JJ McCarthy Rides Emotional Roller Coaster After Impossible Vikings Win

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JJ McCarthy - Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings did the unthinkable on Sunday afternoon, rolling into Detroit and beating the Lions for the first time in their last five attempts. And it could not have come at a better time.

This Vikings team entered the weekend with their 2025 season on the brink of collapse. They were already below .500 and, with the trade deadline looming on Tuesday, who knows what could have happened over the next couple days, had they not found a way to pull out the 27-24 NFC North victory.

JJ McCarthy proves doubters wrong, calms fan anxiety

And the most exciting part: JJ McCarthy was phenomenal. Throw out his underwhelming stat line — 14/25, 143 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT. Because if you watched this game with your eyes, most of the doubt you had about the oft-injured redshirt rookie QB was washed away, and it happened early.

Related: MN Vikings Still Looking for QB Help at NFL Trade Deadline

I was prepared to wait for JJ McCarthy. I was expecting to see the guy we saw for seven of the eight quarters he played between weeks one and two of the regular season. But that was not the quarterback who took to Ford Field on Sunday in Detroit.

This afternoon, McCarthy looked dialed in and organized from the start. For the most part, he deciphered defenses effectively, moved around in the pocket efficiently and delivered on time, when possible.

His accuracy needs work, but the rust of 1.5 missed seasons will likely fall off with time. Overall, the kid performed way above my expectations, especially given the circumstances. After his time out with injury, there’s now an ENORMOUS amount of pressure for JJ McCarthy to stay healthy and perform competently.

And if, like me, his play vs the Lions had you in your feelings today, then just imagine how he felt. Let’s not forget or dismiss the ENDLESS number of questions surrounding our 22-year-old QB, coming into this matchup.

Minnesota Vikings franchise QB emotional after win

So after the win, it’s no surprise that JJ McCarthy was going through a wide range of emotions, as he proceeded through all the postgame festivities privy to the winning QB of a huge game.

First, an amped up McCarthy entered the locker room, after chatting with Tom Brady back on the field, where all of his teammates awaited a jacked up JJ. After that, a still locked-in JJ was awarded the game ball by Kevin O’Connell.

Related: JJ McCarthy and Sam Darnold Didn’t Get Along in Minnesota?

Even if JJ handled it like a veteran, which he clearly did, all of that pressure would weigh on any human. But if that wasn’t enough, the 2024 No. 10 overall draft pick had to navigate his seemingly insurmountable professional pressures this week with a sick infant awaiting him back at home.

Then, finally, a reflective JJ met with reporters, where he showed a rare amount of vulnerability and nearly broke down into tears on what today’s successful outing meant to him and the Minnesota Vikings.

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