The Minnesota Vikings handed the Detroit Lions a tough loss right after their bye week at Ford Field on Sunday, and quarterback JJ McCarthy had a little fun afterward at Detroit’s expense.
McCarthy posted on Instagram on Monday, November 3, with a four-word caption that playfully mocked the Lions.
“Knee caps are intact,” McCarthy wrote alongside several photos from the Vikings’ win over Detroit.
The comment was a nod to the now well-known introductory press conference from January 2021 in which Lions head coach Dan Campbell delivered his memorable “bite a kneecap off” speech.
Here’s what Campbell said then: the team would reflect the resilience of Detroit — a city that’s been knocked down but keeps getting back up. He vowed the Lions would fight, saying they’d kick opponents in the teeth, smile through the punches, get back up, and on the way, bite a kneecap. He added that it would take multiple hits to take them down again, and they’d keep taking chunks out of their opponents until they were the last ones standing. That was the mentality he promised to build.
JJ McCarthy Shines in Huge Road Win Over Lions
McCarthy had every reason to show confidence after beating the Lions in Michigan — the same state where he played college football and helped the Wolverines win a national title.
He made his return after missing five games (six weeks) with a high-ankle sprain, facing plenty of doubts about his readiness for the NFL after struggling through most of his first two starts earlier in the season.
McCarthy went 14-of-25 passing for 143 yards, threw two touchdowns and one interception, added a rushing score, and delivered a key third-down throw to receiver Jalen Nailor late in the fourth quarter to secure the three-point win.
JJ McCarthy Says Vikings Have Shifted Their Mindset
After the game, McCarthy talked about a different type of energy in the Vikings’ locker room after a 3-4 start — something they’ll need as they enter the hardest stretch of their schedule, which included this road matchup in Detroit.
“A lot of excitement … and I’m just so proud of this team,” McCarthy told Tom Rinaldi of FOX Sports after the game. “We battled, we played with a different energy, a new level of focus. But there’s still a lot we can fix.”
“We haven’t hit our ceiling,” he added. “We’re not even close yet.”
Just say the word.
