Show summary Hide summary
The Minnesota Vikings lost their starting QB J.J. McCarthy to a brutal strip-sack by Panthers-turned-Giant edge rusher Brian Burns in Week 16. McCarthy left the field holding his hand in visible pain, the play produced a fumble and a Giants score, and the Vikings later announced he would not return to the game.
How the play unfolded: Burns forces the turnover
On the decisive sequence, Brian Burns beat protection and drove McCarthy to the turf. The ball popped free on contact. New York recovered and turned the turnover into points.
Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. earns rare Kyrie Irving comp from Bill Simmons
Sean Penn awarded Oscar forged from war-damaged Ukrainian train: he skipped the ceremony
The hit left McCarthy grimacing and helped swing momentum the Giants’ way. Trainers tended to his hand on the sideline before he was ruled out for the remainder of the matchup.
McCarthy’s night before the injury
The rookie struggled under pressure before exiting. He completed 9 of 14 passes for 108 yards.
- He took three sacks during the half.
- He threw an interception that counted against his line.
- A would-be pick-six was nullified by an offside penalty on Abdul Carter.
Those early struggles made the pocket feel smaller and the Giants’ pass rush more effective.
Backup QB takes the reins: what to expect from Max Brosner
With McCarthy sidelined, undrafted rookie Max Brosner was called on to lead the offense. He previously relieved McCarthy in the season and faced challenges.
Coaches will lean on him for rhythm and ball security. The offense must adjust its play-calling to protect the young passer.
Injury report: multiple Vikings hurt in New Jersey
The hand injury to McCarthy was not the only concern for Minnesota.
- Aaron Jones left briefly after an injury but later returned.
- Jordan Mason suffered an injury and was ruled out.
- Wideout Jordan Addison exited with an injury; his status remained unclear.
Depth became an immediate issue for the Vikings. The series of injuries forced roster adjustments midgame.
Game context: score, momentum and key moments
At halftime the Vikings led the Giants, 13-10.
- Early in the half, a pick-six against McCarthy was wiped out by an offside flag.
- Burns’ strip-sack produced a turnover and a New York touchdown.
- McCarthy exited and was officially ruled out for the rest of the contest.
Travel problems added to the team’s woes
Minnesota’s trip to the New York area was already bumpy. The team plane returned to Minneapolis shortly after takeoff due to a mechanical issue.
The delay pushed the Vikings’ arrival near 11:00 p.m. ET on Saturday. The late-night travel likely affected pregame prep.
