J.J. McCarthy bounces back, Vikings dominate Commanders 31-0

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy: 'Just another step in the right direction'

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy spoke with reporters after Sunday's 31-0 win over the Washington Commanders at U.S. Bank Stadium. McCarthy had his most complete game of the season, throwing for 163 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Vikings played their best all-around game of the season in a 31-0 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium to snap a four-game losing streak, and improve to 5-8 on the season.

J.J. McCarthy bounces back

What we know:

In what's been an otherwise rough first season as the full-time starter, J.J. McCarthy played like the quarterback Kevin O’Connell knew he was getting when they drafted him No. 10 overall last season. The Vikings have seen glimpses of it this year in two games against the Chicago Bears, and against the Detroit Lions, but Sunday was McCarthy’s most complete game so far.

The Vikings also ran for 155 yards, with Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones combining for 128 yards and a touchdown, and the defense got three takeaways.

The Vikings are the first team since the 1992 Denver Broncos to win a game via shutout after getting shutout the week before. Minnesota was coming off a 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Kevin O'Connell was equally happy and relieved after the win.

"I’m first and foremost aware of where a stretch of games like this can allow anybody to go. The noise and the things are absolutely justified. It was good to win a game, we needed to win a football game and the guys came out and did that," O'Connell said.

The 19-play touchdown drive

The big play:

Sunday’s big play was their second touchdown drive of the game. The Vikings’ started on their own 2-yard line, and went 98 yards on 19 plays, converting five third downs and chewing up 12 minutes of clock. It ended with a touchdown, as McCarthy hit Josh Oliver from 17 yards out through traffic to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead.

McCarthy finished 16-of-23 for 163 yards, three touchdowns and didn't turn the ball over. He said after the win O'Connell's message to the team in Saturday night's meeting was to channel how fun it was to play the game as a teenager, and translate it to now.

Vikings locker room reacts to 31-0 win over Commanders [FULL]

Vikings players Justin Jefferson, Harrison Smith, T.J. Hockenson, Jonathan Allen, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel react after Sunday's dominating 31-0 win over the Washington Commanders at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings' four-game losing streak is over, and they improve to 5-8 with four games to play.

"Our key pillar to the game was starting fast. It was just playing, the big message of last night’s team meeting was play for that 16-year-old version of yourself. Understand what got you into this game, what made you fall in love with this game," McCarthy said. "Regardless of the record, where we are this season, go out there and have fun, play fast, play free. I feel like we all did that."

Vikings get 10 points off turnovers

The key sequence:

With a 14-0 lead, the Vikings got a turnover to start the second half as Andrew Van Ginkel picked off Jayden Daniels. It resulted in a Will Reichard field goal as the Vikings took a 17-0 lead.

Daniels then left with an elbow injury, and Harrison Smith picked off Marcus Mariota. The Vikings turned that into seven points, with McCarthy hitting Oliver from six yards out for his second score of the day and a 24-0 lead.

"It’s just fun playing. This year has not gone how we’ve wanted it to. When you get a chance to play football, it should be fun. Just trying to enjoy it," Smith said.

Crucial fourth down plays

What we know:

The Commanders made a puzzling decision early in the game, going for it on 4th-and-2 in the red zone instead of opting for a field goal. Josh Metellus was in coverage on a pass that Deebo Samuel dropped in the end zone.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Vikings faced a 4th-and-goal at the 2-yard line, up 24-0. McCarthy hit T.J. Hockenson, who bounced off a defender for the touchdown and 31-0 lead. McCarthy made the plays that the defense gave him Sunday, and it made the Vikings' offense efficient.