Vikings Edge Giants 16-13 Despite McCarthy Injury

The Minnesota Vikings narrowly defeated the New York Giants 16-13 in a game marked by the injury of starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy injured his right hand on a strip sack by Giants linebacker Brian Burns just before halftime, forcing him to leave the game.

Prior to the injury, he had completed 9 of 14 passes for 108 yards and rushed for a touchdown. Backup quarterback Max Brosmer stepped in and led a crucial scoring drive in the fourth quarter, culminating in a 30-yard field goal by Will Reichard, which provided the winning points.

The Vikings improved to 7-8 with this victory, marking their third consecutive win, but the outcome was overshadowed by uncertainty surrounding McCarthy's availability for upcoming games. Head coach Kevin O'Connell stated that X-rays on McCarthy's hand were negative, but his status remains unclear as they assess the injury.

The Giants, meanwhile, fell to 2-13, suffering their ninth straight loss under interim coach Mike Kafka, and are in contention for the top pick in the upcoming draft. Both teams faced additional injuries, with Minnesota losing running back Jordan Mason and center Ryan Kelly during the game, while the Giants' offensive line was severely depleted as well.

This win for the Vikings, while significant, raised more questions about their quarterback situation moving forward, especially with the upcoming game against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day looming.