Philadelphia Showed Minnesota The Path For the J.J. McCarthy Era
Credit: Caean Couto via Imagn Images
I was fully prepared to watch the same old song and dance play out on Super Bowl Sunday. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs seemed destined to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a game littered with suspiciously fortuitous calls that would conveniently go the Chiefs’ way. Kansas City was going to become the first team in the Super Bowl Era to pull off a three-peat, with Patrick Mahomes winning Super Bowl MVP, Travis Kelce proposing to Taylor Swift at midfield, all while Chris Jones tears up on the sideline, watching the red confetti rain down in New Orleans.
Which is why I was pleasantly surprised to see the Eagles absolutely curb-stomp those dastardly Chiefs. Philadelphia’s No. 1 ranked defense dominated the Kansas City offense, which couldn’t even put points on the board until late in the third quarter, with the Eagles already up 34-0. The game had been decided after Patrick Mahomes uncharacteristically threw two interceptions in the first half, one of which was returned by Cooper DeJean for a Pick 6. In the fourth quarter, Mahomes turned it over a third time after being strip-sacked by Milton Williams, which ultimately sealed the Chiefs’ fate.
Milton Williams with the strip sack! Philly defense is playing lights out. #FlyEaglesFly
📺: #SBLIX on FOX
📱: Tubi + NFL app pic.twitter.com/G54a6qiOqx— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2025
Saquon Barkley, who was the Eagles’ offensive engine throughout the playoffs, didn’t have a great outing with 25 carries for just 52 yards. That turned out to be fine, as Jalen Hurts was fantastic throughout the game, completing 77.3% of his passes for 221 yards for three touchdowns (two in the air, one on the ground). Hurts stepped up when the Eagles needed most and earned the MVP, silencing a lot of doubters who think he’s purely a product of the Eagles’ offensive infrastructure.
But what does that have to do with the Minnesota Vikings? Because in the process of winning, Philly gave Minnesota the blueprint for success in the J.J. McCarthy Era.
All game long, Hurts did a great job of getting the ball out quickly, using his legs to exploit wide-open running lanes in the middle of the field, and he consistently made the right read. No disrespect to Hurts, but most of what he did — aside from the Tush Push — can be easily replicated McCarthy. That’s not to say that McCarthy is a slam-dunk to be in the same stratosphere as Hurts as a player, but you don’t need to be an elite quarterback to play within the system.
That’s especially true when your team has the right infrastructure to set your quarterback up for success. It doesn’t matter how talented Hurts is, his chances for success would decrease if you were to put him on a team like the Tennessee Titans, for example. The same can be said for any quarterback, even Mahomes. That’s why it’s so important to give your quarterback a quality interior offensive line that can pass protect. Philadelphia has done a great job of that over the years, Minnesota not so much.
Sam Darnold's playoff debut 😬
25/40
245 YDS
1 TD
1 INT
1 FUM Lost ➡️ Rams TD
SACKED 9 TIMES, lost 82 YDSWill he return as QB1? 👀 pic.twitter.com/d7iwQfonij
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 14, 2025
Signing Trey Smith, Will Fries, or Mekhi Becton to improve the guard position would be a start, but that’s not the only lesson the Vikings can learn from the Eagles. Acquiring an impact pass-rusher on the interior defensive line is equally as important, and could turn Minnesota’s defense into an elite unit. Williams is one of the best young players at his position at 25 years old, and he’s set to be the top free agent at his position. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should do everything in his power to sign him or draft one of the top defensive tackles.
Lastly, the Vikings need to find a David Montgomery style of running back who can consistently get tough yards between the tackles, even if that goes against what O’Connell looks for at that position. Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins is one of the top rushers in this class who fits the Montgomery archetype. Judkins can serve as the Vikings’ thunder, while Aaron Jones or Cam Akers can be the Vikings’ lighting, depending on who the team re-signs this offseason.
QUINSHON JUDKINS WITH A GROWN MAN TOUCHDOWN 😮💨
STIFF ARM 💪 pic.twitter.com/KGqtbCPRZ2
— ESPN (@espn) January 21, 2025
The Vikings have laid the foundation to be a perennial playoff contender. They have a promising young quarterback in McCarthy, a pair of All-Pro tackles, great weapons on offense, a stout defense, and one of the best play-calling duos in Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores. Philly’s dominant Super Bowl win reinforced the idea that the Vikings should build up the trenches on both sides of the ball and get an elite running back to maximize McCarthy’s rookie contract. In order for Minnesota to become a perennial Super Bowl contender, Adofo-Mensah must copy the Eagles’ formula.
Up Next