Appropriate given the delayed start to his NFL career, J.J. McCarthy needed a minute to get rolling Monday night at Soldier Field.

McCarthy was just 5-of-8 passing for 48 yards and a passer rating of 79.2 in the first half and Minnesota seemed fortunate to trail the Chicago Bears by a 10-6 count. Caleb Williams, the quarterback drafted nine spots before the Vikings picked McCarthy in last year's draft, had done almost everything right. He scrambled for a 9-yard touchdown and completed 13 of 16 passes for 112 yards, good for a passer rating of 95.8.

The home crowd was thrown into a frenzy when the Bears tacked on seven more for a 17-6 lead.

McCarthy forced a throw in the direction of All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson that was picked by former Vikings cornerback Nahshon Wright and

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