JJ McCarthy s heroic debut: Vikings rookies stuns Bears with a comeback

J.J. McCarthy's long-awaited NFL debut was a tale of two halves, but it ended in a thrilling 27-24 season-opening victory for the Minnesota Vikings against the Chicago Bears. The rookie, who missed his first season with a knee injury, delivered a clutch performance in the fourth quarter after struggling through the first three.

Early in the game, things looked bleak for the Vikings. Chicago's Nahshon Wright intercepted a pass intended for Justin Jefferson and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown, giving the Bears a commanding 17-6 lead in the third quarter. But McCarthy, a former Michigan star and the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft, rallied the team when it mattered most.

He started the comeback with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson, followed by another 27-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Jones that put the Vikings in front 20-17 with just over nine minutes left. McCarthy sealed the win with a 14-yard touchdown run, faking a handoff and scrambling into the end zone to make it a 10-point game.

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Despite a late touchdown pass from Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze, the Vikings held on for their eighth win against the Bears in the last nine games.

For Chicago, the loss spoiled Ben Johnson's debut as head coach. Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, had a solid performance, throwing for 210 yards and scoring his first career rushing touchdown.

Ultimately, however, it was McCarthy's composure and leadership under pressure that proved to be the difference. He finished the night completing 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards.

The Vikings will now look to build on this momentum as they prepare to host the Atlanta Falcons, while the Bears will try to bounce back on the road against the Detroit Lions.