Daily Norseman
It was a rough start to the game for the Minnesota Vikings, but they found a way to finish strong in the 4th quarter. J.J. McCarthy came to life when it mattered most and the defense rose to the occasion as well. There were a lot of great players out there. Let’s take a look at a few.
The stat line isn’t amazing, but McCarthy was everything the team needed last night. McCarthy led the offense to three straight touchdowns to start the 4th quarter. He’s the first QB to ever lead their team to three touchdowns in the 4th quarter in their debut. McCarthy just knows how to win and he showcased it. Some players know how to win and others know how to be a celebrity. I’m glad the Vikings drafted the one who wins.
Jefferson caught McCarthy’s first career TD. He wasn’t as productive as the team had hoped, but he was there when it was needed. He demands so much attention from the defense, it opens up his teammates. He’ll see additional opportunities when Addison is back on the other side. He did have a drop on a catchable ball, but the offense would be stagnant without him in there.
Jones tied Jefferson for the team lead in receiving with 44 yards. Add in the 42 yard Defensive Pass Interference penalty and another 23 yards on 8 carries and it wasn’t a bad night. He’s such a dynamic player out of the backfield. It’s good to see he and Mason share the backfield so well. Jones loves to play football and it’s so fun to watch him do it.
Mason had nearly double the carries of Jones on Monday with 15 carries for 68 yards. He added a 7 yards reception to total 75 yards from scrimmage, the most on the team. Mason looked better running the ball than Jones did. He runs hard and will quickly become a fan favorite. It will benefit both him and Jones to not have to carry the entire workload.
Hargraves’ first sack of the season came in a huge spot. It was after the Vikings’ first touchdown. Hargrave started the Bears off with an 8 yard loss that lead to a three and out. He was also credited with the sack a few drives later when Caleb Williams ran out of bounds. Hargrave was disruptive all night and led the team with 7 pressures on Williams.
