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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ((Photo by David Berding/Getty Images))
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - J.J. McCarthy’s alter ego almost showed up just in time Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Chicago Bears 19-17 on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Vikings fall to 4-6, and just 1-4 at home this season. They also stay at the bottom of the NFC North Division standings with seven regular season games left, and their playoff hopes are starting to fade.
The big play
How it happened:
Trailing 16-10 and with their quarterback struggling all afternoon, McCarthy led the Vikings on what was at the time a go-ahead scoring drive. He hit Jordan Addison on a fourth down to keep the game alive, then hit Addison from 15 yards out with 50 seconds left in regulation to give Minnesota a 17-16 lead.
Devin Duvernay answered for the Bears, taking the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the Minnesota 40-yard line.
It set up a 48-yard game-winning field goal for Cairo Santos as time expired. Santos had just missed from 47 yards out, but tucked the final kick just inside the left upright.
Do the Vikings have a QB problem?
What we know:
McCarthy missed all of last season with a knee injury, and five games this year with an ankle injury. When healthy, he has largely struggled, other than the fourth quarter on opening night at Chicago. But this was without question McCarthy’s worst game thus far in Minnesota. He finished 16-of-32 for 150 yards, two interceptions and one touchdown.
He regularly missed receivers on what should’ve been simple completions, and also suffered from seven drops. It’s only his fifth career start, and Kevin O’Connell won’t deviate from his plan, but the outside noise will only get louder the more McCarthy struggles.
The Vikings let Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, who are now thriving with the Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts, after moving up in the 2024 NFL Draft to take McCarthy. It’s going to take time, but through five starts, McCarthy is off to a rough start.
Defense does its part
Why you should care:
The Vikings’ defense held the Bears to 320 yards, sacked Caleb Williams twice and forced four Santos field goals. But with McCarthy and the offense struggling, they needed to generate a turnover or even get a score.
Packers next
What's next:
The Vikings now head to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers, who are coming off a 27-20 win over the New York Giants.
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