Thu Sep 11 08:00:00 UTC 2025: ## McCarthy Leads Vikings to Comeback Win Over Bears in NFL Debut
**Chicago, IL** – In a stunning NFL debut, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy orchestrated a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback, leading his team to a 27-24 victory over the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. After a rocky start that saw him throw a pick-six and struggle to move the ball, McCarthy rallied the Vikings from an 11-point deficit, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another in the final quarter.
McCarthy’s performance was not only a personal triumph, overcoming the pressures of his highly-anticipated debut in his hometown, but also historic. He became the first player since Cam Newton in 2011 to record multiple passing touchdowns and a rushing score in his NFL debut, and the first ever to score three fourth-quarter touchdowns in his debut. He also joined Fran Tarkenton as the only Viking with multiple touchdown passes in their debut. According to NFL research, McCarthy is the first starting quarterback since Tampa Bay’s Steve Young in 1985 to overcome a 10+ point deficit in the fourth quarter and win in his NFL debut.
“It was a nightmare start,” said one analyst, “But Kevin O’Connell kept encouraging his 22-year-old QB and delivered a play-calling clinic to aid McCarthy’s incredible bounce-back performance.”
The win marks Minnesota’s first six-game win streak in Chicago in franchise history and gives the Vikings a 1-0 start to the season. Several power rankings have bumped the team up a spot or two in response to McCarthy’s showing. While some initially questioned whether the Vikings would take a step back with a rookie quarterback, McCarthy’s resilience suggests they may remain among the NFC’s elite.
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