The Chicago Bears may have needed more late-game magic from Caleb Williams and Cairo Santos following a subpar day from both of them. Still, they managed to improve to 7-3 on the 2025 season after beating J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings 19-17 on the road.
Williams and the offense looked out of sync for most of the game, but they were handed a win due to McCarthy looking nigh unplayable at times. It took McCarthy, who was intercepted twice, until the final drive even to reach 100 passing yards. His inaccuracy was bordering on comical.
ESPN's Seth Walder revealed that McCarthy was off target on 30% of his throws in this game, which is exactly double the average rate for a quarterback. On top of that, McCarthy's performance today will tie him for the sixth-worst rate any quarterback has had in a single game this year. One of the six below him was also a McCarthy performance.
The Bears haven't necessarily domianted in their brief action against McCarthy, but they have shown the NFL how to beat him. If you are able to keep him in the pocket, he doesn't currently have the A+ accuracy needed to consistently pick you apart for four quarters.
Bears showed the NFL how to beat Vikings QB JJ McCarthy
The concerning part about McCarthy's accuracy struggles in the pocket is the fact that his ability to manage a game from the pocket was perhaps his best trait as a collegiate prospect. McCarthy operated Michigan to a national championship from the pocket, but he is struggling to do so in the NFL.
McCarthy's inability to throw with consistent touch has been one of his most significant problems in the pros, and the Bears have taken advantage. He is either firing the ball in at 100 miles per hour or putting so much loft on the ball that it gives players like Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright a chance to make a play.
Today was an encouraging rebound game for the Bears' defense, which has been inconsistent despite leading the NFL in interceptions. The pass rush was able to get to McCarthy, the turnovers are flowing, and they didn't allow Minnesota's menagerie of skill position players to explode.
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With the offense able to lock in during the final drive and McCarthy looking in over his skis against this defense, Week 11 is a win on many fronts for this Bears franchise.