JJ McCarthy picks up first NFL win in stunning come from behind fashion

Rodney Knuppel

•
JJ McCarthy picks up first NFL win in stunning come from behind fashion image

J.J. McCarthy certainly started his NFL career slowly. But on Monday Night Football, it was how you finish.

The Minnesota Vikings came from behind to beat the Chicago Bears in Week 1 by a final score of 27-24.

Minnesota went to the locker room down 10-6 at halftime, and then after a pick-six in the third quarter, the Bears led the game 17-6.

From that point on, it was all Minnesota. The Vikings scored three straight touchdowns. The first was a pass from McCarthy to Justin Jefferson from 13 yards out.

The second was to Aaron Jones, and it came from 27 yards out. Finally, the McCarthy dagger came on the ground, fooling the defense, and he rushed from 14 yards to put Minnesota up 10.

Caleb Williams found Rome Odunze for a touchdown to cut the game to three points, and Chicago actually got the ball back with :09, but in the end, Kevin O'Connell topped Ben Johnson in his first game as a head coach.

MORE: It took 8 minutes for Ben Johnson's offense to help Caleb Williams do something he didn't do all 2024

McCarthy finished the game 13 out of 20 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He had one interception in the game. On the ground, the quarterback finished with 25 yards and the score

Williams finished the game 20 out of 34 for 191 yards in the game. He ran the ball six times for 58 yards and the touchdown. DJ Moore had three receptions for 57 yards, while Rome Odunze led the team with five receptions.

Minnesota is at home on Sunday Night Football in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears will play on the road at the Detroit Lions in Week 2.

MORE NFL NEWS:

Rodney Knuppel

Rodney Knuppel is a freelance writer for The Sporting News. When not watching, listening or writing about sports, Rodney enjoys following the travels of his three kids, who are all active in their own sports and activities. A huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, Rodney also enjoys St. Louis Blues hockey and is a big Kansas Jayhawks basketball fan.