EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A rather meaningless game at its core on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium felt even more, well, meaningless once young quarterback J.J. McCarthy exited with a right hand injury.

That took away almost all of the intrigue as the Vikings managed to slog their way to a 16-13 win over the New York Giants.

It was an uninspiring performance from the offense after McCarthy left the game. It was clear the Vikings didn’t want to ask rookie quarterback Max Brosmer to do too much in relief. They left the game mostly in the hands of their defense, and that unit did the rest.

Here are some takeaways from the game:

J.J. McCarthy rode the roller coaster

There was good and bad from McCarthy before he left the game due to his right hand injury. He showed noticeable command under center and threw accurately for the most part.

The final stat line doesn’t tell the full story: He threw for 108 yards and an interception while also running for a touchdown. He would have passed for a touchdown had it not been for a drop by receiver Jordan Addison in the end zone. The interception was his fault as it came after receiver Jalen Nailor failed to reel in a catchable pass near the sideline.

The biggest mistake from McCarthy might have been the fact that he suffered a right hand injury and tried to play through the pain. It led to him being unable to grip the ball on a designed screen pass that ended in disaster.

After failing to let it rip to star receiver Justin Jefferson, McCarthy was strip sacked by an unblocked edge rusher Brian Burns, and the fumble was returned for a touchdown. That ended up being the last snap McCarthy took.

Max Brosmer showed mental toughness

It would’ve been easy for Brosmer to doubt himself after struggling mightily in his NFL debut. He was a turnover machine against the Seattle Seahawks a few weeks ago, and while it might have shaken his confidence in real time, he didn’t let it affect the way he prepared.

That ensured Brosmer was ready to go when the Vikings called his number against the Giants. Though he didn’t dominate the game by any means, Brosmer never put the ball in harm’s way when he dropped back to pass. His best throw came when he hooked up with Jefferson for a 21-yard gain to move the chains. It was a perfectly layered ball near the sideline, and Jefferson did the rest.

That was a key play on the game-winning drive, which was capped by a 30-yard field goal by kicker Will Reichard.

Justin Jefferson finally broke out

After displaying incredible leadership amid a lack of production, Jefferson finally had a breakout game against the Giants. He parlayed a few easy completions and a few acrobatic catches into 85 total yards, his highest output since he went off against the Cleveland Browns in Dublin a couple of months ago.

He is now only 83 yards away from continuing his streak of reaching 1,000 yards.

Ryan Kelly suffered another concussion

It’s suddenly unclear if veteran center Ryan Kelly will ever play in the NFL again. He was evaluated for a concussion midway through the game and did not return.

This could be the third time Kelly has suffered a concussion this season, and the sixth documented concussion of his NFL career. After spending time on injured reserve this season due to a concussion, Kelly will now have to contemplate whether it’s still worth playing the game he loves.

Brian Flores continued to bolster his resume

When the hiring cycle begins in a few weeks, defensive coordinator Brian Flores should be in consideration for open head coaching jobs. He added to his résumé on Sunday, making life miserable for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, completed 7 of 13 passes for 33 yards (!) and an interception while also being sacked a handful of times.

That dominance has been par for the course for the Vikings as of late. The defense hasn’t allowed a passing touchdown in a month and a half. That’s how good Flores has been scheming it up on that side of the ball.

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Today is Monday, Dec. 22, the 356th day of 2025. There are nine days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Dec. 22, 1894, French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a court-martial that triggered worldwide charges of antisemitism. (Dreyfus was eventually vindicated.)

Also on this date:

In 1944, during the World War II Battle of the Bulge, U.S. Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe rejected a German demand for surrender, writing “Nuts!” as his official one-word reply. Allied forces, at a heavy cost, would decisively turn back the Germans’ last major offensive on the western front in Europe.

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In 1984, New York City resident Bernhard Goetz shot and wounded four young Black men on a Manhattan subway, alleging they were about to rob him. (Goetz, a white man in what became known as the “Subway Vigilante” case, was later acquitted of attempted murder and assault charges but convicted on a weapons possession charge and served eight months of a one-year sentence.)

In 1990, Lech Walesa (lek vah-WEN’-sah) took the oath of office as Poland’s first popularly elected president.

In 2001, Richard C. Reid, a passenger on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami, tried to ignite explosives in his shoes, but was subdued by flight attendants and fellow passengers. (Reid is serving a life sentence in federal prison.)

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed a law allowing gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans to serve openly in the military for the first time, repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that allowed gay and lesbian service members to serve as long as their sexual orientation was not public.

In 2018, a 34-day federal government shutdown began in Donald Trump’s first presidency, following a stalemate between Congress and the White House on appropriations matters including funding for Trump’s proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Today’s Birthdays:

Actor Hector Elizondo is 89.
Baseball Hall of Famer Steve Carlton is 81.
Broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer is 80.
Golf Hall of Famer Jan Stephenson is 74.
Rapper Luther “Luke” Campbell is 65.
Actor Ralph Fiennes is 63.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is 55.
Actor and singer Vanessa Paradis is 53.
Actor Brooke Nevin is 43.
Singer-actor Jordin Sparks is 36.
Racing driver Josef Newgarden is 35.
Rapper DaBaby is 34.
Pop singer Meghan Trainor is 32.

Sunday was a letdown but not a loss.

And that’s a win for the Timberwolves.

On the heels of a dramatic victory Friday against Oklahoma City, which handed the defending champ only its third loss of the season, Minnesota predictably walked out of the gates against a Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Bucks at Target Center.

The Wolves were down six at the end of the first quarter and the deficit grew to as many as 14 at various points in the second and third.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) shoots as Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. McDaniels left the game in the first half with hip soreness. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Jaden McDaniels left the game in the first half with hip pain. Anthony Edwards went just 7 for 24 from the field. Julius Randle scored only 12 points. As a team, the Wolves shot just 31% from distance.

But Minnesota’s bench made up for the lack of starter production.

Mike Conley was active Sunday after a two-week absence due to Achilles tendinopathy. And while segments of the fan base thought Conley shouldn’t have a role in the rotation upon his return, Wolves coach Chris Finch believed otherwise.

And all Conley did in Minnesota’s 103-100 win over Milwaukee was tally six points, six assists and five rebounds in 24 minutes. The Wolves’ won Conley’s minutes by 16 points, a plus-minus that trailed only Naz Reid’s plus-17.

Finch told reporters Conley gave the Wolves “what he always gives us.”

“Great defense, get to the heart of the paint and make the right play. We didn’t shoot the ball that well from the 3-point line but some of the best rhythm we had was when he was out there and just getting us some clean looks,” Finch said. “That’s who Mike still is. I know we’ve only been playing him 15, 16 minutes, but he’s certainly capable of more, and it’s good to have him back.”

Reid had 12 points and six rebounds. Terrence Shannon Jr. knocked down three triples. Bones Hyland had nine points and four assists. Sunday’s game was won with the reserves.

“We have so many guys that can come in and contribute to winning,” Wolves center Rudy Gobert said in his on-court, postgame television interview.

Gobert certainly contributed to the cause as well. The center finished with 11 points and 18 rebounds, which tied a season high. He’s now grabbed 12-plus rebounds in five straight games, and seven of his last nine.

Rather than wrestling with foes down low who turn around and try to lock the Frenchman up face to face, Finch said the center has done a better job lately of shedding his opponent and going up and grabbing any balls that bounce off the iron.

Early in the contest, Gobert grabbed his 10,000th career board.

“That’s who I am,” Gobert said. “I try to come in every night and bring something to the team and play winning basketball. I’ve still got a few more to go.”

Trailing 68-53 early in the third, Minnesota (19-10) closed the frame on a 22-7 run to knot the score. The Wolves then used an 11-4 run early in the closing quarter on the strength of Shannon’s shooting to create a big enough gap to get to the finish line with another win, their ninth in their last 11 games.

Kevin Porter Jr. had 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to pace Milwaukee (11-18)

Minnesota next hosts the Knicks on Tuesday to wrap a five-game homestand.

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With students on holiday break, the Gophers men’s basketball pep band was down to a couple dozen members, including just two sousaphones, for Sunday evening’s nonconference tilt with Campbell University.

The shorthanded brass section notwithstanding, Minnesota had more than enough talent on the Barn’s court to blow the Camels away, 78-50. The hosts shot 58 percent from the floor, threw down half a dozen dunks and received another standout performance from senior swingman Cade Tyson, who delivered 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

“Tyson gets all the limelight and rightfully so,” said Campbell coach John Andrzejek, whose team ended a weeklong road trip. “I think he’s an NBA player because he presents matchup problems. His shooting ability makes you want to put a smaller, quicker guy on him to navigate all the screens.

“But he also is physical and can score in the post and get on the boards, which makes you want to put a taller guy on him.”

Neither tactic worked and Tyson’s performance was complemented by point guard Isaac Asuma, who added 15 points and six of his team’s 26 assists. The Gophers entered the night leading NCAA Division I squads with a 72 percent assist rate.

“There’s clearly an unselfishness… and we’re picking up more things on the offensive end,” said first-year coach Niko Medved, whose team has battled injuries. “We’re starting to show some defensive growth, but we’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re really shorthanded and I don’t know if or when that’s going to change.”

Said junior forward Bobby Durkin, who had 11 points and five rebounds: “There has to be a heightened emphasis and focus on what everyone does best and locking in on them doing that even better.”

The Camels (5-7) couldn’t get over the hump from the opening tip, missing their first seven shots, committing three turnovers and falling behind, 12-0 during the first five minutes. The Colonial Athletic Association members, playing the toughest nonconference schedule in program history, never led while losing to their third Big 10 foe of the season.

“it wasn’t quite as heinous as the early score looked,” said Andrzejek, at 33 the third-youngest Division I head coach in the country. “But after that we spiraled a bit and turned the ball over. A lot of them were unforced, just not playing on two feet or putting two hands on the ball.”

The Gophers’ lead swelled to 23-8 after 10 minutes. Minnesota was up, 41-22, at halftime, improved to 7-0 at home and has won back-to-back games and three of its last four contests. One last nonconference game remains, a Dec. 29 meeting with visiting Fairleigh Dickinson, and then it’s Big 10 opponents the rest of the way.

“We know we’re a little smaller and teams are really going to try to go at us on the glass and inside,” said Medved, who received more than 30 minutes from three starters Sunday and 27 from another. “We’re got to continue to play defense without picking up silly fouls. We have guys we can’t afford to have in foul trouble.

“I think it’s having great conditioning and playing physical. But you have to learn when you can stick your nose in there and when you can’t, because then you’re putting things in the officials’ hands.”

Andrzejek thinks the Gophers (7-5) will punch above their figurative weight.

“They have an elite offensive system where the guys all complement each other and the ball moves around and they don’t care who gets the shot or the credit,” he said. “It’s about taking what shot is best for the team and that’s dictated by how the other team is guarding them.”

Medved is giving his players four days off before it’s back to the grind.

“Guys are going to have to log a lot of productive minutes,” he said. “We’ve gotten a lot better the last couple of weeks but now we’ve got to make another major jump. Because after this, it’s on.”

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