Overview
- McCarthy led Minnesota to a 27-24 win at Ford Field, snapping the Vikings’ drought against Detroit since 2022 in what ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted was the season’s biggest upset based on the 9.5-point line.
- He completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and added a 9-yard rushing score on 3rd-and-8, plus a late third-down strike to Jalen Nailor to help seal it.
- Detroit generated 18 pressures and five sacks, tying for the second-highest defensive pressure rate in a game this season according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
- After the victory, McCarthy posted an Instagram carousel captioned “Knee caps are intact,” referencing Dan Campbell’s 2021 introductory remark about biting kneecaps.
- Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell praised McCarthy’s “critical” plays, as media reaction ranged from CBS Sports voices calling the NFC North on notice to Colin Cowherd’s cautious “UPS driver” comparison.