Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was finally making his long-awaited NFL debut after a year on the sidelines, grabbed the headlines in the Minnesota Vikings’ dramatic 27–24 win over the Chicago Bears in the season opener. The way McCarthy engineered a stunning fourth-quarter comeback captivated fans and the NFL fraternity alike.
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The three quarters before McCarthy lit up Soldier Field were rocky at best. The Michigan alum, who missed his rookie year with a torn meniscus, looked overwhelmed.
At halftime, the Vikings had managed just 80 yards to Chicago’s 172. And in the third quarter, a disastrous interception returned 74 yards by Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright stretched the deficit to 11 points.
For most debutants, this would have been the end of the story. But McCarthy flipped the script by delivering three consecutive touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, two through the air and one with his legs, to seal the comeback.
While his performance rightly drew praise from all corners of the NFL, it was FS1 analyst Colin Cowherd who had an interesting take on the 22-year-old Vikings star’s performance.
Speaking on his podcast, the analyst admitted that McCarthy’s night reminded him of another player’s performance. “J.J. McCarthy reminds me of Baker Mayfield… when he gets confidence and he gets rolling, he’s got some zip on the ball,” he said.
Cowherd, however, didn’t sugarcoat the struggles the second-year QB faced. “McCarthy… looked as bad as any quarterback I saw this weekend in the first two-and-a-half quarters… I’m not sure I’ve seen a quarterback that looks more overwhelmed,” he added.
But the turnaround in the final quarter by him was something special. And Cowherd raved about the composure and efficiency that defined the comeback. “In the fourth quarter, six of eight, 149.5 passer rating, 101 yards, three touchdowns. He deserved comeback player of the week from first quarter to fourth,” the veteran journalist said.
What helped, according to Cowherd, was the Vikings’ overall offensive structure. “That run game really helped kind of set the tone for Minnesota… then he hits a couple of passes. He’s feeling it,” the podcaster explained.
Cowherd also added that the presence of “the best coaching staff in the league,” led by Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores, strengthened McCarthy’s safety net.
McCarthy etched his name in the record books, too. He became the first rookie since Cam Newton in 2011 with two passing scores and a rushing TD in his debut game.
