Packer fans will savor their Old-Fashioneds in Dairyland supper clubs tonight. The Old Style’s will taste crisp in Wisconsin’s dive bars after the beloved Packers dominated the Vikings 23-6 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Vikings fans? They’re crying in their brews.
Me? I am sipping a Red Bull after watching a sleepy Viking offense run 15 plays in the second half for four yards!
The Vikings, now 4-7 and fading fast in the playoff hunt, had won two consecutive games at historic Lambeau—the venue judged the best in the NFL for fan experience by USA Today and Sports Illustrated earlier this year. But the 7-3-1 Packers dominated the game in which the Minnesota offense could produce only two long field goals by Will Reichard.
Reichard’s first half boots of 52 and 59 yards made the comments before the game of Viking coach Kevin O’Connell look prophetic. He told the KFAN Radio audience his “confidence is sky high” in the second-year place kicker from Alabama.
Nobody feels that way about the Vikings’ starting quarterback, though. J.J. McCarthy completed 12 of 19 passes for a measly 87 yards. He also threw two second half interceptions.
The 22-year-old, in his first season as the starter, began the game with a completion. Then he missed on his next three.
It was a similar game performance for McCarthy as seen much of the season. His accuracy was missing and his decision making, too. He held the ball too long and was sacked five times.
The 2024 first round draft choice, who missed last season with a knee injury, is now 2-4 as a starter. KOC is a proven QB whisperer but not a miracle man. He’s stressed his support for his inexperienced quarterback while acknowledging McCarthy’s issues including his mechanics.
McCarthy has had six games to play. There are seven games remaining on the Minnesota schedule.
Why not give rookie Max Brosmer a start next Sunday in Seattle against the Seahawks? If it’s a successful debut, let him audition in more games. Maybe all of them.
Brosmer, by all accounts, is mentally an exceptional rookie in his understanding of football, the offense and ability to process. As an undrafted rookie, he’s already surprised by emerging as the team’s No. 2 behind McCarthy.
The former Golden Gophers quarterback is two years older than McCarthy and had more college experience. He played five years at FCS New Hampshire and one at Minnesota. McCarthy played three seasons for Michigan.
Brosmer has played briefly in two regular-season games, attempting eight passes, completing five and throwing for 42 yards. He played in all three preseason games and completed 35 of 58 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns.
Earlier in the fall KOC was asked about Brosmer and he noted the progress and improvement of the Georgia native who Gopher coach P.J. Fleck predicted last year would become an NFL player. KOC said in a game Brosmer would have his confidence and that of his teammates.
McCarthy’s struggles are such that he might prosper by sitting and watching. At least for a while.
Right now, it isn’t just the lack of points the Vikings are producing. It’s also that the offense’s ineffectiveness is leaving the defense on the field too long. Today the Green Bay time of possession was 37:15. Minnesota’s TOP was 22:45.
Replacing him in the starting lineup isn’t a death sentence to his career. Any knowledgeable football authority knows that failure often precedes success for NFL quarterbacks. Look no further than the Seahawks to recall that Sam Darnold, their new quarterback, was a first round bust until KOC revived his career with the Vikings last year.
A demotion now shouldn’t make any fans write McCarthy off, even in the short term of the next 12 months. That would be crazy. He might emerge as a better player in 2026 or beyond, either with the Vikings or some other team.
But at this moment, the Vikings have an opportunity to change the script, at least for a while, on the McCarthy experiment. Try another way with Brosmer while there are still meaningful games.
Whoever starts at quarterback next week, BTW, may have to work behind a patchwork offensive line. At Lambeau today offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (foot) and offensive guard Donovan Jackson (ankle) had to leave the game.
Ironically, for the first time this season, the Vikings started out with their preseason hoped-for starters. Making his return to join Darrisaw, Jackson, guard Will Fries and tackle Brian O’Neill was center Ryan Kelly who had been out all season with a concussion.
Wearing a soft-shell pad over his helmet, Kelly looked outstanding in both run and pass blocking. His blocking helped give some early game rushing help to Aaron Jones, Sr. and Jordan Mason.
Kelly was part of a busy offseason acquisition effort by Vikings management. He came as a free agent from the Colts where he was a four-time Pro Bowler.
The Vikings were willing to shake things up in the offseason by bringing in new players like Kelly, Fries, and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. Is it time to make a move at quarterback?
Gophers were mismanaged down the stretch!!!!
I’m sure Minnesota fans would love to see Max Brosmer get a start at quarterback, but I’m not sure the Vikings are quite ready to give up this season on McCarthy. The Vikings are most likely out of the playoff picture, so they may just want to be clear about the future of their quarterback position.