J.J. McCarthy and Jaxson Dart might be done taking exams at Michigan and Ole Miss, respectively, but the 22-year-old quarterbacks still have plenty to learn as they wrap up their first seasons as starters in the NFL.
When McCarthy’s Vikings head to MetLife Stadium Sunday to face Dart’s Giants, both quarterbacks will be put to the test by the opposing defenses.
McCarthy – who is making his ninth career start this weekend for Minnesota – has responded from a challenging and injury-plagued start to his career with a pair of positive performances in the past couple of games. During the Vikings current two-game win streak (their first this season), McCarthy has completed 31 of his 47 pass attempts for 413 yards. He has also scored six total touchdowns (five passing), thrown only one interception and has compiled his first two passer ratings above 100.0.
Despite ranking in the middle of the pack in the NFL in sacks (31) and near the bottom in interceptions (tied for 29th with five) and takeaways (30th with nine), the Giants possess a talented defensive front that includes rookie DE Abdul Carter. Although Carter only has 2.5 sacks this season, he’s recorded a sack in each of the past two games to go along with 11 total tackles and two forced fumbles (one recovery).
Dart will be making his 10th career start for the Giants. Despite the Giants losing eight consecutive games entering Sunday – tied with the Raiders for the longest active losing skid this season – Dart has also shown signs of positivity. During New York’s losing streak, Dart has completed 109 of his 179 pass attempts for 1,294 yards and has thrown nine touchdown passes and only two interceptions in six games.
Despite tying the Giants in interceptions as a defense and being tied for 21st in takeaways with 14, the Vikings own the highest blitz percentage (43.0%) in the NFL this season and are tied for 11th in sacks (35).