Justin Jefferson Takes Blame for J.J. McCarthy’s Pick-Six in Vikings' Week 1 Win
Star receiver Justin Jefferson says the blame lies on him for the pick-six thrown by first year starting QB J.J. McCarthy in the third quarter of Minnesota's 27-24 win over the Bears.
“J.J. wasn't ready for me to be out that soon. That's why the ball was thrown inside of me, where it needed to be outside. So it’s mostly on me, on that play," Jefferson said in his weekly media session on Thursday. "I'm just happy that J.J. really didn't think about it too much. J.J. was on to the next play.”
The pick-six gave the Bears a 17-6 lead with 12:51 left in the third quarter. With the offense sputtering and the defense struggling to get off the field, the 11-point lead felt bigger at the time. However, McCarthy quickly reset and turned his focus back to helping engineer a miraculous fourth quarter comeback in his first start.
"At the end of the day, yeah, it sucks. It's one of the worst things you can do as a quarterback. But you can't do anything about it. You've got to focus on the next play," McCarthy said after the game in Chicago.
Early in the fourth quarter, McCarthy threw a dart to Jefferson in the middle of the endzone that made it a five-point game. Less than three minutes later, McCarthy threaded a 27-yard pass to running back Aaron Jones for his second touchdown pass to give the Vikings the lead. McCarthy would top it off with a 14-yard option run that resulted in a touchdown and put the Vikings ten ahead with just under three minutes left in the game.
"When you have a pick-six, the way the first half went, normally that's enough for a lot of teams to go ahead and pack their stuff up and head home," said Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell of McCarthy's resolve. "There wasn't one moment. I just told him, I said, 'You did everything right. They made a play. You protected yourself enough' – there was another potential eligible on the play that might have had an opportunity to score, honestly, and what kind of play would that have been? Great learning opportunity."
"Defense kept us in it the whole time. It was on our shoulders just to go out there and execute and play as one and move on from that. That's one of those things I don't really hang on. And I was really grateful the way Coach McCown and (Kevin] O'Connell handled it the next play," said McCarthy.
BREAKING NEWS: Ashton Jeanty Announces $200K Reward for Information Leading to Identity of Charlie Kirk’s Assassassin
Following the tragic assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, NFL star Ashton Jeanty has offered a generous $200,000 reward for any information that leads to identifying the killer. Jeanty, the standout running back for the Denver Broncos, expressed his shock and anger over the senseless violence and his commitment to supporting the investigation.
“This is a tragedy that should never have happened, and it’s crucial that the person responsible is brought to justice,” Jeanty said in a statement. “I’m offering this reward to help ensure that those who committed this act of violence are held accountable. We must come together to support the Kirk family and ensure peace prevails.”
The FBI had already released images of the suspected assassin and announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest. The assassination has sent shockwaves through the conservative community, sparking outrage and raising serious concerns about the rise of political violence, especially on university campuses.
Jeanty’s additional $200,000 reward offer underscores his dedication to bringing justice to Kirk and his family. Law enforcement is urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.
This tragic event has intensified the ongoing debate about political violence and the safety of public events, particularly on college campuses. Jeanty’s call for justice further highlights the need for unity and collective action to ensure such violence is not tolerated in society.
