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 DETROIT -- J.J. McCarthy was hailed by teammates in a jubilant locker room after leading the Minnesota Vikings to a much-needed, 27-24 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

"It was awesome," McCarthy said, choking up. "When you're hurt, being on IR last year, and being out for five weeks, it absolutely kills me not being out there with those guys because I love every single one of them.

"I know they got my back -- and I've got theirs -- the rest of the way."

The Vikings (4-4) suddenly have some more hope for this season after losing two straight and three of four, bouncing back behind their second-year quarterback after a high-ankle sprain that stunted his season. McCarthy didn't play as a rookie because of a knee injury.

McCarthy threw two touchdown passes, ran for a score and sealed the victory by throwing a 16-yard pass to Jalen Nailor on third-and-5 from the Minnesota 28, a play that allowed the Vikings to run out the clock.

"J.J. made one of the best throws of the day when we absolutely needed it," head coach Kevin O'Connell said.


McCarthy, who led Michigan to the 2023 national championship, was 14 of 25 for 143 yards. He threw both of his scoring passes in the first quarter, connecting with Justin Jefferson from 10 yards out and T.J. Hockenson from 7 yards. He was picked off on a ball that was ripped away from his intended receiver by second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold, who made his first career interception.

McCarthy ran for a 9-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, giving the Vikings a 24-14 lead, after David Montgomery fumbled.

"He controls the huddle like a vet and he makes plays when he needs to," Hockenson said. "It's fun to play with (number) 9."

The Lions went 3 for 3 on fourth down, converting the third time with Jared Goff's 17-yard pass to Sam LaPorta early in the fourth quarter. They lined up to go for it on fourth-and-5 on the same drive and got a first down on a neutral-zone infraction by Jonathan Greenard.

Detroit ended up settling for a field-goal attempt, and it got blocked by Levi Drake Rodriguez. Isaiah Rodgers returned it 33 yards to set up Will Reichard's 20-yard field goal. That proved to be a critical score because Goff threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams on the ensuing possession.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell opted to kick off and use his timeouts, hoping to get the ball back, but McCarthy's clutch throw to Nailor ended those hopes.

"We did everything we needed to do to lose that game," Campbell said. "We made every critical error at the right time to lose."

Goff was 25 of 37 for 284 yards with two touchdowns. LaPorta had 97 yards receiving and and a score, and St. Brown had 97 yards on nine catches. Jahmyr Gibbs was held to 25 yards rushing on nine carries and 3 yards on three receptions.

Detroit had a season-high 10 penalties and allowed a season-high five sacks, looking rusty following a bye week.

"When you play poorly in all three phases of the game, that's on the head coach," Campbell said. "I didn't have this team ready to play out of the bye."


A Little history was made in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little set a new NFL record after successfully booting a 68-yard field goal at the end of the first half of Sunday's overtime win over the Raiders.

Little's kick, now the longest FG made in NFL history, beat out Justin Tucker's 66-yarder set in 2021.

"You kick it long enough and you kick it straight enough, it's going to go in," Little said of his record-setting kick after the win. "Me and Logan (Cooke) kind of had like a one-on-one right before the kick and I said, 'I'm going to hit this ball as hard as I can.' Usually when I tell myself that, I find success."

Allowing Little to make the record-setting kick took some work from the Jaguars offense.


Following the game's first score, Jacksonville got the ball back at the 31-yard line with 28 seconds left. After expending their final timeout following a short completion to open the drive, Trevor Lawrence connected with Parker Washington for 18 yards before rushing to the line to spike the ball and stop the clock at the 50-yard line.

Little then trotted out to the field to make NFL history, striking the 68-yarder firmly as the final four seconds of the half ticked away and make it a 6-3 score at the half.

It might have been good from 70 yards, which Little already proved to be an achievable feat this past preseason when he made a kick from his team's 48-yard line.

"I ran right at him, it was like we had won the Super Bowl," head coach Liam Coen said after the win. "But it was what ignited us and that confidence from him, from a guy who had been struggling, that was really a special moment for our team."

The Jaguars kicker made all three of his FG attempts on Sunday, including a 48-yarder as time expired in regulation. Jacksonville edged the Raiders, 30-29, in overtime.

Little's record-breaker is the biggest moment of what has been a solid season for the 22 year old. He's now made 14 of 18 FG tries and 17 of 18 extra-point attempts in seven games through his second campaign. The sixth-rounder out of Arkansas made 27 of 29 FGs in his rookie season, including what had been a 59-yard career best. Little's 68-yarder was his first attempt ever from 60-plus yards out.

With NFL kickers improving and converting long field goals at an impressive rate -- Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey has five from 60-plus yards in his career -- Tucker's record was bound to be broken.

Now they'll be going after Little's 68-yard record.