J.J. McCarthy Leads Vikings to Dramatic Comeback Victory Over Bears in NFL Debut
J.J. McCarthy orchestrated a stunning fourth-quarter comeback in his NFL debut, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 27-24 season-opening win against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
Overview
- J.J. McCarthy, in his NFL debut, led the Minnesota Vikings to a dramatic 27-24 comeback victory over the Chicago Bears during their season-opening Monday Night Football game.
- McCarthy orchestrated a stunning fourth-quarter rally, overcoming early struggles and an interception to score 21 points and erase an 11-point deficit.
- The rookie quarterback completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards, delivering two touchdown passes, including one to Justin Jefferson, and adding a crucial rushing touchdown.
- Bears quarterback Caleb Williams also debuted, completing 21 of 35 passes for 210 yards, one passing touchdown, and scoring his first career rushing touchdown.
- Despite a strong start from Williams and a record-tying 59-yard field goal, the Bears ultimately lost at Soldier Field, marking coach Ben Johnson's debut defeat.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the Bears' recurring pattern of failure and collapse, particularly highlighting quarterback Caleb Williams' struggles after a strong start. They use loaded language and structural choices to create a narrative of a team unable to maintain a lead, reinforcing a sense of historical disappointment.
"McCarthy, and his team, now know that it’s not."
USA TODAY"It’s a growing process. It’s going to keep growing from here. This is the start, but definitely not the end."
Chicago Sun-Times"The Bears were forced to punt four of their first five possessions after halftime."
USA TODAY"McCarthy delivered down the stretch after struggling through the first three quarters in his first meaningful game since Michigan beat Washington for the national championship at the end of the 2023 season."
Associated Press"Johnson has a long way to go as a first-time head coach, as his counterpart across the field reminded him."
Chicago Sun-Times"Williams still has room to grow — and time to do it."
Chicago Sun-TimesArticles (9)
Center (6)
FAQ
J.J. McCarthy was a highly successful college quarterback at the University of Michigan, leading the Wolverines to an undefeated 15-0 season and a national championship in 2023. He finished his college career with a 27-1 record as a starter, the highest winning percentage in NCAA Division I FBS history, and won three Big Ten titles along with three College Football Playoff semifinal appearances.
In his NFL debut, J.J. McCarthy completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards, threw two touchdown passes—including one to Justin Jefferson—and scored an important rushing touchdown, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 27-24 comeback victory.
McCarthy missed his entire rookie season due to a torn right meniscus suffered early in training camp. Coming into the 2025 season-opening game, he had very limited NFL experience consisting of about 1.5 training camps and brief playtime in preseason games, leading to some uncertainty about his readiness.
History
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