J.J. McCarthy was 16 of 32 for 150 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions on Sunday against the Bears. It was an up-and-down performance, but a 10-play, 95-yard touchdown drive with four minutes left in the fourth quarter gave Minnesota a 17-16 lead.
It was the go-ahead touchdown drive late in the game that caught former NFL linebacker-turned-analyst Emmanuel Acho’s eye.
“J.J. McCarthy got that clutch gene!! Struggled all game, but this was nasty!” he posted on X along with va ideo of McCarthy’s touchdown pass to Jordan Addison. NFL Hall of Famer and former Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter responded: “Did you watch the first 59 [minutes]?”
McCarthy’s personal quarterback coach, Greg Holcomb, took offense to Carter’s comments, calling him a “clown.”
Greg Holcomb’s response to Cris Carter. / Picture via: X (@vikingzfanpage)
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Without the final drive of the game, McCarthy’s stat line would’ve been 10 of 24 for 74 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. It’s hard to poke holes in Carter’s comments. Holcomb has worked with McCarthy since middle school, so he’s obviously going to defend his guy, and he has been vocal about criticism surrounding McCarthy’s development all season.
The thread didn’t stop there. Acho conceded to Carter’s original post, but the former Vikings star did not appreciate his name being misspelled.
Cris Carter responding to Emmanuel Acho again. / Picture via: @criscarter80 (X)
This season has obviously not gone exactly how McCarthy or the Vikings would’ve hoped, and it’s not a good sign when someone’s QB coach is calling one of the best players in franchise history a clown. McCarthy will get another chance to prove a growing list of doubters wrong this week on the road against the Packers.
