JJ McCarthy leads Vikings comeback in first NFL begin, beats Bears on the highway

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The primary three quarters weren’t fairly for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy in his first NFL begin on Monday evening, however all that issues is what occurs within the fourth quarter.

McCarthy led the Vikings on an exciting comeback, scoring 21 factors within the fourth quarter to defeat the Chicago Bears , 27-24, on the highway to start the 2025 NFL season.

Final season, McCarthy was on the sideline with a season-ending meniscus damage suffered throughout preseason. He watched as Sam Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 file, however McCarthy knew heading into this marketing campaign it was his flip to get the job executed at quarterback in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s dynamic offense.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) rushes the ball in opposition to the Chicago Bears throughout the first half at Soldier Discipline on Sept. 8, 2025. (Matt Marton/Imagn Photos)

McCarthy was having some trouble doing so to start out this recreation, because the Bears’ protection, led by new coordinator Dennis Allen, was drawing up the proper pressures to fluster the younger sign caller. He was solely capable of get Will Reichard into area objective vary twice within the first half, whereas Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense acquired off to a sizzling begin underneath new head coach Ben Johnson.

However crunch time within the fourth quarter, with the Vikings down 17-6, McCarthy answered the decision.

It began with a six-play drive, the place McCarthy fired a bullet to the entrance of the top zone to search out his star receiver, Justin Jefferson, for his first rating of the brand new marketing campaign. Then, the Vikings’ protection stored up the strain on Williams to present McCarthy one other probability on the lead with a three-and-out pressured on the following possession.

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McCarthy, after getting a beneficiant defensive cross interference name, launched a superbly positioned deep ball to working again Aaron Jones for the lead, 20-17, after a profitable two-point conversion.

The dagger on this come-from-behind win was a nine-play drive that ended with a 14-yard landing run by none apart from McCarthy, who stored the ball on a third-and-1 learn choice from the Chicago 14-yard line. He barreled his approach into the top zone, and set free a roar together with his Vikings teammates all huddling round him because the rating went to 27-17 with 2:53 left within the recreation.

Williams acquired off to such a sizzling begin, working in a landing on the Bears’ opening drive of the sport. However the Bears’ offense, anticipated to be upgraded with Johnson’s play-calling in place given his success with the Detroit Lions, sputtered after that. They solely mustered a area objective within the second quarter, whereas kicker Cairo Santos missed one other within the fourth.

Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball throughout the recreation in opposition to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Discipline on Sept. 8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Photos)

The opposite landing scored for the Bears was a pick-six thrown by McCarthy within the third quarter which, on the time, gave the impression to be a complete killer due to how poorly he was enjoying.

However it was Williams needing to run hurry-up offense late to get again into the sport, and he was lastly capable of finding the top zone once more. The Bears’ drought ended with Rome Odunze extensive open for the one-yard rating to get the deficit down to a few for Chicago with two minutes left to play.

The Bears’ protection was capable of pressure a three-and-out on the Vikings, however there was not sufficient play clock left for a miracle because the Vikings celebrated their hard-fought victory on the highway.

McCarthy’s first profession begin ended with a line of 13-for-20 for 143 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. It was additionally notable to see Jordan Mason getting the lion’s share of touches within the run recreation, totaling 15 for 68 yards, with the veteran Aaron Jones Sr. getting eight carries for 23 yards. Jones, although, was tied with Jefferson for 44 yards within the receiving recreation.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams scrambles throughout the first half of an NFL soccer recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photograph/Nam Y. Huh)

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For the Bears, Williams was 21-of-35 for 211 yards together with his landing cross and speeding rating. He led the Bears with 58 speeding yards on simply six carries, whereas D’Andre Swift had 53 yards on 17 touches within the backfield. D.J. Moore additionally had 70 yards on simply three receptions.