Vikings Face a Major Dilemma
The Vikings are in quite a tough spot. Following their 19-17 loss to the Bears, it seems their season is effectively over, and their future at the quarterback position appears bleak. JJ McCarthy’s performance was far from his best; in fact, it was pretty disastrous, especially considering how he handled the game overall.
It’s not wise to just glance at the score and assume McCarthy’s play was “okay” since he managed to keep things close and threw a touchdown in the fourth quarter. That’s just one aspect, but the reality is that Minnesota’s passing game suffered from major inaccuracies and poor choices, along with throws that might have worked in college but definitely didn’t cut it in the NFL. It was only late in the game that McCarthy finally passed the 100-yard mark, and during the fourth quarter, he completed a dismal 10-of-20 for 76 yards and tossed two interceptions.
When you have receivers like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, this performance is simply unacceptable, especially against a Bears defense that’s ranked 26th in pass defense this season. That shouldn’t occur.
Evaluating a young QB goes beyond just wins and losses or what the stats say. The Bears vs. Vikings game is a classic example of how box scores can mislead. While Caleb Williams and McCarthy might appear nearly even based on a few superficial stats, their performances were not remotely comparable, and that’s where the true traits come into play.
Williams faced a relentless attack from the Vikings’ impressive defensive scheme, designed by Brian Flores. The strategy involved various stunts and disguises meant to confuse Williams, complicating his ability to identify pre-snap pressure and making life hard for the offensive line. No one will argue that Williams had a stellar day throwing the ball; his performance was mediocre. However, he showed remarkable skill in escaping from pressure and making plays under duress, turning unfavorable situations into productive ones.
This kind of off-platform throwing is a skill to build upon. Sure, he needs to be more aware of where pressure is coming from before the snap, but that’s something that can be developed.
Now, regarding JJ McCarthy… that’s a tough one to unpack. This season should be about giving him as many reps as possible, gaining trust with his receivers, and evolving as a player. My main concern after watching him play was his overall feel for the game. It seems like he only has one consistent throw in his repertoire: a straight bullet pass near the middle of the field or toward the hashes.
If you look closely at the throws he made that could have resulted in positive yardage, you can see the challenge.
Left: 2 completions for 8 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Middle: 8 of 13 for 85 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Right: 2 of 6 for 22 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
McCarthy performs well when he can deliver his strong pass, which is clearly his forte. He can make plays when the situation calls for that type of throw. But when he needs to show finesse on deep passes, things slip away.
It’s not merely that he overthrew the ball; it’s the entire approach on these attempts. His footwork during drops is inconsistent. Although he gets a decent base, the throwing motion is sluggish, with a significant windup that leads to late releases and overly powerful throws.
He’s struggling to keep up with the pace of the game, failing to process plays effectively, which results in many of his throws being made under pressure with no chance for yards after the catch.
Richard Sherman ignited a debate on Twitter by posing a naive question that seemed unjustified given the circumstances.
Leaving Darnold was a tough decision, but it made sense considering the Vikings had to weigh whether to invest their cap space in re-signing him or maintaining flexibility elsewhere. Ultimately, they chose to draft McCarthy. This franchise has been haunted by Kirk Cousins, whose playoff performance often didn’t match his impressive regular-season stats. After witnessing Darnold’s struggles in 2024, they were understandably shaken.
The primary concern isn’t merely changing quarterbacks but determining whom the team can trust. Looking ahead, Minnesota seems fully committed to investing in McCarthy, and how he performs in the coming weeks will be crucial in assessing whether that decision was wise or if they might need to pivot. Fans of the Vikings should hope to see improvement from McCarthy since there’s a real possibility of the University of Minnesota securing a high pick in a quarterback-rich draft.
If McCarthy continues to perform poorly, it could lead to significant challenges for a team that has considerable work ahead in the offseason.
Now, let’s examine this week’s NFL winners and losers.
Winner: Bryce Young’s Performance Against the Falcons
Last week, Bryce Young struggled against the Saints, but he certainly stepped up when facing another NFC South rival. Notably, he delivered the best game of his career against the Falcons, setting a franchise record for the Carolina Panthers with 448 passing yards, eclipsing Cam Newton’s previous record.
This marked the first instance in Young’s career when the Panthers seemed to let him operate without restraints on offense. Some of the throws he made were unlike anything he had executed before, showing that head coach Dave Canales had adjusted the strategy to give Young more freedom for deep passes. He responded excellently.
Thanks to Bryce Young, Carolina is in a strong position for a playoff run. During a crucial match, he guided his team to victory, enhancing his team’s potential despite Rico Doodle’s performance. Observing his ability to connect with nine different receivers and command the offense makes it clear that provided there’s protection, positive outcomes will follow.
Do the Bears have a surprisingly easy schedule? Yes. Do they have a definitive win? No. Winning three consecutive games is quite unusual for Chicago—does this hold weight? I’d say yes.
The Bears have surged to a 7-3 record and are presently in playoff contention. They still have two challenging games left against the Packers, Eagles, and Lions, which won’t be easy, but things seem promising for Johnson’s squad.
The biggest transformation has been in their acceptance of results. In the past, the Bears might have given up and drifted through games, but Johnson has instilled a fighting spirit that’s been lacking before. Honestly, while they still need reinforcements on the defensive and offensive lines to make a significant impact, the foundation is there.
Speaking of statements, defeating the Chiefs—even with their current struggles—won’t make headlines, but it’s in the Broncos’ nature to jeopardize the Chiefs’ playoff chances by claiming the top spot in the AFC West, and they’ve managed to do just that.
The AFC is still weak enough for Kansas City to find ways to win, but this defeat means the Chiefs need to win every game going forward, while if the Chargers stumble even once more, the Broncos look set for a playoff spot. It was indeed a very successful Sunday for Sean Payton’s team.
You typically don’t want to invest too much in a rookie backup QB who gets thrust into action too soon, but he seems like a solid character. Kevin Stefanski, who didn’t rush Sanders into challenging situations, appears to have made a wise decision.
Unfortunately, everything moved too quickly for Sanders. It never seemed like he was effectively managing the offense, and during the interception, the Ravens practically invited him to throw into wide open coverage. He consistently seemed unsure about where to direct the ball.
On the bright side, Cleveland should have the opportunity to draft a QB with a high pick in 2026 without any hesitation.
This season started as a fairytale for the Seahawks QB but took a downturn against the Rams earlier this month. Darnold’s four-day interception did little to ease worries that while he’s a decent QB, he may not excel in high-pressure situations.
The Rams outright dominated Seattle, proving they are a force in the NFC West. Even though the Seahawks hold a 7-3 record, there should still be some concerns about the team’s ceiling as they progress.
