J.J. McCarthy’s rookie campaign with the Minnesota Vikings has been anything but smooth sailing.
From injuries to inconsistency, it’s been a trial by fire for the young quarterback. But on Sunday, McCarthy showed flashes of the player the Vikings hope he can become, leading Minnesota to a 34-26 win over the Dallas Cowboys - and doing it with a little extra flair.
McCarthy completed 15 of 24 passes for 250 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns in the victory. It was one of his most efficient outings to date, and it came against a Dallas defense that, on paper, should’ve posed a much tougher challenge. But what really grabbed headlines wasn’t just the stat line - it was the swagger.
In the second quarter, McCarthy capped off a rushing touchdown by breaking into the Griddy as he crossed the goal line. The celebration was bold, maybe even brash, and it didn’t sit well with everyone.
Hall of Famer Cris Carter didn’t hold back when asked about McCarthy’s antics. During an appearance on the Up & Adams show, Carter criticized the quarterback’s on-field behavior, calling it immature and suggesting it reflected a lack of growth in McCarthy’s mental approach to the game.
“To me, that’s not what KOC [Kevin O’Connell] wants from his quarterback,” Carter said. “Like that alternate personality, number nine, all that stuff.
No one’s ever won in the NFL doing this. So, you know, to me, he acts like a kid, he’s played like a kid, we’re stuck with a kid until next year.”
Carter’s comments speak to a broader conversation around McCarthy’s development. After missing his entire rookie season due to a season-ending injury, McCarthy entered this year as the Vikings’ starter.
But it hasn’t been a straight line. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 against Atlanta, which kept him off the field until Week 9 - when he returned to lead Minnesota to a 27-24 win over Detroit.
That win felt like a potential turning point, but the momentum didn’t last. The Vikings dropped their next four games, and McCarthy was sidelined again in Week 13 with a concussion during a loss to Seattle. Through eight games this season, he’s thrown for 1,342 yards with 11 passing touchdowns, three rushing scores, and 11 interceptions - a stat line that paints the picture of a quarterback still finding his footing.
And while McCarthy showed poise and playmaking ability against Dallas, not everyone is ready to give him the credit. Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan, now an analyst, turned his attention to the Cowboys’ defense - and he didn’t mince words.
“Defense,” Ryan said on ESPN’s Get Up. “I mean, 100% this is Super Bowl caliber offense.
We’ve seen it all year. But this defense stinks.
They made J.J. McCarthy look like Fran Tarkenton, and he’s been on the struggle bus all season.”
Ryan didn’t stop there, continuing his season-long criticism of Dallas’ defense, which currently ranks 29th in the league.
“They absolutely stink,” he said. “I’ve called them ‘dumb state defense’ all season long.
And guess what? The dumb state defense is going to keep your team parked there for the playoffs, because no way in hell you’re getting there.”
That’s a harsh reality for a Cowboys team that now faces a 1% chance of reaching the postseason. For a roster with Super Bowl aspirations, that’s a staggering fall.
As for the Vikings, the win over Dallas keeps their faint playoff hopes alive, though they still sit at the bottom of the NFC North with a 6-8 record. They’ll look to build on McCarthy’s performance when they face the New York Giants this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
For McCarthy, the road ahead is still full of questions - but Sunday was a reminder of what’s possible when talent, confidence, and execution align. Whether that’s enough to silence the critics or solidify his status as Minnesota’s long-term answer under center remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: the kid’s got people talking.