Vikings' well-built, well-heeled offense remains off track as frustration rises in latest loss

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — J.J. McCarthy had Justin Jefferson open near the sideline on third down, with the Minnesota Vikings badly needing a move-the-chains play at that moment in the third quarter to keep the drive going in the face of a 10-point deficit and find some of the rhythm that's been missing most of this season.

The ball sailed so far over Jefferson's head it didn't even warrant a jump from the two-time All-Pro wide receiver.

McCarthy raised his arms to press his palms against the top of his helmet, immediately realizing the latest missed opportunity and blaming himself for another bad throw.

Despite the go-ahead touchdown pass McCarthy delivered to Jordan Addison with 50 seconds left, a sudden lapse by the Vikings on special teams after a solid afternoon in that phase gave the Chicago Bears the late break they needed for a 19-17 victory on Sunday.

For all the poise, touch and confidence McCarthy put into that final drive, with five consecutive completions after the 2-minute warning covering 55 yards, the body of work in his fifth career start left the Vikings with plenty of questions about how they can make this season any more than a developmental experience for the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft.

“I felt extremely prepared going into this game. I felt super dialed in physically. It’s just something I need to really figure out to make sure I keep this thing rolling for 60 minutes consistently,” said McCarthy, who went 16 for 32 for 150 yards and two more interceptions.

That throw to Jefferson was on third-and-7, because tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill both climbed out of their stance before the snap after hearing the signal differently than the rest of the linemen and receivers.

That was the only false start of the game after the Vikings had eight the previous game, but after extra work on the pre-snap communication all week coach Kevin O'Connell was clearly irritated by that mistake afterward among the series of mistakes by a well-built and well-heeled offense that has only been consistent this season at disappointing — themselves, the coaches and the fans.

After a third-down sack by Andrew Van Ginkel and Myles Price’s 42-yard punt return provided the necessary sparks, the Vikings took over at the 24 early in the fourth quarter and reached the end zone in just two plays without McCarthy doing anything but hand off to Jordan Mason. His touchdown run cut the lead to 16-10. Then after the defense delivered again by forcing a punt, McCarthy put together the go-ahead drive.

“It felt like we were one or two pitch and catches away from having a little bit different dynamic to the game throughout,” O'Connell said. “We’ve just got to stay the course and continue to coach the principles that we believe in wholeheartedly and continue to try to pave the path for improvement. It starts with the pitching and catching and the things we put together to try to make it as quarterback-friendly as we can."

This was the fourth time in 10 games the Vikings (4-6) failed to score 20 points. They only fell under that mark twice last season. In O'Connell's debut in 2022, they only had three sub-20-point games.

The Vikings have also scored 23-plus points only twice this year after hitting that threshold 13 times last season and the same amount in 2022.

McCarthy made his share of sharp throws, including two drops by Addison and a handful of others that receivers had hands on but didn't secure. But the ones that missed — combined with the ones that were intercepted to end consecutive second-quarter drives — were eyesores similar to the previous game. Underthrows, overthrows, off-the-mark throws — they were all on display again for McCarthy. Last week, he hit his hand on a teammate's helmet while following through on a throw and had to wear a wrap on it all week to help with the soreness and swelling.

“No excuses. Not an issue at all. It was fine,” McCarthy said.

Later in the third quarter, McCarthy threw over the middle to an open Jefferson on third down, a ball that was catchable but too high and hard for Jefferson to grab. Jefferson was visibly upset after that miss, coming close to chucking his helmet as he reached the sideline before calming himself enough to avoid making a scene.

“The frustrations are there. It happens. It’s part of a football. It’s a part of growing and figuring things out,” Jefferson said. “We’ve just got to do better all around.”

After that earlier third-down incompletion to Jefferson, boos rained down from the unimpressed crowd as the players on this underperforming offense jogged toward the sideline. The Vikings are just 1-4 at home this season after going 6-1 at U.S. Bank Stadium last year.

“We’ve got the greatest fans in the world, and they expect a lot more out of us, and rightfully so,” McCarthy said, his voice rising. “I feel like it’s just a reminder to us that we better get going and we better figure this out. We don’t have a lot of games left, so the urgency is at an all-time high.”

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) speaks after his team's loss to the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) reacts after throwing an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) misses a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — From the moment Curt Cignetti took Indiana's head coaching job, he made it clear this would be a different program.

He refused to tolerate any moral victories or close calls and instead expected to win, to win big and win immediately.

In just 737 days, he turned what had been the Football Bowl Subdivision's losingest program into the nation's No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs, a legitimate championship contender and a Big Ten champion for the first time since 1967.

“I think we were a year late,” he joked as the trophy presentation began following Saturday night's 13-10 win over No. 1 Ohio State.

To the rest of the college football world, Cignetti's incredible turnaround has come so quickly, it's likely to lift the expectations of every program in America.

He took over a team that had endured three consecutive losing seasons since qualifying for a bowl game and brashly dared anyone who thought he couldn't win to Google him. The former Nick Saban assistant delivered quickly, winning a school record 11 games and taking the Hoosiers to their first playoff appearance in Year 1.

The doubters didn't think Cignetti or the Hoosiers could come anywhere near replicating that kind of success this season.

But they've been ever better in 2025. At 13-0, the Hoosiers are the last unbeaten team in major college football. They could even be facing his former school, Sun Belt Conference champion James Madison (12-1) in the quarterfinals.

By beating the Buckeyes (12-1) in Indianapolis, they ended the nation's longest active winning streak at 16. When they beat then No. 3 Oregon (11-1) in October, they ended the nation's longest active regular season winning streak and the nation's longest active home winning streak.

In between they shed the label of FBS' losingest program, gladly handing the title to Northwestern. And now they have their first win over Ohio State since 1988, snapping a 30-year losing streak by winning their first conference crown in more than half a century.

Not enough? Cignetti earned his second straight Big Ten Coach of the Year Award this week, Fernando Mendoza became the first Hoosier to be named the Big Ten's top quarterback since 2001, and Mendoza also appears poised to become the first Indiana player to win the Heisman Trophy after adding two more signature moments to his resume.

His perfectly placed 17-yard TD pass to Elijah Sarratt on the sideline gave Indiana a 13-10 lead midway through the third quarter, and he sealed the win with an incredible 33-yard pass to Charlie Becker on third down with about two minutes to go — all after getting hurt on the first play of the game.

“Although I got hit, I never was going to stay down,” Mendoza said. “I’d die for my brothers on that field.”

Naturally, the brash-talking Cignetti went for it, too, and Mendoza made him look like a genius.

“I wasn't going to play not to lose,” Cignetti said.

How good has Indiana been during his two-year tenure?

They are now 24-2, the only losses coming at Ohio State and at Notre Dame last season, the two teams that played in the national championship game. Cignetti and his players have each spoken about what they learned from those experiences and how it helped steel them for the mission they've been on this season, and he's already had his contract extended twice.

Indiana heads into the playoffs with an offense and defense ranked the top five in scoring and that managed to beat Ohio State at its usual game — physically playing keep away, wearing down opponents and holding them out of the end zone.

Now a new journey begins for Cignetti and a school far more renowned for winning national titles in men's basketball, men's soccer and swimming and diving. Football has never come close — until now. And these Hoosiers believe they have what it takes to continue what seemed unthinkable just two years ago.

“It means a lot, we played for each other,” linebacker Isaiah Jones said of winning the championship. “For any of the doubters out there, this was the final nail in the coffin.”

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Indiana's Fernando Mendoza celebrates after the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Indianapolis, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)