The Minnesota Vikings secured a morale-boosting 27-24 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, powered by the heroics of quarterback JJ McCarthy, who made a strong return from an ankle injury. This win improved the Vikings’ record to 4-4, providing a significant bounce back after two consecutive losses. Meanwhile, the Lions dropped to 5-3, suffering their first home defeat of the season.
McCarthy completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a crucial nine-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, extending the Vikings’ lead to double digits. One of his key plays came late in the game—a 16-yard pass to wide receiver Jalen Nalor with less than two minutes remaining, effectively sealing the victory for Minnesota.
After the game, Fox Sports analyst and NFL legend Tom Brady named McCarthy the LFG Player of the Game. The 22-year-old quarterback’s enthusiasm was clear in his post-game interview. “Thank you so much, Tom. Appreciate it. Let’s f****** go! Come on!” McCarthy exclaimed, showing just how much the win meant to him.
It’s understandable why McCarthy was so fired up. Besides leading the Vikings to a comeback win against a team many expect to compete for the NFC crown, he also shined during his return to Michigan—a place where he starred for three years in college football. Interestingly, Brady himself played for the Wolverines during his college days.
This game marked only McCarthy’s third appearance in his rookie season, after missing several weeks due to an ankle sprain. He had previously sat out his entire first year with a torn meniscus. The impressive win against the Lions was exactly what the Vikings needed.
“It was awesome. When you’re hurt, being on IR (injured reserve) last year, and being out for five weeks, it absolutely kills me not being out there with those guys because I love every single one of them,” McCarthy said in a report from the Associated Press. “I know they got my back and I’ve got theirs the rest of the way.”
If McCarthy can stay healthy, don’t be surprised to see the Vikings make a strong push in the coming weeks.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-nsfw-tom-brady-reference-beating-lions