What caused this season to be toast already? I believe the injury Grinch is responsible. I’d like to believe that if JJ had started every game then the team would have 2 to 3 more wins by now. His mobility would have made a big difference in the games. I really hate watching playoffs with no rooting interest.
The only thing we have left is to see our young QB get more snaps. The team is going to need Justin Skule to play well if JJ is going to have a good chance. But heh, sometimes a teammate goes down and you have to adjust. The “you” could be KOC or JJ or the other linemen. When one player goes down it opens up an opportunity for another player to step up.
I think that JJ is trending in the right direction and the team really does not have many options to change course.
A very good article here that says “NFL quarterbacks do not take any semblance of final shape, on average, until 250-300 dropbacks”. It includes a lot of super nerd stats and a comparison to Jared Goff and Josh Allen to support the theory that by the Giants game we should be seeing the real version of JJ.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
J.J. McCarthy believes he’s starting to catch up to the speed of the NFL.
After accounting for six touchdowns in back-to-back wins over the Commanders and Cowboys, McCarthy has a renewed sense of confidence, largely because he’s getting more comfortable in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense. On Wednesday, he was asked if the game is slowing down for him.
“Yes, sir. Dramatically,” McCarthy answered.
“Obviously, the more reps you see, the live bullets, but like I talked about, the overall understanding of the offense, it slows everything down tremendously because you’re not using that extra thinking of, ‘The ball’s snapped, I have it in my hands, is he running that route?’ So it eliminates those split-second miscues and processing. That’s helped tremendously throughout the year.”
McCarthy watched film from the win over Dallas and came away pleased.
“Every play felt in sync. It felt on time,” he explained. “It didn’t feel like there was any indecisiveness, and when there was, and I couldn’t see over the line or something like that, I was dishing the ball out and just putting it in play. I feel like that growth was something that really stood out.”
He was also pleased with how he got rid of the ball quickly, or scrambled to the right spots, when the pocket collapsed and put him under pressure. What changed against the Cowboys, where he wasn’t sacked, after being sacked nine times in his previous two starts?
“Emphasizing where my outlets are, and checkdowns. Just knowing where to scramble,” McCarthy said. “It’s one thing to get out of a fight-or-flight situation, but it’s another thing to, not necessarily predetermined, but just be aware of where the slide’s going, where the man side is. Because that’s usually going to be where the gaps are going to open up. And what concepts are over there? What routes are over there? So just understanding the offense more as a whole has helped tremendously.”
Giants 24, Vikings 20 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
The Vikings are playing consecutive road games, but they played well at Dallas. The Giants didn’t look good in the home loss to the Commanders last week. But I think they bounce back here, and the defense plays better against J.J. McCarthy. The Giants win it at home.
Vikings 24, Giants 17 – Bill Bender, Sporting News
The Vikings are improving around J.J. McCarthy, who has five TDs, one interception and a 66% completion percentage in his past two starts.
Vikings 27, Giants 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Vikings got some needed positives from J.J. McCarthy the past two weeks, even though the passing results have come from unexpected receivers. Jaxson Dart will be up for a good duel, but he faces the tougher defense at home.
4 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report
6 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB
10 of 10 experts (1 of 11 total had not submitted) pick the Vikings, ESPN
5 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, The Athletic
4 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, USA Today
Graziano: Mac Jones is under contract with the 49ers for next year at $2.8 million, but the way he played in relief of Brock Purdy this season has people wondering what it would take to trade for him (and presumably pay him more) to come in and compete for a starting role. There are plenty of teams with unsettled 2026 quarterback situations (Colts? Steelers?) that could look to a 27-year-old former first-round pick who has been through the Kyle Shanahan career rehab program as part of their potential solution.
Fowler: The quarterback trade market is worth watching, particularly with supply failing to meet the demand once again. Jones might be the next reclamation project QB to take off in a second act. This leads to a conversation on Kyler Murray, whom the Cardinals are subtly — or quite obviously — trying to stash to preserve his health for a potential trade this offseason. His nearly $37 million in guarantees on the 2026 books complicates the market for his services, but Murray is 28 and isn’t far removed from fringe top-10-QB status.
Does a safe landing spot exist for Murray? Working with, say, Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota would be ideal, but J.J. McCarthy has shown improvement over the past two weeks. The Raiders and Jets are among teams that appear to be in transition at quarterback. Whether a team takes a chance on Murray’s maligned career — and gives up draft capital and financial resources to do it — remains to be seen.
Another name on my radar is Chiefs corner Trent McDuffie. The last Kansas City corner eyeing a big extension, L’Jarius Sneed, was shipped to Tennessee for a draft pick. McDuffie would have value, and Tampa Bay would be a perfect spot for him.
…
Note: I like Murray a lot but I doubt the team is going to deviate from the plan of having their own young QB to groom into the possible and hopeful QBOTF. Trent McDuffie is another story and probably would take a first round pick.
First round (Dec. 19-20)
Friday, Dec. 19No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama | 8 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
R Mason Thomas | Oklahoma | EDGE | 6’2” | 243 | SR
John Mateer | Oklahoma | QB | 6’1” | 219 | RJR
Deion Burks | Oklahoma | WRS | 5’9” | 194 | RSR
Peyton Bowen | Oklahoma | S | 6’0” | 199 | JR
Isaiah Sategna III | Oklahoma | WRS | 5’10” | 182 | RJR
Tate Sandell | Oklahoma | PK | 5’9” | 182 | JR
Gracen Halton | Oklahoma | DL3T | 6’2” | 285 | SR
Febechi Nwaiwu | Oklahoma | OG | 6’4” | 339 | RSR
Jaren Kanak | Oklahoma | TE | 6’2” | 233 | SR
…
Ty Simpson | Alabama | QB | 6’2” | 208 | RJR
Kadyn Proctor | Alabama | OT | 6’6” | 369 | JR
L.T. Overton | Alabama | DL5T | 6’4” | 283 | SR
Deontae Lawson | Alabama | ILB | 6’2” | 239 | RSRDomani Jackson | Alabama | CB | 6’1” | 201 | SR
Germie Bernard | Alabama | WR | 6’0” | 209 | SR
Keon Sabb | Alabama | S | 6’1” | 206 | RJR
Bray Hubbard | Alabama | S | 6’2” | 204 | JR
James Smith | Alabama | DL3T | 6’3” | 295 | JR
Tim Keenan III | Alabama | DL1T | 6’2” | 326 | RSR
Parker Brailsford | Alabama | OC | 6’2” | 290 | RJR
Kelby Collins | Alabama | DL5T | 6’4” | 278 | JR
Jaeden Roberts | Alabama | OG | 6’5” | 310 | RSR
Qua Russaw | Alabama | EDGE | 6’2” | 241 | RSO
Jam Miller | Alabama | RB | 5’10” | 221 | SR
Justin Jefferson | Alabama | ILB | 6’1” | 225 | RSR
Isaiah Horton | Alabama | WR | 6’4” | 208 | RJR
Josh Cuevas | Alabama | TE | 6’3” | 256 | RSR
Kam Dewberry | Alabama | OG | 6’4” | 332 | SR
Geno VanDeMark | Alabama | OG | 6’5” | 326 | RSR
Cameron Calhoun | Alabama | CB | 6’0” | 177 | RSO
Saturday, Dec. 20:No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) | 12 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
Cashius Howell | Texas A&M | EDGE | 6’4” | 245 | RSR
Kevin Concepcion | Texas A&M | WR | 5’11” | 187 | JR
Taurean York | Texas A&M | ILB | 5’11” | 235 | JR
Chase Bisontis | Texas A&M | OG | 6’5” | 320 | JR
Ar’Maj Reed-Adams | Texas A&M | OG | 6’5” | 330 | RSR
Albert Regis | Texas A&M | DL3T | 6’1” | 310 | RSR
Will Lee III | Texas A&M | CB | 6’2” | 190 | RSR
Le’Veon Moss | Texas A&M | RB | 5’11” | 215 | SR
Trey Zuhn III | Texas A&M | OT | 6’6” | 315 | RSR
Nate Boerkircher | Texas A&M | TE | 6’4” | 250 | GR
Dametrious Crownover | Texas A&M | OT | 6’6” | 330 | RSR
Tyreek Chappell | Texas A&M | CBN | 5’10” | 185 | RSR
…
Mark Fletcher Jr. | Miami (FL) | RB | 6’1” | 225 | JR
Mohamed Toure | Miami (FL) | ILB | 6’1” | 236 | RSR
Rueben Bain Jr. | Miami (FL) | EDGE | 6’3” | 275 | JR
Francis Mauigoa | Miami (FL) | OT | 6’6” | 315 | JR
Akheem Mesidor | Miami (FL) | DL5T | 6’2” | 280 | RSR
Carson Beck | Miami (FL) | QB | 6’4” | 220 | RSR
C.J. Daniels | Miami (FL) | WR | 6’2” | 205 | RSR
Keionte Scott | Miami (FL) | S | 5’11” | 192 | RSR
Jakobe Thomas | Miami (FL) | S | 6’2” | 200 | RSR
Damari Brown | Miami (FL) | CB | 6’1” | 190 | JR
Anez Cooper | Miami (FL) | OG | 6’5” | 350 | SR
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane | 3:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, HBO Max
Zxavian Harris | Ole Miss | DL1T | 6’6” | 320 | SR
Suntarine Perkins | Ole Miss | EDGE | 6’1” | 220 | JR
Dae’Quan Wright | Ole Miss | TE | 6’4” | 255 | SR
Trinidad Chambliss | Ole Miss | QB | 6’0” | 200 | SR
Antonio Kite | Ole Miss | CB | 6’0” | 175 | RJR
Harrison Wallace III | Ole Miss | WR | 6’1” | 200 | RSR
Princewill Umanmielen | Ole Miss | EDGE | 6’4” | 245 | JR
…
Santana Hopper | Tulane | DL5T | 6’2” | 265 | JR
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, HBO Max
Dante Moore | Oregon | QB | 6’3” | 206 | RSO
Kenyon Sadiq | Oregon | TE | 6’3” | 235 | JR
Matayo Uiagalelei | Oregon | EDGE | 6’4” | 270 | JR
Dillon Thieneman | Oregon | S | 6’0” | 207 | JR
Isaiah World | Oregon | OT | 6’8” | 309 | RSR
Iapani Laloulu | Oregon | OC | 6’2” | 325 | JR
Emmanuel Pregnon | Oregon | OG | 6’5” | 320 | RSR
A’Mauri Washington | Oregon | DL1T | 6’3” | 330 | JR
Bryce Boettcher | Oregon | ILB | 6’2” | 225 | RSR
Alex Harkey | Oregon | OT | 6’5” | 335 | RSR
Evan Stewart | Oregon | WR | 6’0” | 175 | SR
Noah Whittington | Oregon | RB | 5’8” | 203 | RSR
Jadon Canady | Oregon | CBN | 5’10” | 185 | RSR
…
Jacob Thomas | James Madison | S | 6”1” | 212 | SR
…
Who do you like in these games? I am going with Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Oregon. I hesitate on Oklahoma but do not like Alabama at all.
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: JetsSent: 1.13, 3.97Received: 1.18, 2.46, 5.176…Trade Partner: SteelersSent: 2.46Received: 2.52, 4.120…
Pick 18. Sonny Styles LB Ohio State 6’4” 235Pick 44. Caleb Banks DL Florida 6’6” 325Pick 52. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren S ToledoPick 75. Julian Neal CB Arkansas 6’2” 208Pick 120. Emmett Johnson RB Nebraska 5’11” 200Pick 160. Logan Jones IOL Iowa 6’3” 303Pick 176. Ted Hurst WR Georgia State 6’2” 194Pick 198. Justin Joly TE NC State 6’3” 251Pick 229. Clev Lubin EDGE Louisville 6’3” 255Pick 241. Treydan Stukes CB Arizona 6’2” 200
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