Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell met with reporters on Wednesday in Eagan to preview Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field vs. the Packers.

***Click the video box above to watch O’Connell’s news conference from Wed. Nov. 19***

While completing just 36 of 74 passes over the past two games, quarterback J.J. McCarthy has struggled to establish consistency with his footwork and follow-through. Sometimes the ball simply comes in too hot. Whatever the cause, he seems to fully realize his lack of margin for misfiring to open receivers even after only five career games.

What needs help

Just about anything related to the quarterback at this point, but with McCarthy’s tendency to overthrow in either distance or velocity he could benefit from more calmness with his demeanor even if his intensity is typically a strength. There’s no evidence of overdoing it more glaring than this data from Sportradar: McCarthy is 0 for 11 with one interception and four sacks on third and fourth downs with 3 yards or less to go.

What’s working

The only category of any significance the Vikings offense currently has a top-10 league ranking in is rushing yards per attempt, with an average of 4.66 yards per play on the ground that’s ninth best in the NFL and the team’s highest since 2020. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are finding space and taking advantage of it when they’re getting the ball.

Stock up

Edge rusher Dallas Turner had three quarterback hits and two of his season-high seven tackles for loss, including a sack, plus one pass deflected at the line. After starting five games earlier with mixed-at-best results while Andrew Van Ginkel was out, Turner took the injured Jonathan Greenard’s place on Sunday and produced one of the finest games of his young career.

Stock down

Tight end T.J. Hockenson is having the least productive season of his career, with just 34 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns. According to Sportradar analysis, Hockenson’s drop rate of catchable passes (8.1%) is the highest in his seven years in the league. Though he has been asked to block this season more than he or the team would have predicted or preferred and the unstable quarterback play has clearly factored in, Hockenson’s impact as a receiver has never been lower.

Injury report

Health is the best reason the Vikings have for optimism down the stretch. Greenard (shoulder) has a chance to make his injury a one-game absence. Ryan Kelly (concussion) has returned to practice appears close to returning to his role as the starting center.

Key number

57.4 — The average number of plays the Vikings have had per game this season is their lowest since 1962 (55.3), according to Sportradar, the second year of the franchise. Their marks in first downs per game (17.5) and three-and-out possession rate (26.5%) are their worst since 2006, and their average net gain (5.16 yards) per play is their lowest since 2016.

Up next

The Vikings visit Green Bay this Sunday with a two-game winning streak at Lambeau Field. They have another tough road trip the following week at Seattle before returning home to play struggling Washington on Dec. 7.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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