J.J. McCarthy on Vikings Loss to Falcons: It Starts With Me, I’ve Got To Play Better

Obviously, uh very disappointing loss. You know, there’s uh a lot of things that immediately come to my mind of just what we can do to get better and, you know, just want to give kudos to the defense. I thought they played absolutely outstanding. Uh Will, you know, absolutely uh played his butt off tonight and we got to do a better job as an offense just operating uh playing, you know, one play at a time and everyone executing their job, all 11 of us. Um, but yeah, this is unfortunate, but I know we have a great, you know, character, culture, locker room that we’re going to respond from this and we’re going to learn and get better and bounce back next week. Anything that happened tonight surprise you? Did you experience anything you hadn’t experienced in the NFL before? You know what, I don’t think, you know, anything really surprised me. Every single game is just something new. Uh, I wouldn’t say it took me by surprise, but we just got to do a better job of adapting, you know, and taking advantage of opportunities when we’re down in the red zone to get seven points and not leave with just three on the board. And, uh, yeah, there’s a lot of things we got to clean up, but, you know, it starts with me. I got to play better and, uh, we got to do a better job operating this offense. JJ, you and Kevin looked like had a conversation kind of at the end there. Just what was the extent of of that conversation, that moment? the extent was just, you know, there’s a lot of things we got to clean up and there’s a a bright future ahead in that locker room and just being able to all be on the same page and really just attack tomorrow, attack the meetings, attack the lift and uh get back to you know that one and0 mentality every single day. So, I feel like uh you know it was a short conversation that you never want to have, but it was awesome that KO had my back. JJ, what what did you feel like the issue was with some of the sacks tonight? There’s a lot of things you can factor into it. I think we’ll get a better idea of it when we look at, you know, the all 22 and go through all the details, but I feel like it just starts with the operation. You know, we got to get in and out of the huddle fast. We got to get the right calls protection wise. Um, and you know, I got to get the ball out as quick as possible to the guys that can go make plays. you know, there’s a lot of opportunities where we left it on the table with just, you know, getting the ball out faster and, you know, moving on from there. But, you know, I feel like it’s an all 11 thing and, you know, it starts with me first. JJ, I know people will look at two games and draw plenty of conclusions. I’m just curious, what do you take from the two games you’ve played and how do you think about how you’ve played in those two games? We got a lot to do and I got a lot to do personally. You know, there’s a lot of things about this game that, you know, show up and, you know, it’s awesome to be a part of such a great group where I know we’re going to grow together. I know we’re going to learn together. There’s a lot of love in that locker room and, uh, that’s what it comes down to. You know, this is a long season. You know, everyone’s telling me this is a freaking journey and I believe them wholeheartedly. So, it’s just about getting back to the drawing board and working on just getting better at the little things and executing the simple things better. JJ, when you have guys going in and out of the offensive line in front of you, like how are you trying to adapt and get on the same page with new center with a new tackle and just kind of make sure that you can kind of sustain some offense going forward? It’s really just next manup mentality. I know that KO, Qua, Griggs, all those guys put together a group that, you know, when that next guy steps up, it shouldn’t be a fall-off at all. So, I feel like, you know, there was really no big changes in terms of the mentality and, you know, the operation standpoint, but at the end of the day, we just got to, you know, continue to keep getting better and realize that, you know, in those moments, it shouldn’t have any fall-off and we just got to keep executing the little things better. That’s what it really comes down to. So, yeah, I would say that. JJ, on the sneak when you dropped the ball there, was there were you on the same page communication wise in terms of the exchange or did is it just a matter of you dropped it when it hit your hands? Yeah, take that on me for sure. I dropped it and uh you know, we got to be better at little things. Like I said, thanks everybody. Thank you.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy addressed the media after the team’s Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium during the 2025 NFL regular season.

#MinnesotaVikings #Vikings #NFL #MN #Football #Skol

Subscribe to the Minnesota Vikings YT Channel: https://goo.gl/VTGqAS
For more Vikings videos: https://goo.gl/f9Ppj3

For more Vikings action: http://www.vikings.com/
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minnesotavikings
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vikings
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vikings/
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vikings
Get the App: https://apple.co/2uPFQkP
Subscribe to our podcasts: https://apple.co/36BX1on

36 comments

  11. Yalll heā€™s 22 yrs old relaaaaax.darrisaw is out and the center. The guy is being asked to do more than Iā€™m sure they expected him even to do right out the gates. Let him grow yall

  12. JJM is going to go through what he should've last year. He's got the receievers but he needs the O-line to be better or to be traded/let go. Its gonna be a tough year but I think that he still has a better upside than Caleb. Mark my words it'll be a battle at the bottom of the NFC north for 3rd place.

  13. NEWS FLASH!

    J.J. McCarthy will be an absolute NFL bust. He was a mediocre QB at Michigan and the Wolverines only won a National Championship because they played defense, ran for over 200 yards per game and were cheating too. McCarthy wasn't even a Top 20 College QB if we are being honest. He should not have even been drafted. He belongs in the Arena Football league or the UFL and nowhere near the NFL. McCarthy won't even be the backup QB on any NFL team 2 years from now.

  16. Sorry coach, you canā€™t play 5 spots on the offensive line. Fricking horrible. Donā€™t watch the tape.

    Omg. JJ no one in the league . Would put up with the offensive line that you haveā€¦.. what a shit show. The fact that you made it out of that game alive. Says a lot!,,,, Hang in there.

  17. Just didnā€™t feel the line, O and D, controlled the line of scrimmage. Falcons ripped off a number of long yardage runs through gaps. Vikings O line didnā€™t move the chains. Hope that isnā€™t a long term problem

  18. Interesting that the kid has a high ankle sprain yet he can go to the press conference. Can you name me another time you're starting quarterback would it be getting instant therapy after the game and be put in a boot?? Kevin O'Connell is soft and this is a soft benching

  19. Iā€™ve watched football my whole life but I never really played it ā€¦.. how is it a defensive player can line up on the edge and rush in and smoke the quarterback with nobody even touching him ? I just donā€™t get that .

  24. Last year: KOC ā€œOrganizations fail young QBs more often than young QBs fail organizationsā€ Vikings fans ā€œheā€™s 100% right, heā€™s such a good coachā€ 1 year later: same fans after 2 games (JJ is a bust, get rid of him!)

  31. We need a veteran. Having a rookie, we are going to be dealing with the same olā€™ Been a fan since 10yrs of age. Going on 40 this year, and we are always needing to ā€œclean upā€ Its getting old!

  32. Hmm…..you want to be the man kearn to read defenses, your check downs, HC he didn't play last season or preseason but throw him out their as starteršŸ¤”Didn't need to rush him had Darnold and Jones on team both gone??? Now injuries better find a good back up tackle guy Monday šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚

  35. Itā€™s Karma paying the owner if the team not doing a memorial celebration for Charlie Kirk! I love my Vikings, but sick that the owner is a heartless POS. He will celebrate a guy who ODs on drugs, but not a true Christian! Ziti youā€™re a sick liberal

  36. I believe in JJ. He's got the physical tools and I believe he is mentally tough and will bounce back. He made some bad plays no doubt, but it's only game 2. Many more to come

Leave a Reply