Overview
- Minnesota fell to 4-5 after committing 13 penalties for 102 yards, including eight false starts that stalled drives and marked the most by a home team since 2009.
- Quarterback J.J. McCarthy went 20-of-42 for 248 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and publicly accepted responsibility for the pre-snap breakdowns.
- Players said some Ravens defenders mimicked cadence or made move calls that contributed to the miscues, while O’Connell acknowledged a cadence issue and vowed to fix it.
- Two McCarthy interceptions and a kickoff return fumble led directly to 13 Baltimore points, undercutting a day when Minnesota averaged 6.7 yards per carry.
- National criticism of O’Connell’s situational decisions intensified, highlighting persistent passing on short-yardage and a fourth-quarter two-point try.