With so much pressure on him during what has been a lackluster second season in the NFL, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy answered the bell in the Week 15 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.
McCarthy had one of his best games as a pro, completing 15-of-24 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns to one interception. McCarthy also scored a rushing touchdown in the 34-26 victory.
It was the third time McCarthy has scored multiple times through the air while also adding a touchdown on the ground in the same game.
McCarthy is now the first player in NFL history to accomplish that feat three times over his first eight games.
"Tonight marks the third time the Vikings' J.J. McCarthy has thrown multiple TD passes while also rushing for a TD in the same game," OptaSTATS wrote. "No one else in NFL history has done that 3 times within the first 8 games of his career."
McCarthy threw two touchdown passes to wide receiver Jalen Nailor and scored his rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
The most impressive thing about McCarthy's performance is that he didn't just game manage his way to victory. He was actually the catalyst for the Vikings' offense en route to 34 points scored.
Not every pass was perfect, of course, but McCarthy was aggressive and decisive, and he was completing tough passes and taking shots down the field.
He showed just about everything you'd want to see out of a young quarterback and the Vikings can only hope that will continue moving forward.
McCarthy has put together two strong games in a row, which is a definite sign of progress. Now, he's got to keep stacking those good games between now and the end of the season, which will certainly end in Week 18 after the Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday.
From there, the Vikings will have to decide if they have seen enough to give McCarthy the keys to the car once again in 2026, or if they're going to bring in legitimate competition for the starting job.
Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like a foregone conclusion the Vikings would take the latter approach, but McCarthy is starting to make the case they shouldn't.
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