After missing over a month of football, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy came back as the starter and was able to do something most of the "experts" didn't think was going to happen: Minnesota took down the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Week 9.
While many would acknowledge that it wasn't a perfect game from McCarthy, it was still impressive, especially with how he had to prep for the game. ESPN NFL insider Peter Schrager shared on his "Schrager Hour" show that a Vikings source told him that McCarthy has only had two full weeks of practice this year and had to “simulate” the plays from the sidelines to make sure he was prepared mentally to make calls and reads at the line during the game.
“He couldn’t physically practice. So, what they had J.J. McCarthy doing was simulating all the stuff at the line of scrimmage. So, what would you do if you were at the line of scrimmage? Now, you can't move. You can't run. You can't throw."
"If you watch Sunday's game, no delay of game penalties, complete poise, multiple audibles at the line of scrimmage. And on third and five, when they needed it most, he made the play. And it wasn't to Jefferson or Addison. It was to (Jalen) Nailor.”
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is is a psycho who can beat teams mentally
Schrager was referring to the fourth quarter pass where McCarthy floated a perfect pass to Nailor with under two minutes left in the game to seal the 27-24 win over the Lions. McCarthy finished with 143 yards and two touchdowns to one interception, adding another 12 rushing yards and one more score.
Sure, it wasn't a perfect game as McCarthy was sacked five times and wasn't always the most accurate passer. Fans need to understand that this was just his third start of his NFL career, and he picked up a massive win on the road against a division opponent.
How many people would have called that game a must-win? Maybe some just for momentum purposes, but it was a signature win on what has been an up-and-down season for the Vikings so far.
McCarthy has a lot of development to go through as a passer to get better in the NFL. There's no denying one special trait about him, though: the guy always will find a way to win a football game no matter what.