Through two games, it hasn’t looked good for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy did mount an 11-point, fourth-quarter comeback over the Chicago Bears in Week 1. However, there was no comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in an eventual 22-6 loss on Sunday.
McCarthy took his sixth sack to start the fourth quarter, resulting in a fumble that played into the favor of the Falcons. Protecting a six-point lead, Atlanta played keep away and dominated time of possession in the final quarter, holding the ball for 12 minutes, 31 seconds of the final 15 minutes.
The Vikings offense has not mustered much through its first eight quarters with McCarthy. All six points on Sunday came in the second quarter, a pair of field goals by Will Reichard. McCarthy has scored all three of his touchdowns in a single quarter of the young season and has four turnovers in two games.
However, the 22-year-old is resolute on turning things around.
“This is a long season. Everyone’s telling me this is a freaking journey, and I believe them wholeheartedly,” he said after the game. “We got a lot to do, and I got a lot to do personally. There’s a lot of things about this game that show up, and it’s awesome to be a part of such a great group where I know we’re gonna grow together, I know we’re gonna learn together, there’s a lot of love in that locker room, and that’s what it comes down to.
“So, it’s just about getting back to the drawing board and working on just getting better at the little things and executing the simple things better.”
Falcons Land Daunting Pressure Rate on Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy
It’s early in the season, but the Vikings’ injuries are already impacting the offense’s efficiency.
Without Christian Darrisaw for a second week, the Vikings trotted out backup left tackle Justin Skule, who struggled again before he was ruled out with an injury early in the fourth quarter. Starting center Ryan Kelly was also ruled out with concussion symptoms. Second-year linemen Walter Rouse and Michael Jurgens stepped in for the first offensive snaps of their careers, and it was a struggle.
“According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Falcons pressured McCarthy on 53.5% of his dropbacks, their highest rate in a game since Week 15 of the 2018 season,” Minnesota Star Tribune beat reporter Ben Goessling wrote.
With pressure coming early, the Vikings’ offense could not find its explosiveness, which often comes with deeper, developing routes. Kevin O’Connell did not seem to find the right quick plays to create some breathing room for McCarthy, either.
Vikings Have a Get-Right Game Against the Bengals Ahead
Onto the next one.
The Vikings host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in a matchup that has lost some serious gusto with Joe Burrow suffering a turf toe injury in Week 2.
Backup quarterback Jake Browning kept the Bengals offense afloat in a 31-27 win; however, this is a game that is ripe for the Vikings to bounce back — so long as they can start to get healthy.
Darrisaw’s return will be the biggest storyline this week and could be the difference-maker. The Vikings can also hopefully get Andrew Van Ginkel, Jeff Okudah and Kelly back, all of whom are in concussion protocol, and Harrison Smith.
DraftKings Sportsbook has the Vikings as 4.5-point favorites to open the week.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post JJ McCarthy Has Strong Words After Vikings’ Loss to Falcons appeared first on Heavy Sports.