Kevin Seifert
MINNEAPOLIS — There have been no fourth-quarter heroics Sunday evening for J.J. McCarthy. As a substitute, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback and the remainder of his group's offense slogged by means of 60 principally tough minutes in a 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
McCarthy's efficiency clarified a couple of info in regards to the Vikings, who entered the season with hopes of a deep playoff run. Most notably, gamers and coaches mentioned afterward, the mess around McCarthy must be a lot better.
“That is going to be a course of for our group,” coach Kevin O'Connell mentioned. “Our younger quarterback goes to make some performs. He will make some unbelievable throws. … After which, different occasions, he will have an try and simply miss one thing slightly lengthy, and we are going to return and attempt to repair it. Generally, the basics are going to be proper, the method goes to be proper, however he is studying on the fly proper now. The way in which you overcome that's by the complete group's execution degree being to a sure customary that we are able to go attempt to compete and win with.”
The Vikings scored 21 factors within the fourth quarter of their Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears, however they've simply 12 factors over the opposite seven quarters. McCarthy has taken 9 sacks, together with six Sunday evening. The Falcons intercepted two of his passes, and he fumbled 3 times, together with twice when he dropped the ball with out being hit, and he misplaced one. His off-target fee was 28.6%, tied for the second-highest fee amongst certified quarterbacks in Week 2.
Over his first two NFL begins, McCarthy has accomplished 24 of 41 passes for 301 yards with 2 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has additionally rushed seven occasions for 50 yards and a landing, however his QBR of 20.4 ranks No. 32 of 33 certified quarterbacks within the league.
“We have got quite a bit to do,” McCarthy mentioned. “I've acquired quite a bit to do personally. There's a variety of issues about this sport that present up. It is superior to be a part of such an awesome group the place I do know we'll develop collectively, I do know we'll be taught collectively. There's a variety of love in that locker room. That is what it comes all the way down to. This can be a lengthy season. Everyone seems to be telling me it is a frickin' journey, and I consider them wholeheartedly.”
McCarthy performed a lot of the sport behind a patchwork offensive line after middle Ryan Kelly and left sort out Justin Skule left Sunday's sport early due to concussions. The Falcons pressured McCarthy on 36.7% of his dropbacks, however his common time earlier than throwing was 3.35 seconds, the very best within the NFL in Week 2.
The Vikings' 5 turnovers are tied for the NFL lead, and their 30.4% conversion fee on third down ranks No. 29 within the league. Consequently, the Vikings have the NFL's lowest common variety of performs per sport (47.5), minimizing McCarthy's growth alternatives.
Sunday evening was solely the fourth time McCarthy has misplaced a begin relationship again to his sophomore yr in highschool. His file over that interval is 64-4. That is a giant purpose gamers within the locker room mentioned they're nowhere near dropping confidence.
“He is constructed for this,” Vikings receiver Adam Thielen mentioned. “That is why they fell in love with him within the draft course of, and why all of us are so assured in him as a result of he is legitimately constructed for that. It should be a course of as a group, like it's yearly. You simply maintain going to work and studying from the great issues and studying from the unhealthy occasions, and maintain constructing each single week.”
