Three moments that defined JJ McCarthy's return
The young QB's second career victory was an enormous one
By Matthew Coller
DETROIT, Michigan. — The Minnesota Vikings were a different team with quarterback J.J. McCarthy back under center. Against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, they scored 27 points, including two passing touchdowns and one rushing score from the first-year starting quarterback.
Amidst the victory, which improved the Vikings’ record to 4-4, there were three moments in particular that stood out…
The touch throw
The Vikings offense couldn’t have written a better start to the game for McCarthy. After a 61-yard kick return by Myles Price, he converted a third down on a screen pass and then was on the right side of some Justin Jefferson magic in the form of a one-handed touchdown catch.
On his second drive, he was set up at the Detroit 38-yard line staring down third-and-9. The crowd, nearly 100% Honolulu blue, was at peak noise level. The Lions aggressive defense had its ears pinned back. Right at the snap, there was some push from Detroit’s pass rush from the right side but McCarthy slid away from it and floated a ball deep to receiver Jordan Addison. The ball dropped right into his waiting hands for a 31-yard gain.
For Kevin O’Connell, that was exactly the type of play that he had envisioned McCarthy making during all these weeks working with him on fundamentals.
“They were doubling Jefferson and it was off some pocket movement, he kept his base and gave JA a chance to make that play,” O’Connell said.
McCarthy threw a rollout touchdown to TJ Hockenson on the following play. Putting 14 on Detroit right away set the tone for the way the entire game was played.
“I’m sure there’s plenty more [throws that stood out], but just the feel of him playing quarterback mixed with his athleticism….he did steal us some yardage, got us in the end zone again on a critical third-and-goal,” O’Connell said. “He’s a young player in a heck of an environment today. Really, he’s had three starts, two of which in very difficult road environments and his poise. Him running the show, I thought was matched by him making some big-time throws.”
The dagger throw
While the Vikings played with a lead for nearly the entire game, that advantage was in jeopardy of being flushed away in the final moments after the Lions scored a quick touchdown to bring the game to 27-24 with 1:55 remaining.
O’Connell started the drive with two run plays, one which was a miscommunication that resulted in McCarthy running for four yards and the other was a 1-yard gain.
Staring down third-and-5, the Vikings’ head coach decided to put the game in McCarthy’s hands. He dialed up a throw, risking stopping the clock and giving the ball back to the Lions with plenty of time to tie or take the lead.
McCarthy stepped back, floated a ball into the air and dropped a dime to receiver Jalen Nailor. Game over.
O’Connell recalled the Vikings’ loss to the Lions last year where they needed one more completion and couldn’t get it.
“We were in a similar situation against them a year ago at home the first time we played them, and we weren’t able to make the play,” O’Connell said. “[Nailor] made an unbelievable catch there in a one-on-one situation, and JJ made one of the best throws of the day when we absolutely needed it.”
McCarthy had been waiting to give Nailor an opportunity in a big moment. One thing that has been clear this year from the All-22 tape and commentary from players and coaches is that Nailor has been playing better than his box score numbers would indicate. When the opportunity arose for McCarthy to put the ball up in his direction, he was happy to do so.
“I told [Nailor] ever since the beginning of the season that he’s going to make his mark,” McCarthy said. “Every single day, every single game, he’s always doing the dirty work. He’s always doing everything right. When I saw him manned up and coach O ‘Connell gave us that confidence to go convert on that play, I knew it was meant to be.”
It was another example — of which we’ve seen many over the last few years — of O’Connell never shying away from giving his quarterback a chance to make a play.
“I think it’s just total team trust,” O’Connell said. “Total team trust, we’re going to try to end the game if we can. If we feel like there’s a play there to go try to do that. And I think just the execution level of our guys when we absolutely needed it was critical. And my confidence level, regardless of the circumstances of the season, I boil it down to that one opportunity.”
In his two wins, McCarthy has come through in the most important moments, leading a comeback against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field and then closing out the Lions to keep the Vikings alive in the NFC North race. His key: Staying focused on the details of the play.
“To be honest with you it was just starting my operation, starting my thought process,” McCarthy said. “You know in those moments, I think clutch is a myth. It’s just all about how can you execute that individual play regardless of the circumstances. Those are things outside of our control. So it was just about the basics.”
After the completion, McCarthy got to execute the most basic play: The kneel down.
The postgame press conference
McCarthy is always one to turn a phrase. He talked about how he has been sleeping in his old college bed in a spare room in order to get sleep with a newborn in the house and said that when he spoke to the team on Saturday, he mentioned that “it felt like I was catching this glare from this silver platter with a juicy opportunity right on top of it.”
Great line. But it wasn’t the moment from the press conference that stood out most. McCarthy has already gone through a lot for somebody that just started his NFL career. He missed all of last season with surgery to repair a torn meniscus and then sat five weeks with a high-ankle sprain. When McCarthy was asked what it meant for him to have his teammates greet him with a big celebration at the door of the locker room. He needed a second to gather himself.
“It was awesome,” he said, barely getting the words out. “When you’re hurt, being on IR last year and being out for five weeks, it absolutely kills me not being out there with those guys because I love every single one of them. And, you know, I know they got my back and I got there the rest of the way.”
It also meant something for him to return to the place where he won the national championship with Michigan. To pay homage, he wore a shirt that Jim Harbaugh gave out while he was a Wolverine. It was a blue collar shirt with his name stitched in it.
“It’s just the blue collar mentality going to work regardless of where it is regardless of the situation regardless of the circumstances we’re just going there to do our job and take care of business,” McCarthy said.
ADDITIONAL TAKEAWAYS
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