There is a disconnect between expectation and reality…

[CFIAvike]

Here’s the problem as I see it:

JJM was drafted to a 7 win football team. THIS is the season the Vikings should have had LAST year, but JJ got hurt. Then they caught lightning in a bottle and outkicked their coverage making everyone think this is a Super Bowl team.

It’s not and it never was. The 14 wins last year were a mirage and everyone is holding that against a developing QB who SHOULD be in his second full season. Instead we have a 22 year old, with 4 games under his belt, having people screaming at him that he’s holding this team back from the Super Bowl.

He’s not. He’s learning. And I think there are enough flashes of greatness that lend him to being pretty damn good when he puts it all together. And THAT is the team that will contend.

[purplefaithful]

I think you are correct in many ways, especially as it pertains to Viking nation as a whole...

Someone else posted that Viking fans dont know what its like to go through the growing pains of raising a QB (i.e. Packers and Favre etc..) and I felt that was pretty accurate and a powerful take too.

Well, they are going to find that out - for the first time since Teddy.

[StickierBuns]

There's going to be ups and downs and yesterday was definitely a downer. I still love this kid and feel strongly about his potential, but damn man....its hard to watch some of the growth. Fans are going to fan: the young ones want Patrick Mahomes out of the gate or he's garbage and the older, long time fans bring their old purple scars into what is happening now and vent. I never thought this was a Superbowl team and said they were a step below that back in August when hope was springing. But I'm no apologist either and recognize that JJ is a rough work in progress.

I just hate watching shit football, especially when its at U.S. Bank stadium. So many mistakes yesterday. It sucks for everyone, players and fans alike.

[CFIAvike]

There's going to be ups and downs and yesterday was definitely a downer. I still love this kid and feel strongly about his potential, but damn man....its hard to watch some of the growth. Fans are going to fan: the young ones want Patrick Mahomes out of the gate or he's garbage and the older, long time fans bring their old purple scars into what is happening now and vent. I never thought this was a Superbowl team and said they were a step below that back in August when hope was springing. But I'm no apologist either and recognize that JJ is a rough work in progress.

I just hate watching shit football, especially when its at U.S. Bank stadium. So many mistakes yesterday. It sucks for everyone, players and fans alike.

I’m in my mid-40s and have suffered though every QB since Wade Wilson and this is the best opportunity we’ve had to develop a young QB since Daunte Culpepper. 

I loved Teddy, but he never seemed to have the fire/spark you want out of your signal caller. Great guy though and I would have loved to see what he became without the knee injury. 

To me, with what I’ve seen, JJM has everything you want in a QB/leader off the field…all the shit you can’t teach or force. He also has all the physical tools you need to do the job. He just needs to put it all together on the field. Whether he does or not will ultimately decide his success, and I think he’s got a better than average chance of making that happen. 

There are going to be great games and ugly games like yesterday…the hope is you come out the other side with a QB that gives you a shot at the promised land.

[MyIdaho]

Here’s the problem as I see it:

JJM was drafted to a 7 win football team. THIS is the season the Vikings should have had LAST year, but JJ got hurt. Then they caught lightning in a bottle and outkicked their coverage making everyone think this is a Super Bowl team.

It’s not and it never was. The 14 wins last year were a mirage and everyone is holding that against a developing QB who SHOULD be in his second full season. Instead we have a 22 year old, with 4 games under his belt, having people screaming at him that he’s holding this team back from the Super Bowl.

He’s not. He’s learning. And I think there are enough flashes of greatness that lend him to being pretty damn good when he puts it all together. And THAT is the team that will contend.

Just curious, where do you hear or read that JJM is holding the team back from the Super Bowl?  Plenty of areas within the team need to improve if we want to make the playoffs, much less the SB.  QB is one of the those key areas needing improvement.  JJM is basically a redshirt rookie.  Most fans would agree that growing pains are to be expected.  However, we don't have to like the growing pains and it's okay for engaged fans to point out where growth is needed in a constructive way.  

Besides, "maybe next year" is the long time mantra for Viking teams and fans since 1976...  Someday, maybe...

[supafreak84]

Most quarterbacks make a jump between year 1 and year 2. JJ just hasn't played much football the last couple years and needs game reps to develope. Love the makeup of the kid, love the leadership, but he is just not in step with the offense due to a lack of playing time. Positive growth is the goal for the rest of the season and winning games is really inconsequential. This is about 2026 and finding out if we have the right quarterback

[CFIAvike]

Just curious, where do you hear or read that JJM is holding the team back from the Super Bowl?  Plenty of areas within the team need to improve if we want to make the playoffs, much less the SB.  QB is one of the those key areas needing improvement.  JJM is basically a redshirt rookie.  Most fans would agree that growing pains are to be expected.  However, we don't have to like the growing pains and it's okay for engaged fans to point out where growth is needed in a constructive way.  

Besides, "maybe next year" is the long time mantra for Viking teams and fans since 1976...  Someday, maybe...

If you go to almost any social media. JJ McCarthy has already been labeled a “bust” by a multitude of fans and pundits and it was a “massive mistake to let Darnold go”.

[StickierBuns]

If you go to almost any social media. JJ McCarthy has already been labeled a “bust” by a multitude of fans and pundits and it was a “massive mistake to let Darnold go”.

Yep. Last week, he was a stud. This week, hot garbage. He's getting dragged through Twitter right now, but that's not saying much with the toxic sports bottom feeders that live on that app. The bots alone are vicious.

The Vikings let Uncle Sammy go.....and Danny Dimes. We all knew this was going to be a problem with Viking Nation as JJ works through potty training. Isn't it fun being a Viking's fan?? The biggest fool seems to be in my mirror.

[supafreak84]

If you go to almost any social media. JJ McCarthy has already been labeled a “bust” by a multitude of fans and pundits and it was a “massive mistake to let Darnold go”.

Here's the thing though with Darnold, and I guarantee it's going to happen, but the guy is not a playoff quarterback and will inevitably shit the bed with a multi interception game that will kill Seattle's season. It's what's happened everywhere he's been and that was proven again last season in Minnesota where he was trash in the two most important games of the year. I have zero issues with the Vikings moving off Sam Darnold and going with McCarthy.

[pattersaur]

Good post OP and I agree. McCarthy is showing enough flashes to give me plenty of hope for the future and that’s all I can ask for. Do I wish the future was the present of course but everything in the NFL changes week to week. It’s why I tried to act as the wet blanket on the thread from a few days ago- “McCarthy is only going to get better!” No, he’s not. He’s going to get better and then worse and then better and then worse and hopefully over time his play improves but it’s going to be frustrating and messy getting to a point where we all trust the kid, and then he’ll have another stinker. That’s just how the league works. The Bills got smoked by Miami yesterday people.

If McCarthy can stay on the field I’m still super bullish on his trajectory.

EDIT- For all the fans who think we should’ve stuck with a vet instead of rolling with JJM— the Vikings tried that. For about 46 of the previous 50 seasons. Zero trophies. Games like yesterday are what developing a QB is, and the team is FINALLY committed to doing it. Overall I’m happy with the decision.