NFL
By Steve Rogers
Finally, the world gets to see a glimpse of JJ McCarthy starting the first Vikings preseason game of the 2025 season. Some of you may recall that this is very similar to last year. However, after that game, they discovered he had torn his meniscus and would need season-ending surgery.
Essentially, we are back where we were this time last year, all over again. Only this time, McCarthy is looking stronger and in better shape than ever. As well as a full year to absorb the playbook and style, as well as the vibe and culture of the locker room. He got to ease into the NFL acclimation process much like the same way Patrick Mahomes did. How’s that working out so far for Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs? It also gave McCarthy a full year to rebuild with head coach Kevin O’Connell as well as his entire team.
There is so much talk being focused on the young quarterback, people forget this is a team game, and it’s not just offense all the time; the NFL plays defense, too. When it comes to defense, the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, is among the best currently coaching and dialing up these diabolical defensive schemes. Flores is like Bobby Fischer; he is a defensive chess master. This might be the most complete set of roster pieces he’s ever had to work with. Allowing him to unleash his full power this year.
Last year, the Vikings’ team scoring defense allowed 19.5 points per game. That was good for 5th in the league. Expect that to drop even further this year. I expect that number to fall dramatically by three or four points. That’s 15 or 16 points per game.
Giving plenty of runway for head coach Kevin O’Connell and his aggressive offensive play style to operate. As well as properly launch the young career of the Vikings’ next franchise quarterback in JJ McCarthy. Speaking of runways and launches, McCarthy and the Vikings offense will play this preseason game without Justin “Jettas” Jefferson. As he continues to recover from his hamstring strain.
That takes a lot of the so-called pressure off McCarthy. He doesn’t have to go out and win high-scoring shootout-style games. When you know the defense is going to keep opposing teams under 17 points, it provides a different confidence boost. McCarthy has been looking fully healthy and ready to play thus far in training camp. McCarthy himself was the first guy to jump into the middle of a skirmish to defend his running back, Aaron Jones. Usually, you don’t want to hear about your starting quarterback tomping in the middle of a fight, but when he’s a former hockey player who was the self-proclaimed “enforcer”, it kind of puts a smile on your face. Toughness check!
The Vikings and Houston Texans played here at US BANK stadium last year in week three. That game was a blowout win for the Vikings. The defense pitched a first-half shutout, and Sam Darnold threw four touchdown passes. The final score was 34-7. This is just a preseason game, but it could end up looking similar to this last regular-season match-up.
