The Green Bay Packers are in the middle of a very rough stretch in the 2025 season, but they might be able to get things turned around if the rival Minnesota Vikings get another clunker of a performance from struggling second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy.
McCarthy, who has completed 52 percent of his passes and thrown eight interceptions in just five starts, has regressed to the point where not only has Green Bay put some clear distance between them and Minnesota, but there is some infighting between McCarthy's camp and some Vikings legends.
Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter was not in the mood to listen to optimistic Vikings fans defending McCarthy after a great final drive, saying that those defenders must not have seen the other 59 minutes of the game. This prompted Greg Holcomb, McCarthy's trainer, to call the legend a "f-in clown" in a since-deleted tweet.
Even before the two teams suit up, the Packers are coming into this game with much better vibes. Keep in mind that this is a team fresh off some of the worst offensive performances of the Matt LaFleur era after losing to the two-win Cleveland Browns.
Packers fans can laugh at Vikings sparring over J.J. McCarthy struggles
McCarthy, who has developed a bad habit of being unable to throw to his left, is showing some accuracy concerns that didn't show up during his collegiate tenure at Michigan. When paired with some risky decision-making, the Packers have to be licking their chops to get a crack in at him.
With a redshirt year in 2024 due to his injury, one of the best collections of skill position players in the league, and a brilliant offensive coach in Kevin O'Connell at the sticks, McCarthy is not going to be afforded the same level of grace many other rookie quarterbacks are in the NFL.
Even with the non-Micah Parsons pass rush disappointing this season, a Packers secondary that has been capable of getting home and forcing turnovers out of poor quarterbacks has to be thrilled at the possibility of getting a few extra takeaways at the expense of someone who is getting a crash course in how to adjust to the NFL game.
The Packers have very rarely looked at Minnesota as a get-right game in the last half-decade, but until Michigan McCarthy makes his arrival in Minnesota, Matt LaFleur should feel good about his team's chances to chalk up another win in the rivalry.