McCarthy delivers in debut, leads Vikings' rally

CHICAGO -- Everyone successful the Minnesota Vikings locker country had their ain favourite J.J. McCarthy infinitesimal of the night. And successful the end, they each added up to a thrilling 27-24 victory implicit the Chicago Bears connected Monday night.

Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave recalled McCarthy telling him that "he's got us" arsenic the squad trudged disconnected the tract astatine halftime, trailing by 4 points aft an anemic violative showing. Coach Kevin O'Connell noted the "unbelievable look" successful McCarthy's eyes arsenic the Vikings launched into a fourth-quarter comeback, with McCarthy accounting for 3 touchdowns.

After McCarthy had an interception returned for a touchdown aboriginal successful the 3rd quarter, close tackle Brian O'Neill listened intently arsenic McCarthy -- a 22-year-old backmost making his NFL debut -- spoke to players connected the sideline.

"He believed that it was astir to pop," O'Neill said. "There's a batch of times wherever you're like, 'Yeah, each right, cool. Let's go, whatever.' But the condemnation successful his dependable and however helium was walking up and down the sideline talking to everybody, small details astir antithetic plays, getting guys locked successful in the huddle. It was truly chill to see."

And moving backmost Aaron Jones Sr., whose 27-yard touchdown reception gave the Vikings their archetypal pb with 9 minutes, 46 seconds near successful the 4th quarter, recalled 7 words McCarthy utilized erstwhile successful the huddle: "Is determination immoderate spot you'd alternatively be?"

McCarthy's erstwhile competitory shot crippled was connected Jan. 8, 2024, erstwhile helium was playing for the assemblage shot nationalist title astatine the University of Michigan. In the ensuing 609 days, helium was the No. 10 prime successful the 2024 draught by the Vikings and past sat retired his rookie play due to the fact that of a torn meniscus successful his close knee.

The Vikings committed to him arsenic their 2025 starter arsenic they bid farewell to veterans Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, some of whom finished 2024 connected their roster, and passed connected an accidental to motion escaped cause Aaron Rodgers. Early Monday night, though, McCarthy looked similar a backmost who wasn't acceptable to presume the mantle.

He managed lone 48 passing yards successful the archetypal half, and the Vikings didn't person a 3rd down until his 13-yard touchdown walk to receiver Justin Jefferson with 12:13 near successful the game. That chopped an 11-point shortage to a 17-12 score, and McCarthy went connected to propulsion his scoring onslaught to Jones and people himself connected a 14-yard tally with 2:53 left.

In all, McCarthy completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards. In the process, helium became the archetypal backmost successful NFL past to relationship for 3 touchdowns successful the 4th fourth of his NFL debut. He besides joined Steve Young arsenic the lone quarterbacks successful the past 45 years to flooded a double-digit shortage successful the 4th fourth of their debut and win.

McCarthy grew up successful La Grange Park, extracurricular of Chicago, and said helium mostly blocked retired the cheers and jeers Bears f...