The Vikings rallied from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit and beat the Bears 27-24 on Monday night, with J.J. McCarthy leading a thrilling comeback in his NFL debut. Chances are, you watched the game, but if you didn't, you've surely at least seen the highlights by now. A 21-0 run led by two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown for McCarthy, who had just 56 passing yards and a pick-six in the first three quarters of the contest.
But unless you follow the Vikings' YouTube page closely, you may not have seen some of the additional footage they've put out there. The Vikings Entertainment Network and their production team do a great job taking fans behind the scenes of games with their mic'd up content.
Here are some of the best moments from a couple of recently-released videos.
One of the two videos features star wide receiver Justin Jefferson wearing a microphone throughout Monday's game. The whole thing is worth a watch, but what stands out most are his interactions with McCarthy. You'd think that there might be some frustration from Jefferson, who had just 8 total yards on two touches in the first three quarters. But that wasn't the case.
At one point in the first half, Jefferson says "we just gotta get some completions, get you going" to McCarthy. Another time, it's just a reminder that "we're good" despite the early struggles.
And the best moment came when McCarthy says "don't give up on me" to Jefferson, who responds: "I got you, brother. You ain't gotta tell me." That's some big-time leadership from Jefferson, who also took responsibility for McCarthy's pick-six in the third quarter.
JJ McCarthy: “Don’t give up on me.”
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 11, 2025
Justin Jefferson: “I got you brother. You don’t gotta tell me.” https://t.co/JtUGm5H0Fl pic.twitter.com/2EhiRo5t7g
It was also pretty cool to see how excited Jefferson was for McCarthy after his rushing touchdown that all but sealed the deal late in the fourth quarter.
.@JJettas2's reaction to @jjmccarthy09's 1st career rushing TD is everything.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 12, 2025
: https://t.co/ttNqUgy2BU pic.twitter.com/2KTs5fChQx
One other great moment from the Jefferson video? His response to Bears safety Jaquan Brisker talking trash to him while being part of a double team on the Vikings' top receiver.
Jaquan Brisker talking trash while double teaming Justin Jefferson is hilarious.
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 11, 2025
“I love when they talk sh*t to me double teaming me.”pic.twitter.com/9ZPFi74OpQ
The other video, which is the second episode of the team's The Voyage series, focuses on McCarthy. It starts with a look at his recovery process in the spring and then goes to Monday night. The best footage involves Kevin O'Connell talking to his young quarterback on the sideline after the second of his three touchdowns.
"As we go, I'm just gonna need you to continue to manage this thing for me because I might still give you some chances, real chances," O'Connell says. "And then just keep running the show. That's what we're doing better right now, everything's more efficient because you're driving the ship. You're doing great, man, I'm so f***ing proud of you."
“Everything is more efficient because you’re driving the ship. You’re doing great, I’m so f*cking proud of you.”#Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell to JJ McCarthy mid game on Monday night pic.twitter.com/VwvPwjkK29
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 12, 2025
It's worth watching the whole thing, including the end, when McCarthy goes to dap up numerous teammates in the locker room.
One highlight from earlier in the video sees McCarthy fall backwards into a cold pool. "If you don't chase the cold, the cold will chase you," he says. "I'm obsessed with the cold."
He's gonna fit in just fine in Minnesota.
If you don't chase the cold, the cold will chase you @jjmccarthy09
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 12, 2025
: https://t.co/UN1jMRvnh6 pic.twitter.com/WqM955WemE
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