The Minnesota Vikings were having one of the worst games to start the season. J.J. McCarthy did not look comfortable, Justin Jefferson went wholly underutilized, and the offense could not get things going through three quarters of action.
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A pair of field goals kept points on the board, but not much was going right for the Vikings. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that magic began to happen.
McCarthy began to attack the middle of the field and used his rocket arm to deliver passes to Jefferson, Aaron Jones, and TJ Hockenson.
The score would jump from 17-6 to 17-12, and then 20-17 in less than one quarter. McCarthy then marched the offense down the field, and he ran another touchdown using his rushing ability.
Out of nowhere, the Vikings were now leading the way with a 27-17 score. The Chicago Bears did come back with a touchdown of their own with two minutes left, but the Vikings' defense stepped up and stopped them cold with only moments left.
McCarthy delivered an epic fourth quarter comeback, throwing three touchdowns in that time, and became the first player to do so in their NFL debut.
Naturally, this led to a multitude of cheers and praise, especially from Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. The coach delivered some strong words on McCarthy following his comeback victory.
"There's no way to deny, we don't win this game unless J.J. plays the way he did in the second half," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said. "Most importantly, he kept the belief of his football team behind him. Now, we know it's possible."
O'Connell has a huge point in that McCarthy may have looked every bit as much of a rookie at the beginning of the game, but he transformed into a seasoned pro by the end. He kept his head down and trusted in the team to correct their mistakes.
Even the most seasoned pros can fall into a situation where the score and the pace of the game get to them. For McCarthy he showcased what it means to keep grinding until the whistle blows.
The Vikings still have the right team to make the playoffs, but the jury is still out on whether or not McCarthy was the right choice. After Monday night, it would appear that could be the case.
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