The NFL’s weekly awards are meant to highlight the best performances, but the first week of the 2025 season has already ignited a fierce debate. The league named Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, a choice that left many fans and analysts arguing that more deserving players were overlooked.
Did J.J. McCarthy’s Late Heroics Justify the Award?
Making his regular-season debut on Monday night against the Chicago Bears after being sidelined with a knee injury in 2024, McCarthy was underwhelming for most of the game.
NFC Players of the Week! (Week 1)@jjmccarthy09 | @_Nate_Landman | @_kam01_ | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/LvvgOWIJNg
— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2025
Then, in the final quarter, he engineered a stunning comeback. Trailing by 11 points, McCarthy led three scoring drives, throwing two touchdowns, completing a two-point conversion, and running for a score to give Minnesota a 27-24 victory.
His overall stat line was modest: 13-of-20 passing for 143 yards and 25 rushing yards on two attempts. However, his impact came in the game’s most critical moments. PFSN noted that McCarthy produced a 0.86 EPA per dropback when the game was within one score in the fourth quarter, the third-best mark of the week, behind only Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers.
Those late-game heroics, however, did not erase his earlier struggles. For the game, PFSN ranked him last among 32 quarterbacks in overall EPA per dropback (-0.53). Additionally, he ranked 30th in conversion rate on third and fourth downs (22.2%) and 30th in EPA per dropback when pressured (-0.76).
Why Did Fans on X Question the Decision?
According to PFSN’s grades, several other players delivered stronger full-game performances. Puka Nacua ranked as the second-best wide receiver (88.5 WRi), while Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love was the top-graded NFC quarterback at 83.9 after leading a major divisional win over the Detroit Lions. Jalen Hurts graded sixth overall at 81.7, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt topped all running backs and all players with a grade of 90.7.
The fan reaction on X, formerly known as Twitter, was overwhelmingly negative, with many pointing to Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka as a more deserving choice.
User @phlsportsguru wrote, “Egbuka robbed im afraid.”
Egbuka robbed im afraid
— Philly Sports Guru (@phlsportsguru) September 10, 2025
Others echoed that sentiment. “This is a joke. Emeka Egbuka clears by a mile. He didn’t play 3 terrible quarters to put his team in trouble like McCarthy,” said @surfrenegade.
Even some Vikings supporters joined the criticism. A user with the handle @TimDuncan158052 posted, “Geez, I’m a Viking fan and wonder if he deserves this award.”
Geez, I’m a Viking fan and wonder if he deserves this award.
— Tim Duncan (@TimDuncan158052) September 10, 2025
Several fans suggested alternative winners. @KurtisBreeze wrote, “That’s bullshit … this should of went to Josh Allen and everyone in Minnesota knows it!”
J.J. McCarthy is the NFC offensive player of the week. https://t.co/m167VFzdPc
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 10, 2025
The frustration was widespread. User @ChaseWilk5 bluntly stated, “This is a joke.” Others questioned the integrity of the decision, with @Jbutler_7 asking, “How much did the Vikings pay y’all to get JJ on this list?”
User @lukatroncic23 was even harsher, posting, “JJ McCarthy wasn’t even a top 20 player this week💀💀💀.” Meanwhile, @freezesports1 mocked the outcome, saying, “EJJ McCarthy? These awards have lost all value.”
While McCarthy’s dramatic finish turned a certain loss into a thrilling victory, his recognition as NFC Offensive Player of the Week has fueled a debate over whether one quarter of brilliance can outweigh three quarters of struggles.
The clear split between fans, advanced metrics, and the NFL’s official decision highlights just how contentious these awards can become when consistency and clutch moments collide.
