On a first-and-goal play from the Falcons 2 in the second quarter, coach Kevin O’Connell sent in a play-action pass the Vikings had been practicing throughout the week, which called for McCarthy to fake a pitch to Jordan Mason and keep the ball for a throw to Justin Jefferson. But as the receiver gained a step on Dee Alford, McCarthy lost the ball out of his left hand and had to scramble right before throwing incomplete under pressure.
“There’s certainly some plays, some throws, some things that I’m sure he would love to get another shot at that,” O’Connell said of McCarthy, who finished 11-for-21 for 158 yards and ran five times for 25. “When we did move it, I thought he made some throws, and I thought he showed his athleticism. Just as a group, we did not execute to our standard. And it kind of moved from guy to guy at times, either mental lapses or physical lapses. But either way, the negatives start to meld and you’re just not doing enough to give yourself a chance to actually win football games.”
The Vikings, who ran just 49 plays on Monday night in Chicago, had only 46 against the Falcons, as turnovers, penalties (eight for 50 yards) and pressure put their offense in an untenable situation.
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. Six different pass rushers pressured McCarthy at least three times, and Atlanta’s six sacks were the fourth-most the Vikings have surrendered in O’Connell’s four seasons.
“We got to get in and out of the huddle fast,” McCarthy said. “We got to get the right calls protectionwise. And I got to get the ball out as quickly as possible for the guys that can go make plays. There’s a lot of opportunities where we left it on the table. I feel like it’s an all-11 thing. And, you know, it starts with me first.”
His coach was quick to point out the breadth of the Vikings’ issues, from penalties like Walter Rouse’s holding call that wiped out an 18-yard Mason run to the miscommunication in protection that left Zach Harrison running free off the right side, while Brian O’Neill helped Will Fries with LaCale London, for the strip sack that ended the Vikings’ best chance for a rally.