J.J. McCarthy's TD dance irks Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell - ESPN

ARLINGTON, Texas — In the midst of his best game in the NFL, J.J. McCarthy started feeling it. So, when the Minnesota Vikings quarterback broke free on a goal-line bootleg run in the second quarter, with nothing but the end zone in front of him, he slowed down.

Holding the ball low as he crossed the goal line, McCarthy appeared to be performing a modified «Griddy» dance made popular by teammate Justin Jefferson.

The touchdown was one of several key plays in the Vikings' 34-26 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, but it was perhaps the most revealing moment of the push and pull involved in developing a young quarterback. While praising McCarthy's performance after he threw for a career-high 250 yards, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell made clear he did not like the celebration.

And McCarthy, who has endured heavy criticism during his first season as a starter, said he had been warned before the game to avoid the celebration.

«I did it in practice and I was told not to do it,» McCarthy said. «So, just me being who I am, it's like, 'Oh, now I'm more enticed to do it.' But if it's that open, obviously just get in the end zone no matter what, and be coachable and do what my coach says. So yeah, I'll definitely get a minus [grade] for that.»

Asked if he was OK with getting a «minus,» McCarthy said: «Yes and no.»

McCarthy's first pass of the game was tipped at the line by blitzing Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson and then intercepted by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the Vikings' 35-yard line, setting up the Cowboys' first scoring drive. But McCarthy followed that by completing eight of his next 10 passes, including a 20-yard touchdown strike to receiver Jalen Nailor later in the quarter.

The pass to Nailor was one of five McCarthy