Controversies in today's society seem as common as weeds in an unattended yard. The National Football League created a controversy this week in their selection of the National Football Conference Player of the Week. The choice was Minnesota Vikings Quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
“What,” Many fans declared while pointing out any number of other athletes that play out of the 16 team NFC that seemed to have better opening games. McCarthy was nothing special for three quarters while the Vikings struggled and trailed the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Then, in a seemingly sudden burst of proficiency, McCarthy guided the Vikings to three fourth quarter touchdowns and a road win to open his NFL career.
Did he deserve the honor of player of the week?
Yes.
Did other players have opening games that could also have gained the honor?
Yes.
If McCarthy did get the nod from the decision makers on such matters at the league office what attracted them to the Vikings second-year signal caller that missed his rookie season with an injury?
Perhaps it was a combination of the poise the young kid showed down the stretch in winning an important division game on the road. The Vikings play out of the NFC North, and this is a division that sent three of their teams to the playoffs last year. Some will argue off early returns that the Green Bay Packers are the best team in football and in addition to them being division competition for the Vikings, so too is the team that had the best record in the conference last year, the Detroit Lions.
The Bears appear to be the only “also-ran” out of this group. But they led the Vikings for three quarters on Monday night behind the direction of new head coach Ben Johnson and his second-year one-time first overall draft selection, Caleb Williams. Then McCarthy caught fire. It may well be that the decision makers for the Player of the Week Award saw the importance of McCarthy’s fourth quarter led comeback.
Now what?
The Vikings close out the Sunday action tonight with a meeting against the Atlanta Falcons. The game represents a battle between two quarterbacks that played for the College National Championship two years ago. The Falcons have inserted second-year pro Michael Penix, Jr. as their starter this year and in his final college game his Washington Huskies got blown out by McCarthy and his Michigan Wolverines, 34-13.
Penix and McCarthy were part of the run on quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL draft which saw six signal callers selected in the first 12 picks. Penix was the eighth overall choice by the Falcons whereas McCarthy was taken two picks later by the Vikings.
So, no doubt Penix knows that his opposing quarterback tonight is the same one that ended his National Championship hopes two years ago. He is also directing a team that unlike the Vikings didn’t pull off a fourth quarter come-from-behind win last Sunday.
It wasn’t Penix’s fault.
The young QB got the Falcons into field goal range, but kicker Younghoe Koo missed a would have been game tying field goal from 44 yards out to seal his team’s fate. It may also have sealed Koo’s career in Atlanta. The kicker was left home this week when the Falcons traveled to Minnesota with newly signed Parker Romo ready to take over Atlanta’s kicking duties.
Romo is playing for his sixth NFL team which included a short stint with the Vikings last season. When the Vikings kicker, Will Reichard, was injured last year Romo was brought in to replace him. He did well, making 11 of his 12 field goal attempts but was nevertheless cut on December 7th. He spent this summer in the New England Patriots camp and now looks to become the full-time kicker for Raheem Morris in Atlanta.
By our numbers tonight’s game is as muddled as who was the best player in the NFC last week and who is going to be the full-time kicker in Atlanta. I’m not interested in betting against the Vikings in their home opener but do think Penix has a little extra motivation against the QB that dashed his National Championship dreams.
If the Falcons are going to contend for a playoff spot this year tonight would seem to be a must win. The Vikings, conversely, are playing out of the league’s toughest division and any setbacks could eliminate their postseason hopes.
Solid competitive game, without a side worth wagering from my perspective.