy Turned Nightmare Stat Line Into Quality Performance With Outstanding Fourth Quarter
GettyQuarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
McCarthy finished the night 13-of-20 through the air, putting up 143 yards passing, 2 TDs and 1 INT. His QB rating on the evening was 98.3.
He also rushed the football twice for a total of 25 yards and one score.
Minnesota (1-0) will take on the Atlanta Falcons (0-1) at home next Sunday, September 14.
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