Dawning of the Age of McCarthyism

Jonathan James McCarthy has started three Professional football games and came into the third one with many more questions than provens. And for the record, he still has mountains to climb in proving that he deserves to be the guy for the next 15+ years

BUT the game-clinching throw was something we've rarely seen by a quarterback in Minnesota Purple. It's been maybe forever since it happened by one who has less than 20 quarters of playing experience at this level - pre & regular season combined.

It was a question whether the quarterback coach would make that call - putting that much trust in #9 but it speaks volumes that he also did. So yeah, we're going with Boy Wonder for the time being, maybe up until the point that he doesn't look so youthful.

The call and the execution of the final play is just the beginning

If not for old gray beard Aaron Jones looking every bit of a RB1, before going out with a shoulder, the whole game may have gone different. A hair under 100 total yards on just 11 touches opened up a lot of options for the rest of the offense. It remains to be seen how the latest physical issue will affect him now but it's not a lower-body thing so that seems helpful.

Due to the pedestrian yardage numbers by Boy Wonder the rest of the crew was well below triple digits but Jefferson and Hockenson hauled in his two passing TDs. Room for growth.

In total the offense resembled a version of what was expected by outsiders and envisioned by the braintrust who put much of it together.

I would say that also applies for the defense under Brian Flores.

Five sacks from four players - Eric 'big game' Wilson got the two-piece - while Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkle, Harrison Smith, Javon Hargrave & Isaiah Rodgers were among those who all flashed at different times and in different ways. The Purple Tsunami didn't go full Cincy on it but that remains a once a decade sort of performance. The showing in Detroit was also great while seeming much more repeatable. If we can get that level of effectiveness moving forward then San Diego will seem like nothing more than the bad dream that it was.

The only player who didn't seem locked-in was Tavierre Thomas. Two mistakes in short order that cost the team dearly. He's in the doghouse right now and should use a decent portion of his salary to hook Myles Price up with an apology gift for taking the touchdown return off the board. We'll see how he can redeem himself, in the event that he's not inactive the rest of the way or released outright as many were wishing for following the fouls.

With more than a month until the next major deviation from the normal football experience perhaps the whole squad can settle into a groove and rise from fourth in the North to firmly in the playoff mix. The win and total performance not only kept the door ajar, their many efforts significantly widened how much it is.

A

B-

Despite all the positivity they are simply back to .500 and will be chasing more than half of the NFC for the foreseeable future. Gonna need to see more for them to raise the grade more.

What say you?