Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy would be the first to tell you that growth isn’t a linear journey — but Week 11 against the Chicago Bears was a new low for the 22-year-old quarterback.
McCarthy struggled with his accuracy for a second straight week in an eventual 19-17 loss to the Bears. He completed 16 of 32 passes for 150 yards, a touchdown and a pair of interceptions late in the first half.
After sailing a pass over the head of Justin Jefferson in the third quarter, fans had reached their limit. McCarthy was met with a downpour of boos coming from fans in attendance at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Asked what went through his mind when he heard boos from fans in his home stadium, McCarthy admitted that they were not unwarranted.
“We got the greatest fans in the world, they expect a lot more out of us, rightfully so,” McCarthy said after the game. “It’s just a reminder to us that we better get going, better figure this out.”
#Vikings QB JJ McCarthy on hearing boo’s from the fans:
“We got the greatest fans in the world, they expect a lot more out of us. Rightfully so. It’s just a reminder to us that we better get going, better figure this out.”
Falling to 2-3 as a starter, McCarthy tallied his worst passer rating of his career of just 47.4.
A 10-play, 85-yard drive late in the game, capped by a 15-yard touchdown connection with Jordan Addison, salvaged what was largely an awful day for McCarthy.
However, that drive gave the Vikings the lead with 50 seconds left in regulation before the Bears returned the ball across midfield and sealed the game with a field goal as time expired.
While things seemed to click for McCarthy and the offense on that final drive, it’s not enough when seven of the eight other drives in the final three quarters of the game did not surpass two minutes of possession.
McCarthy took full blame for the struggles in his postgame news conference.
“I need to do a better job with my decision-making, accuracy — it needs to be better — and the overall execution of the offense. I need to be better on doing my job at a higher level,” he said.
The Vikings, currently 4-6, have little margin of error if they want to play meaningful games in December.
McCarthy, who went 27-1 in college and had lost just three games since high school entering this season, addressed his handling of the unfamiliar feeling of losing through his first five games in the NFL.
“Adversity is one of the greatest things for growth. It can separate teams or bring them tighter together. This team is being brought tighter together,” he said, adding that the desire to succeed has helped the Vikings push past licking their wounds after a loss.
“We’re just sick of losing, we want wins every single week, and we’re just going to do everything we can to get those,” McCarthy added. “Adversity is inevitable in this league, I understand that coming into it. It’s just about how you respond.”
The Indianapolis Colts have had a solid two weeks. They had a bye week for Week 11 on the heels of a victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin. Despite the break in playing time, the Colts are still first in the AFC South division and second in ClutchPoints’ Power Rankings.
A couple of new reports reveal that the Colts were hot after defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who was recently released by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Earlier on Monday, November 17, 2025, one report revealed that the Colts were among several teams interested in adding the defensive tackle.
“Veteran DT Khalen Saunders has received strong interest from multiple teams — including the Ravens, Colts, Jets, and Cardinals — since being released by the Jaguars last week,” Jordan Schultz wrote on social media on November 17, 2025. “He’ll begin taking visits and is expected to sign sooner rather than later.”
Saunders found himself with the Jaguars after a summer trade. In August, he was dealt by the New Orleans Saints in exchange for center Luke Fortner.
Fast forward to the regular season, and the Jaguars put Saunders on waivers only a few short days ago. On November 13, Mike Moraitis of The Sporting News reported the news.
“According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Jaguars are cutting ties with defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who will now go to waivers,” Moraitis wrote. “Saunders entered the league as a third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 and won a pair of Super Bowls with the team during his four-year stint.”
It makes sense that the Colts would have interest in Saunders. After all, DeForest Buckner is currently on the shelf with injury and isn’t returning soon. However, head coach Shane Steichen hopes to have him play again this year.
Any hopes of the Colts adding Saunders to their team were swiftly thwarted once he decided to sign elsewhere. Another report that was released shortly after Schultz’s revealed that Saunders had decided to sign in New York.
“Veteran DT Khalen Saunders is expected to sign with the Jets, per sources,” Tom Pelissero wrote on November 17. “The two-time Super Bowl champion is the latest veteran addition in New York, where Aaron Glenn is working to the build the culture.”
The New York Jets traded Sauce Gardner to the Colts at the trade deadline. This created a hole on their defensive line. Unfortunately for the Colts, the promise of opportunity appears to be more important to Saunders than the potential of winning.
Saunders has only played in two games this season, collecting three assisted tackles in the process. On the other hand, Buckner had recorded 42 tackles including four sacks in nine games before suffering a neck injury.
It would be prudent of the Colts to add a Buckner replacement. However, they will need to look elsewhere to find one.
The Colts are gearing up to face the 5-5 Kansas City Chiefs for Week 12 on Sunday, November 23, 2025. The game will be broadcast at 1 PM Eastern Standard Time on Sunday.