12/21/25 03:06:00
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12/21 15:04 CST J.J. McCarthy gets injured as the Vikings hand the Giants their
ninth loss in a row
J.J. McCarthy gets injured as the Vikings hand the Giants their ninth loss in a
row
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Sports Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) --- J.J. McCarthy ran for a touchdown before leaving
with an injury to his right, throwing hand, and backup quarterback Max Brosmer
helped the Minnesota Vikings win their third game in a row, beating the New
York Giants 16-13 on Sunday in a matchup of teams eliminated from playoff
contention.
McCarthy was injured on a strip sack by Brian Burns in the final minute of the
first half, when it appeared the Vikings (7-8) were going to let the clock run
out. Instead, Burns forced McCarthy to fumble with a crushing hit and Tyler
Nubin returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.
Brosmer led a go-ahead scoring drive in the fourth quarter that ended with Will
Reichard making a 30-yard field goal. The rookie completed 7 of 9 passes for 52
yards in his fourth NFL appearance and first since throwing four interceptions
Nov. 30 in a 26-0 loss at Seattle.
Before getting hurt, McCarthy completed 9 of 14 passes for 108 yards and had a
would-be pick-6 negated by an offside penalty on Abdul Carter. After having his
entire rookie year wiped out by a torn meniscus in his right knee, the 2024 No.
10 pick has missed time this season because of a concussion and a sprained
right ankle.
The Giants (2-13) lost their ninth consecutive game and fifth since Mike Kafka
took over as interim coach when Brian Daboll was fired on Nov. 10. They have
not won since Oct. 9.
Rookie QB Jaxson Dart did not attempt a pass until 1:44 left in the second
quarter and finished 7 of 13 for 33 yards and his fifth career interception,
which came when his throw bounced off Theo Johnson's hands and into Byron
Murphy's. Dart was sacked five times, including by Andrew Van Ginkel on fourth
and 3 with two minutes left.
Ben Saul made two field goals in his debut, and New York's only TD was Nubin's
scoop and score. The offense's longest play was 18 yards, and Darius Slayton's
drop late elicited boos from some of the fans who remained in the stands at the
Meadowlands.
Injuries
Vikings: Running back Jordan Mason was carted to the locker room after injuring
an ankle in the first quarter. ... Center Ryan Kelly was concussed in the
second. It's his third this season and the sixth documented concussion of his
NFL career.
Giants: Left tackle Andrew Thomas limped off early in the second quarter
because of a hamstring injury. ... Center John Michael Schmitz injured his
right hand in the third. The departures of Thomas and Schmitz put the offensive
line down three starters, with Jon Runyan Jr. scratched for personal reasons.
... Cornerback Cor'Dale Flott left with a knee injury, and Nubin received
medical attention in the fourth quarter.
Up next
Vikings: Host Detroit on Thursday in one of the NFL's three Christmas Day games.
Giants: Visit Las Vegas next Sunday in a game that could determine who gets the
No. 1 pick in the draft.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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