After Jones had gained 22 yards on two runs to open the second half and McCarthy hit Jordan Addison for 4 yards, though, the Vikings (4-5) faced a third-and-1 at midfield leading 10-9. They lined up with two tight ends and two running backs on the field, inviting a heavier defensive group from the Ravens. O’Connell said he had planned to go for it on fourth down and called for a deep shot to Justin Jefferson in single coverage on third down so McCarthy could take advantage of a one-on-one matchup.
“It’s one-on-one, and I have the greatest receiver in the world,” McCarthy said. “I don’t care who it is out there [defending him], I’m going to give him a chance. It’s one of those things where, if he catches it, it’s great. If he doesn’t, it’s incomplete. Or, it’s an interception and it’s [like a] punt. There’s different things where you know that could lead to that outcome, but 10 times out of 10, I’m gonna give him a shot.”
McCarthy said he didn’t see Jefferson fall, as his legs got tangled up with those of the Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey. The cornerback intercepted the pass at the Baltimore 2, costing the Vikings a chance to build on their lead in the third quarter.
The Ravens (4-5) would score on three of their next four drives, with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry gaining steam against a tired Vikings defense that lost Jonathan Greenard to a left shoulder injury in the second half. Baltimore defensive coordinator Zach Orr called for more blitzes with the Ravens up multiple scores, testing McCarthy’s ability to work under pressure with the run game no longer a factor.
In the locker room after the game, Jefferson found McCarthy and gave a hug to the 22-year-old quarterback who lost for the second time as a starter in the NFL after absorbing just one defeat as Michigan’s starting QB.
“It’s just going back to work, giving him the motivation to keep going and keep fighting, not letting the bad plays affect him in any way,” Jefferson said. “I’ve got to play better, as well, fighting off the contact and catching the ball at the end of the day.”