J.J, McCarthy, Adam Thielen
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Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (left) and wide receiver Adam Thielen (right)
Adam Thielen did not lose perspective in what proved to be a spoiled homecoming for his return to the Minnesota Vikings.
As J.J. McCarthy and the offense failed to score a touchdown in a 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on primetime at U.S. Bank Stadium, Thielen had a word with the 22-year-old quarterback after his first career loss.
“I told him on the sidelines at the end of the game, we started 5-0 and missed the playoffs, we started 1-2 and went to the NFC championship game. A Week 2 loss doesn’t derail who you are as a football team,” Thielen said in a locker room interview, referring to his past seasons with the Vikings.
It was a needed perspective for McCarthy, who, outside of a heroic fourth-quarter comeback over the Chicago Bears in Week 1, has struggled through the other seven quarters to start the season.
So far, McCarthy has thrown for three touchdowns and three interceptions, along with a costly fumble that gave the game away to the Falcons in the fourth quarter.
Early struggles were expected in Minnesota, but how McCarthy responds will ultimately define the season.
“He’s built for that, that’s why they fell in love with him during the draft process,” Thielen said of McCarthy handling adversity. “He’s legitimately built for that. It’s going to be a process like every year. You just keep going to work and keep learning… keep building every single week.”
Falcons Pass Rush Has Record Night at Vikings QB JJ McCarthy’s Expense
McCarthy’s struggles aren’t all on him.
The Vikings have been without starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw for the first two weeks of the season, as he is coming back from a knee injury from a year ago.
Backup Justin Skule has struggled mightily in Darrisaw’s place, surrendering three sacks and seven pressures in the first two games.
The Vikings offensive line as a whole fared poorly in what proved to be a record performance.
“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.
The Vikings have the worst passing game through the first two weeks of the season as a byproduct of McCarthy being under duress.
After two games of playing against the vaunted Bears and Falcons defenses, the Vikings rank 31st in EPA/play and 32nd in EPA/pass play
— Timo Riske (@PFF_Moo) September 15, 2025
However, the young quarterback did not pass the blame off to any individual.
“Obviously, very disappointing loss. There’s a lot of things that come to my mind of just what we can do to get better. And just wanna give kudos to the defense, I thought they played absolutely outstanding,” McCarthy said. “We’ve gotta do a better job as an offense.
“We’ve just got to do a better job of adapting and taking advantage of opportunities when we’re down in red zone to get seven points and not just leave three on the board,” McCarthy continued. “It starts with me. I’ve gotta play better, and we gotta do a better job operating this offense.”
Vikings Are Preaching Patience With McCarthy
Head coach Kevin O’Connell issued the NFL a warning after the loss to the Falcons that it’s going to take time for McCarthy to develop.
“This is going to be a process for our team,” O’Connell said. “Our young quarterback is going to make some plays. He’s going to make some unbelievable throws. … And then, other times, he’s going to have an attempt and just miss something a little long, and we will go back and try to fix it.”
The Vikings are currently 1-1 with a roster that’s ready to win now. But if there’s going to be more games like Week 2 in the future, it’s going to be hard to stay in the playoff chase.