Will this be the season JJ McCarthy reaches his peak? If Tom Brady’s words are any indication, it just might be. The seven-time Super Bowl champion was highly impressed with the Minnesota Vikings quarterback’s Week 1 performance against Chicago, praising the intensity he brought to the field.
The second-year QB led the Minnesota Vikings on a dramatic 21-point fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Chicago Bears 27-24. McCarthy completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
His stat line wasn’t jaw-dropping, but Brady focused on something beyond the numbers: McCarthy’s ability to channel his emotions to elevate his team.
Brady is impressed with McCarthy
In a recent appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Brady explained what stood out about McCarthy’s Soldier Field heroics.
“I absolutely love it when I see the emotion. I think it brings you to a higher level of focus,” Brady said after Cowherd noted that McCarthy “wears his emotions on his sleeve.”
Brady even compared McCarthy to other fiery quarterbacks, such as Baker Mayfield: “He stands in there, takes a hit, and makes a great throw. That game is all about emotion. JJ just expresses it a little bit more, and I love that aspect of his game.”
The GOAT added that if McCarthy maintains that emotional intensity, he could lift the Vikings to new heights. “He’s just going to keep that going for a long time. I believe that’s part of your conditioning, and that ability to elevate your teammates in a big moment.”
What’s next for McCarthy and the Vikings
The challenge now is proving the comeback wasn’t a one-time spark. Minnesota’s schedule doesn’t get any easier.
This Sunday, McCarthy will face Baker Mayfield and the Atlanta Falcons under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium. The following week, the Vikings host Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals before traveling to Heinz Field in Week 4 to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If McCarthy is truly destined for greatness, as Brady suggests, these games will be the perfect proving ground.
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