Minnesota Vikings Kevin O’Connell Continues To Stand Behind QB JJ McCarthy After Abysmal Week 12 Performance
Following a difficult 23-6 divisional loss to the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell publicly reaffirmed his confidence in rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy, despite a challenging performance from the young signal-caller. The loss marked the Vikings’ third straight defeat, dropping them to 4-7 on the season and amplifying concerns about the offense’s direction.
McCarthy had a rough outing at Lambeau Field, completing 12 of 19 passes for a mere 87 yards. He was sacked five times, lost 35 yards on those sacks, and threw two interceptions in the second half that sealed the team’s fate. The offensive struggles left the Vikings unable to find the end zone, with their only points coming from two field goals.
Minnesota Vikings HC Preaches A Message of Confidence and Accountability
In his post-game press conference, O’Connell was asked directly if he believes the team can win with McCarthy at the helm. “I think you can. I do believe that,” O’Connell responded, before adding a crucial condition. “It does require as a football team not doing things that lose games.”
While O’Connell acknowledged McCarthy’s development is “still definitely a work in progress,” he emphasized that the quarterback remains in control of the offense from a play-calling standpoint. He pointed to “little things” that impacted the rookie’s day and stressed the need for the entire team to improve its execution.
Staying the Course Amid Struggles
O’Connell’s message was one of resilience and a call for better preparation across the board. He highlighted the importance of avoiding mistakes and putting his young quarterback in a better position to succeed. “The formula can’t end up being down double digits in the second half. It kinda takes you out of the game that you want to play,” O’Connell noted, referencing the turnovers and stalled drives that plagued the team.
He maintained a forward-looking perspective, placing the onus on both McCarthy and the entire team to refocus and improve. “It’s all about preparation. It’s all about going back to work,” O’Connell said. “We’re gonna need to have our quarterback to have the best week of preparation… Just keep on staying the course.”
As the Vikings face a tough road ahead, including a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, O’Connell’s public backing provides a crucial vote of confidence for McCarthy. However, his comments also make it clear that individual and team-wide execution must improve for the Vikings to break their losing streak and salvage their season.
