Everything that went right and wrong for the Vikings vs. Commanders

Dec 7, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) practices before the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

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By Matthew Coller

The Minnesota Vikings had one of their most impressive top-to-bottom games of the season, beating the Washington Commanders 31-0. Let’s have a look at JJ McCarthy’s performance and more…

What went right

McCarthy letting it rip

In terms of confidence builders, the opening drive was very favorable for McCarthy getting on track. He had a checkdown to Ben Sims, a quick out route to TJ Hockenson and then a little pop pass to Jalen Nailor that all produced positive results. When the Vikings got into the red zone, they pulled out a vertical concept against Washington’s cover-3 defense. It was the perfect call to create an open receiver up the seam.

That receiver was Josh Oliver. Washington telegraphs the single-high safety look at the start and then when the nickel corner takes the flat zone, McCarthy lets it fly. He throws a dart right into the chest of Oliver — who has outstanding hands for a “blocking” tight end. The outside corner breaks on it but can’t get there in time and can’t get around Oliver’s giant body. Touchdown.

This is the type of throw that McCarthy is best at right now. Drop-and-drive. He didn’t have to layer or put any touch on the ball or throw with anticipation. Just fire it as hard as he could right to Oliver.

One of the common concepts that the Vikings like to use is a “levels” idea with one receiver running underneath and the other over the top. Here, they use it from a bunch formation where Justin Jefferson runs an out route from the middle of the bunch and Jordan Addison goes deep.

You would have expected someone to drift underneath Addison’s route but since they did not and left a huge hole wide open, McCarthy fired the ball into space and connected with his wide receiver. While Addison had to go down to get it, the ball still ends up in a good spot because the safety can’t close quick enough to make a play.

Once again, McCarthy isn’t put into a spot where he has to do anything except read one side of the field and let loose. Also, Washington’s defense is crazy bad. There isn’t an ounce of deception or pressure.

Later in the game, the Vikings were in big personnel with Josh Oliver on the field (they had Oliver and CJ Ham out there for most of the day) and had Addison run a deep out. It looks like the corner and safety are supposed to be bracketing Addison but they don’t even come close to doing that and the receiver ends up being one on one. He pushes vertical and gets the corner to turn his hips, then snaps off the route. McCarthy throws a powerful ball to the opposite hash right on the money.

Once again, the cushion is pretty extreme from what we would normally expect but McCarthy has to get the ball to space in a hurry and gets the job done.

Our next look is a play that was highlighted by KOC. What we see here is decisiveness. At the goal line on fourth down, Jefferson runs an outside release for a fade and TJ Hockenson runs a quick out. The fade clears out space and McCarthy doesn’t hesitate at all to gun the ball to his veteran tight end, who fights his way into the end zone.

After the game, McCarthy also mentioned holding the linebacker with his eyes.

It also helps that Washington’s defenders ran into each other.

Clever play wrinkles