McCarthy's Roller Coaster Debut Culminates in Improbable Vikings Comeback

For three quarters of his long-awaited NFL debut, J.J. McCarthy looked every bit the part of a rusty, overmatched rookie. But what followed was a fourth-quarter for the ages, as the 22-year-old quarterback shrugged off an ugly start and led the Minnesota Vikings to a thrilling 27-24 comeback victory over the Chicago Bears on "Monday Night Football."

McCarthy's start was dreadful. He struggled with pre-snap operations, and his offense managed just six points, 85 total yards, and an interception returned for a 74-yard touchdown. But at halftime, head coach Kevin O'Connell saw something in his young quarterback. "I told him at halftime, 'You are going to bring us back to win this game,' and the look in his eye was fantastic," O'Connell said.

That premonition proved prophetic. Trailing 17-6 in the fourth quarter, McCarthy flipped a switch. He led three consecutive touchdown drives, all on consecutive possessions. He found Justin Jefferson for a 13-yard score, followed by a 27-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Jones that gave the Vikings the lead. He then sealed the win himself, running in a 14-yard score on a read option.

"We don't win this game unless J.J. plays the way he did in the second half," O'Connell said. "Most importantly, he kept the belief of his football team behind him. Now, we know it's possible."

McCarthy's performance was a historic one. According to NFL Research, he became the first player since Cam Newton in 2011 to record multiple passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in his NFL debut. He also joined Steve Young as the only starting quarterbacks in the past 40 years to rally their team from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter of their debut.

For McCarthy, it was a moment 609 days in the making. After a knee injury wiped out his rookie season, he was finally back on a football field for the first time since leading Michigan to a national championship. While the first three quarters were a painful learning experience, the fourth quarter provided a glimpse into the future, and for the Vikings and their fans, that future looks very bright.