Vikings' JJ McCarthy delivers stunning comeback victory in first NFL start against Bears

Charissa Thompson, Charles Woodson, Julian Edleman and Jay Glazer discussed the biggest storylines heading into the 2025 NFL Season.

The first three quarters weren’t pretty for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy in his first NFL start on Monday night, but all that matters is what happens in the fourth quarter. 

McCarthy led the Vikings on a thrilling comeback, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Chicago Bears, 27-24, on the road to begin the 2025 NFL season. 

Last season, McCarthy was on the sideline with a season-ending meniscus injury suffered during preseason. He watched as Sam Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, but McCarthy knew heading into this campaign it was his turn to get the job done at quarterback in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s dynamic offense. 

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) rushes the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field on Sept. 8, 2025. (Matt Marton/Imagn Images)

McCarthy was having some trouble doing so to start this game, as the Bears’ defense, led by new coordinator Dennis Allen, was drawing up the right pressures to fluster the young signal caller. He was only able to get Will Reichard into field goal range twice in the first half, while Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense got off to a hot start under new head coach Ben Johnson. 

But crunch time in the fourth quarter, with the Vikings down 17-6, McCarthy answered the call. 

It all started with a six-play drive, where McCarthy fired a bullet to the front of the end zone to find his star receiver, Justin Jefferson, for his first score of the new campaign. Then, the Vikings’ defense kept up the pressure on Williams