Vikings

Souhan: J.J. McCarthy’s prime-time performance for Vikings worthy of a dance

The quarterback’s improved play in his first back-to-back NFL victories is giving reason for optimism amid a frustrating season.

By Jim Souhan

The Minnesota Star Tribune

December 15, 2025 at 7:14AM

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands the ball off to running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Watching a young quarterback learn how to thrive in the NFL is one of the great joys in sports. Especially when the young quarterback is joyful to begin with.

Against the Cowboys, the Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy didn’t just star on “Sunday Night Football,” he performed a couple of star turns worthy of a red carpet in a 34-26 victory at AT&T Stadium.

When he scored, easily, on a bootleg, he defied his coach’s wishes and danced in the end zone.

When he took the final snap of the game and knelt, he popped up immediately and flipped the ball backward over his head to a teammate.

Not long ago, you could have said that McCarthy couldn’t help his team; now, when things go well, he can’t help himself.

“I did it in practice and was told not to do it,” McCarthy said of his end zone celebration. “But me, being who I am, I was even more enticed to do it.”

Said Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell: “I would say the finish, I wouldn’t classify as special. It was ‘entertaining.’ I guess we are in the entertainment business.”

A month ago, the Vikings’ concern was that McCarthy couldn’t reach the end zone. Now they get to worry about what happens when he gets there.

“The response from our quarterback was fantastic,” O’Connell said.

Let’s roll out the disclaimers.

Yes, the Cowboys defense stinks. Yes, the Cowboys had long playoff odds. Yes, McCarthy was able to operate from a pristine pocket.

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He also made a handful of difficult throws, and now has won:

On the road, at night, at Chicago, against the team now leading the NFC North.
At Detroit, against a team that has given the Vikings fits in recent years.
On Sunday night at Dallas, knowing the nation was watching.
On consecutive Sundays, for the first time in his brief career.

McCarthy’s best throws won this game, after his first throw hinted at disaster.

On his first dropback, he threw a pass that blitzing safety Donovan Wilson tipped into the air, then McCarthy failed to bat it down, leading to an interception. O’Connell blamed himself for not preparing McCarthy for that play.

McCarthy was outstanding the rest of the way, finishing with 15 completions on 24 attempts for 250 yards and two touchdowns and 15 yards on four runs and another TD.

What matters is the eye test, and McCarthy passed that with throws like these:

On the first of two touchdown passes to Jalen Nailor, McCarthy rolled left and saw Nailor sprinting toward the end zone. Wilson had him covered, but McCarthy correctly judged that Nailor would outrun him, and lofted a perfect pass toward the sideline for a touchdown. That’s the kind of throw a lot of NFL quarterbacks either can’t make, or won’t try to make. “What a throw,” O’Connell said.
In the third quarter, McCarthy saw tight end T.J. Hockenson running a seam route and zipped a completion for 29 yards, showing off his arm strength, as well as accuracy that was missing earlier this season. McCarthy said that was his favorite throw of the night.
Later on that drive, the Vikings faced fourth-and-3. McCarthy saw Nailor being single-covered, and covered well, with Dallas cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. playing him toward the middle of the field. McCarthy lofted a touch pass away from Revel, Nailor spun to catch it for a 23-yard gain, and the Vikings were on their way to a go-ahead touchdown.

“For me, personally, that was something that was difficult because I was a big fastball guy,” McCarthy said. “But working constantly and obsessively on being a thrower of the football, a passer of the football … just give him a chance to catch the ball, and he’s going to do it, actually. That’s who he is.”

Veteran center Ryan Kelly said that McCarthy kept the faith of his teammates even when struggling because of his attitude and accountability. When McCarthy ran for that touchdown, he said, “The first guy that I hear is Ryan Kelly saying, `I love you, bro, you’re an animal.’“

Suddenly, McCarthy is more fun than a snow day.