The Minnesota Vikings offense was abysmal against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 12, mustering just six points in a blowout defeat that dropped the team to 4-7 on the year.
Second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy struggled again, completing 12-of-19 passes for 87 yards and two interceptions. He also took five sacks on the afternoon.
Reporters asked head coach Kevin O’Connell point blank if the team can win with McCarthy as the starter and playing how he’s played over the past few games.
“I think you can, I do believe that,” O’Connell said, reaffirming his commitment to McCarthy as the starter in the longterm. “But it does require as a football team not doing things that lose games.”
“[You want to] give him a chance to grow but not [put] the game totally in his hands, where the variance of a young quarterback will cost our whole team,” O’Connell continued. “And I think there’s a needle to thread there.”
Vikings Must Play Almost Flawlessly Around JJ McCarthy to Compete Against Good Teams
GettyHead coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.
O’Connell was careful not to hang all of the responsibility for the ugly loss on McCarthy’s shoulders, but also referenced how flawlessly the rest of the team must play when the quarterback’s performance is as bad as McCarthy’s was on Sunday.
“Our margin of error is clearly pretty razor thin right now,” O’Connell continued. “But what we can’t do is lose the turnover battle 3-0, significantly lose the field position battle and then have negative plays on offense. That gives you really no chance against one of the better defenses in the league.”
The Packers were able to take a big enough lead that forced Minnesota into passing more, which compounded McCarthy’s struggles because the Vikings had no choice but to keep throwing the football.
“The formula can not be to end up being down double-digits in the second half,” O’Connell said. “It’s still definitely a work in progress, for sure.”
Max Brosmer, Even Less Experienced Than JJ McCarthy, Is Vikings’ Only Alternative at QB
GettyQuarterback Max Brosmer of the Minnesota Vikings.
McCarthy is now 2-4 as the starter and has thrown just six TDs compared to 10 INTs. But with Carson Wentz sidelined for the remainder of the season, Minnesota’s only other option under center is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer.
O’Connell referenced McCarthy as “young” and “inexperienced” several times during his press conference. Given that, it appears unlikely that Minnesota will look to make a switch, as Brosmer is even less experienced than McCarthy and may face similar struggles if he ever gets into the starting lineup.
Not making a move after catastrophic performances by McCarthy in three consecutive losses risks dampening locker room morale and the team potentially losing faith in both coach and quarterback. However, Minnesota heavily invested in McCarthy’s future by picking him in the top-1o in 2024. Both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones also walked in free agency, which the Vikings allowed without much of a fight.
O’Connell gave no indication that he plans to do anything other than start McCarthy again next week. But things won’t get any easier as the Vikings travel to play Darnold and a stout Seattle Seahawks defense on the road in Week 13.
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