Even the most callous Minnesota Vikings fan would have reason to believe that J.J. McCarthy would build off his comeback performance in Chicago.
Minnesota’s first-year quarterback had led a fourth-quarter comeback in his hometown, and the Atlanta Falcons game in Week 2 looked less challenging. The Vikings were playing at home as 3.5-point favorites. McCarthy would no longer face the oppressive noise from the Soldier Field crowd, and he may have shaken off some of the opening-night jitters.
Still, the savviest gamblers had qualms about betting on McCarthy in his second start for the Vikings.
“House, J.J. just had a kid,” Bill Simmons told his friend Joe House on his September 12 podcast. “Like, in the last 24 hours had a kid. Like, missed practice had a kid.
“We’ve had children. It’s an intense 48 hours. I don’t love the thought of my quarterback having a child and then having to play the Falcons on a Sunday.”
Simmons’ intuition paid off. McCarthy was 11 for 21 for 158 yards and threw two interceptions in Minnesota’s 22-6 loss to Atlanta. McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter, which hampered his ability to conduct another fourth-quarter comeback.
Still, Minnesota didn’t draft McCarthy to play well for the final 15 minutes of each game; that would give already anxious Vikings fans terminal indigestion. They saw McCarthy as a quarterback who can be a three-level passer, operate Kevin O’Connell’s complex offense, and play with some moxie.
The Vikings didn’t expect McCarthy to enter the NFL fully-formed. Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix, and Bo Nix have created unrealistic expectations for McCarthy. They entered the league closer to their prime and were therefore better able to deliver results immediately.
McCarthy, 22, is still three or four years from hitting his prime. He’s also coming off a meniscus tear that cost him his entire rookie season.
Therefore, the Vikings took advantage of his rookie contract and built an infrastructure around him in the offseason. Instead of asking McCarthy to drive winning, the Vikings only needed him to buoy the NFL’s championship-ready roster.
However, Minnesota’s plan immediately looked flawed. The offensive line has sustained multiple injuries, including to free-agent center Ryan Kelly, and tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. Jordan Addison served a three-game suspension to start the season, and McCarthy didn’t look ready against Chicago and Atlanta before suffering a high ankle sprain.
As a result, the Vikings went 3-2 in the easiest part of their schedule, and nearly entered the bye 2-3 save for a last-second comeback over the Cleveland Browns in London.
Minnesota entered its post-bye gauntlet with a reserve-heavy roster, including backup quarterback Carson Wentz. After losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers, McCarthy resumed his career in front of a hostile Detroit Lions crowd.
McCarthy emphasized that he’s maximized his time with the Vikings, even if he hasn’t played much. He sees his return as a clean slate where he can still determine whether his first season is a success.
“This is my second year. I’m still learning so much, and all that time hasn’t been wasted,” McCarthy said. “So, yeah, it’s a little bit of a reset.”
Minnesota’s win in Detroit resets the season in that they’re 4-4 with nine games left to play. McCarthy’s ability to run the offense more effectively also should inspire confidence that the Vikings can win challenging games against the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Seattle Seahawks.
However, it’s also a reset in that McCarthy’s performance reframes the Atlanta game. Perhaps having his first child so close to gameday overwhelmed him, affecting his performance in Week 2. Maybe that’s too much for a young quarterback to handle.
“[It was] for sure a whirlwind. [A] very unique situation, a lot of firsts,” he said, emphasizing that his family, teammates, and coaches helped him during the birth of his son, Rome. “Hopefully, we can plan things out a little bit better next time and go for baby No. 2 in the offseason.”
The Atlanta game seemed to indicate that the Vikings had bungled their offseason plans. McCarthy wasn’t ready, and it’s impossible to create a perfect situation for a young quarterback in the NFL anyway. Perhaps they should have kept Darnold.
If McCarthy can’t get out of the huddle at home against the Falcons, how is he going to lead the Vikings to wins over Baltimore, Green Bay, and Seattle?
McCarthy went a long way toward dispelling the notion that he isn’t ready. He led the Vikings to victory over the Lions, something Darnold never did. He got in and out of the huddle, found Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson in the end zone, and hit Jalen Nailor for a crucial third down.
Never bet on McCarthy the week he has a kid. But, also, don’t bet against him as a 9.5-point underdog in Detroit. It feels like he’ll be able to build off that performance next week.