Aaron Jones Sr. Says J.J. McCarthy Isn’t Just Playing — He’s Changing the Game!
Minnesota Vikings’ star Aaron Jones Sr. recently shared his thoughts on the young quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and his words speak volumes about the future of the franchise. According to Jones, McCarthy is not just another player on the field — he's a game-changer. In a candid reflection, Jones noted that McCarthy's desire to build a legacy is far beyond the ordinary ambitions of most players.
Jones' praise of McCarthy is a statement of belief in the quarterback’s talent and determination. It reflects an important perspective not only on McCarthy’s skills but also on his mindset — one that is focused on more than just personal achievements or individual accolades. McCarthy, who’s already made a name for himself in college football, now has his sights set on the NFL and aims to leave a lasting impact on the Minnesota Vikings.
The young quarterback's ambition and work ethic have become evident since his arrival, with McCarthy’s presence on the field shifting the energy around the team. His ability to inspire confidence and drive the offense has quickly made him a centerpiece of the Vikings’ future plans. McCarthy isn’t simply looking to make plays; he’s setting himself up to lead the team into a new era. Every pass he makes, every decision he executes, is a step toward something bigger — a team that can compete for championships.
Jones, who has seen plenty of talented players come and go throughout his career, understands that this type of mindset is rare. To truly change the game, it takes more than just ability — it takes vision, determination, and a relentless pursuit of greatness. McCarthy, in Jones' eyes, possesses all of these qualities in abundance.
For the Vikings, McCarthy’s potential is a game-changer. With a leader who is both skilled and fiercely determined, the franchise is positioned to achieve greatness in the coming years. Jones' words of confidence serve as a testament to McCarthy’s future in the league and the impact he is destined to make on the NFL stage.
As McCarthy continues to prove himself on the field, the eyes of the Minnesota faithful are glued to his every move. The Vikings’ future has never looked brighter, thanks to the young quarterback’s commitment to not just playing, but changing the game.
Patriots Defense Made Key Adjustment to Beat Joe Flacco, Bengals
Facing a Cincinnati Bengals team without injured quarterback Joe Burrow and suspended star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase should’ve been a chance for the New England Patriots to feast on defense, but instead the unit needed to make a key adjustment to hold veteran backup Joe Flacco at bay late in Week 12’s 26-20 win on the road.
The adjustment was made on the final drive at Paycor Stadium, when the Patriots finally sent extra rushers after 40-year-old Flacco. As Next Gen Stats, via NFL Pro revealed, “The Patriots did not blitz until the final Bengals drive, in which they blitzed four times, with Joe Flacco completing just 1 of 4 passes (12 yards) against the blitz. Despite their low blitz rate (10.3%, their 2nd-lowest this season), the Patriots still generated pressure on 41.0% of their pass rushes.”
Sending the blitz proved worth the risk when the Pats sent “the house on 4th & 10, K’Lavon Chaisson gets a hit on the QB, and Marcus Jones breaks up the throw to Mike Gesicki,” per Taylor Kyles of Patriots on CLNS.
The telling contribution by Jones capped a clutch performance from the nickelback, who also scored on a pick-six to help dig the Patriots out of an early hole. Jones’ theft was the result of cleverly disguised coverage, making this game a strong endorsement of the defensive staff led by stand-in coordinator Zak Kuhr.
Patriots Needed Sophisticated Defense
A rare dismal showing from QB1 Drake Maye left the Patriots needing to lean on their defense in Cincinnati. Fortunately, Kuhr had a nuanced plan based around sophisticated coverage concepts and pressure packages.
The layers of disguise in their coverage showed up most effectively when Jones picked off Flacco and went to the house in the second quarter. It happened because “on their first pick-six since the 2023 season (Kyle Dugger vs. Miami), New England plays the early down in quarters coverage with a four-deep, three-under zone coverage,” according to Patriots.com Staff Writer Evan Lazar.
This coverage design fooled Flacco, who saw “the deep-zone coverage taking away his downfield routes, and thinks he’s just going to harmlessly check it down into the flat to RB Tahj Brooks. Instead, NCB Marcus Jones was baiting Flacco to throw the check-down the entire time, and jumped the flat for a 33-yard pick-six that was a sweet, sweet play by Jones.”
Changing the picture on the back end was necessary to keep a battle-tested veteran with Flacco’s level of experience guessing. Yet for all the rotations in the secondary, the Patriots still needed a more direct approach to seal the win.
Zak Kuhr Adjusted Core Plan in Key Moment
When Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel hired Terrell Williams to be his defensive coordinator, he hoped for a defense based on getting pressure with only four rushers. Williams has taken a leave of absence to deal with health problems, but Kuhr has mostly stuck to the same blueprint, at least until the waning moments against the Bengals.
That’s when Kuhr pushed the blitz button to great effect. His more aggressive approach worked to unleash edge-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, while also helping fellow edge Harold Landry III notch the Patriots’ only sack.
Registering just a single sack shows the Patriots still have a problem getting to quarterbacks often enough. The defense has recorded a mere 23 QB takedowns, per Pro Football Reference, because there isn’t a bluechip pass-rusher in the lineup.
It means Kuhr will be wise to continue drawing up elaborate ways to send additional rushers to wreck the pocket. Blitzing can offset the absence of elite talent on the edges, while it will also help the defense compensate for any further below-par days from Maye and the offense.
