If there was a perfect way for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy to have a bounce-back game, he certainly did it on Sunday, while earning some style points in the process as well.
McCarthy lit it up for arguably the best game of his young career as he completed 16 of 23 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 19 yards as the Vikings shut out the Washington Commanders 31-0 in Week 14 action.
Not only did McCarthy lead Minnesota to a critical win for their fifth victory of the season to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, but he also made some franchise history. He became just the first Vikings quarterback since Tommy Kramer in 1977 to throw three touchdown passes at age 22 or younger.
Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy silences his critics for at least one week
While he didn't put up a ton of yards, McCarthy's performance was significantly better than it has been all season. It's all about his confidence, as he was able to find the open receiver, even if it was a short-yard gain.
McCarthy didn't do anything to put the football in harm's way, which has been a significant issue for him all season. It's the first game of his career in which he didn't have an interception.
He did take four sacks in the game and was hit six times. Those sacks were necessary in making sure he didn't turn the ball over, so while they were negative plays, they were at least better than him throwing an interception or fumbling the football.
There was a clear comfort with McCarthy in hitting his tight ends in the passing game, with Josh Oliver and T.J. Hockenson combining for four catches for 36 yards and three touchdowns. It ultimately was Jordan Addison leading the team with four receptions for 62 yards in the win.
This was as good a game as McCarthy had, and the Vikings could have asked for no better performance from the young second-year quarterback. Moving forward, it's all about whether he can keep the momentum going through the final four games of the season for Minnesota, who now sit with a 5-8 record.