JJ McCarthy Has Strong Words After Vikings’ Loss to Falcons
Through two games, it hasn’t looked good for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy did mount an 11-point, fourth-quarter comeback over the Chicago Bears in Week 1. However, there was no comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in an eventual 22-6 loss on Sunday.
McCarthy took his sixth sack to start the fourth quarter, resulting in a fumble that played into the favor of the Falcons. Protecting a six-point lead, Atlanta played keep away and dominated time of possession in the final quarter, holding the ball for 12 minutes, 31 seconds of the final 15 minutes.
The Vikings offense has not mustered much through its first eight quarters with McCarthy. All six points on Sunday came in the second quarter, a pair of field goals by Will Reichard. McCarthy has scored all three of his touchdowns in a single quarter of the young season and has four turnovers in two games.
However, the 22-year-old is resolute on turning things around.
“This is a long season. Everyone’s telling me this is a freaking journey, and I believe them wholeheartedly,” he said after the game. “We got a lot to do, and I got a lot to do personally. There’s a lot of things about this game that show up, and it’s awesome to be a part of such a great group where I know we’re gonna grow together, I know we’re gonna learn together, there’s a lot of love in that locker room, and that’s what it comes down to.
“So, it’s just about getting back to the drawing board and working on just getting better at the little things and executing the simple things better.”
Falcons Land Daunting Pressure Rate on Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy
It’s early in the season, but the Vikings’ injuries are already impacting the offense’s efficiency.
Without Christian Darrisaw for a second week, the Vikings trotted out backup left tackle Justin Skule, who struggled again before he was ruled out with an injury early in the fourth quarter. Starting center Ryan Kelly was also ruled out with concussion symptoms. Second-year linemen Walter Rouse and Michael Jurgens stepped in for the first offensive snaps of their careers, and it was a struggle.
“According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Falcons pressured McCarthy on 53.5% of his dropbacks, their highest rate in a game since Week 15 of the 2018 season,” Minnesota Star Tribune beat reporter Ben Goessling wrote.
With pressure coming early, the Vikings’ offense could not find its explosiveness, which often comes with deeper, developing routes. Kevin O’Connell did not seem to find the right quick plays to create some breathing room for McCarthy, either.
Vikings Have a Get-Right Game Against the Bengals Ahead
Onto the next one.
The Vikings host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in a matchup that has lost some serious gusto with Joe Burrow suffering a turf toe injury in Week 2.
Backup quarterback Jake Browning kept the Bengals offense afloat in a 31-27 win; however, this is a game that is ripe for the Vikings to bounce back — so long as they can start to get healthy.
Darrisaw’s return will be the biggest storyline this week and could be the difference-maker. The Vikings can also hopefully get Andrew Van Ginkel, Jeff Okudah and Kelly back, all of whom are in concussion protocol, and Harrison Smith.
DraftKings Sportsbook has the Vikings as 4.5-point favorites to open the week.
Dolphins’ Defensive Struggles Mirror Joe Barry’s Troubling Past in Green Bay
When a coach with a controversial track record joins a new team, their performance is placed under immediate scrutiny. For many Green Bay Packers fans, the name Joe Barry is synonymous with a defensive philosophy that often felt frustratingly passive. The news that Barry had landed with the Miami Dolphins as their linebackers and run game coordinator was met with a sense of knowing trepidation by his former critics. Now, with the NFL season underway, the Dolphins’ defensive struggles are raising familiar questions about Barry’s impact.
While Barry is not the defensive coordinator in Miami, his influence on the linebacker corps and run defense is significant. The team’s poor performance in these areas has not gone unnoticed, and for those who followed his tenure in Green Bay, the results look eerily familiar. The Dolphins’ defense is currently facing significant challenges, and the statistics paint a troubling picture that aligns with a career-long trend for the veteran coach.
Green Bay Packers Fans Are All Too Familiar With Joe Barry
Joe Barry’s time as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers from 2021 to 2023 was marked by consistent fan frustration. Despite having a roster loaded with first-round talent, his defenses were often criticized for playing a soft, “bend-don’t-break” style that allowed opposing offenses to dictate the terms of engagement. The scheme frequently gave up easy completions underneath and struggled to get off the field on third down, leading to long, sustained drives that wore down the defense.
This approach was particularly maddening for a fanbase that saw Pro Bowl talent at every level of the defense. The disconnect between the talent on the field and the results on the scoreboard ultimately led to his departure from Green Bay. His defenses, while occasionally posting respectable total yardage numbers, often failed to make critical stops in key moments. This history has created a narrative that follows him, one where his units look good on paper but fail to play with the aggressive, game-changing style that modern NFL defenses require.
The Dolphins’ Defensive Woes in 2025
The Miami Dolphins brought in a new defensive staff to elevate a unit that has its own share of high-end talent. However, the early returns have been alarming. Through the first part of the season, the Dolphins’ defense ranks among the worst in the league in several critical categories, particularly in the areas under Barry’s purview.
According to the latest NFL defensive rankings from Fox Sports, the numbers are stark:
- Total Defense: The Dolphins are ranked 29th, allowing an average of 418 yards per game.
- Scoring Defense:They are also 29th in points allowed, surrendering 33 points per game.
- Rushing Defense: The run defense, a key responsibility for Barry, is ranked 27th, giving up 156 yards per game.
These statistics are not just numbers on a page; they represent a fundamental inability to stop opposing teams. The struggles in the run game are particularly concerning, as a weak run defense puts immense pressure on the secondary and makes it difficult to control the clock. For a team with championship aspirations like the Dolphins, having a defense that is consistently on its heels is an unsustainable formula for success. The high number of yards and points allowed suggests a systemic issue, and it’s a pattern that closely mirrors the criticisms leveled against Barry’s units in the past.
Is History Repeating Itself?
While it is unfair to place all of the blame on one position coach, Barry’s role as the run game coordinator makes the team’s struggles in that area impossible to ignore. His career has been marked by stops where his defenses have underachieved relative to their talent level. His first defensive coordinator stint with the Detroit Lions in 2007-08 was a disaster, and his time in Washington from 2015-16 produced similarly uninspiring results.
The recurring theme is a defensive philosophy that appears to prioritize preventing the big play over aggressively attacking the offense. This often results in allowing opponents to methodically move the ball down the field, controlling possession and wearing down the defense. In Miami, we are seeing this play out again. The defense is not just giving up yards; it is failing to create negative plays or force turnovers at a rate needed to win consistently.
For the Dolphins, the hope was that a new coaching staff could unlock the potential of a talented group. Instead, the early season struggles have brought a familiar sense of disappointment. Joe Barry’s presence on the staff, combined with the team’s porous run defense and overall poor statistical rankings, suggests that a change in scenery has not necessarily led to a change in results. The pressure is mounting in Miami, and the defensive coaching staff, including Barry, will need to find answers quickly before the season slips away.
