If you asked MOST Vikings fans, you would’ve thought the Minnesota Vikings entered Week 9 at the Detroit Lions without much hope. Many expected a blowout by the hands of the Lions, but J.J. McCarthy who made his name known in the state of Michigan had other plans.
The Vikings would walk in to Detroit, and get the upset win over the 5-2 Lions, winning in a close one 27-24.
McCarthy made his first start since Week 2 after injuring his ankle against the Atlanta Falcons. McCarthy and the Vikings for the first time in weeks were playing with a fully healthy offense, except the center position, with Ryan Kelly on IR with a concussion. And you could tell the difference.
McCarthy was seen throughout the game doing something we didn’t see a lot of in the short sample we seen him in, and that was letting it rip. McCarthy wasn’t holding on to the ball for long periods of time, he was throwing up the ball for his playmakers to go and make a catch, and it ended with McCarthy going 14/25 with 143 yards, and 2 touchdowns passes to Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson. McCarthy would throw an interception, but one that wasn’t really his fault, as the Detroit defender ripped it out of the hands of the Vikings pass catcher.
The Vikings run game also showed improvement compared to the last couple weeks with the combination of Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Jordan Addison and McCarthy combining for 142 rushing yards against the Detroit defense, and McCarthy running in a touchdown.
Speaking of defense, they also showed up to play in Week 9 coming off the embarrassing loss to the Chargers the week before. The Vikings would get to Detroit quarterback Jared Goff 5 times, as well as recover a fumble by Detroit running back David Montgomery that was picked up by safety Harrison Smith. Blake Cashman was the MVP of the defense clocking in 14 total tackles, 6 of them being solo as well as a tackle for loss.
With the win the Vikings improved to 4-4, and Detroit dropping to 5-3. The Vikings will host the Baltimore Ravens who are trying to save their season after starting 1-5 in Week 10. Both teams are trying to right their ship. Can McCarthy keep up the momentum and start getting the Vikings humming at full force like most of us expected him to do at the start of the season? In McCarthy’s two wins as a starter, those wins came at good times over division rivals on the road. Can he do the same against a desperate team at home?
Photo Credit; the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings, the NFL Players Association
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