'Blown away': Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs proves he’s here to stay
It was a tail of two halves Sunday for the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings took a 24-3 lead into halftime after an electrifying performance by rocket scientist/quarterback Joshua Dobbs, whom Minnesota (6-4) acquired at the Oct. 31 trade deadline from the Arizona Cardinals. Conservative play-calling and a missed 54-yard field-goal attempt by kicker Greg Joseph gave the Saints life all the way to the last play of the game — a Hail Mary attempt that fell to the end-zone turf at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Although the second half didn’t live up to the thrills of the first, the Vikings cemented their fifth consecutive victory and have further evidence Dobbs is their unquestioned starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. He finished with 268 passing yards, 44 rushing yards and two touchdowns — one passing, another rushing.
Not only did "The Passtronaut" complete several tight-window passes, but he also did an exceptional job of creating opportunities with his legs — especially under duress. One of the best examples was Dobbs’ seven-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. This run exemplifies his elusiveness and evokes memories of Fran Tarkenton scrambling all over the frozen Metropolitan Stadium for the Vikings in the 1970s.
Through the air, Dobbs relied heavily on tight end T.J. Hockenson, who had a monster performance (11 receptions, 134 receiving yards and a touchdown). With WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring) potentially returning next week against Denver, it will be interesting to see how Dobbs leverages his receiving weapons.
Dobbs' mobility and offensive prowess are a breath of fresh air for Vikings fans, who have become accustomed to the passing-friendly offense with Kirk Cousins. The stark contrast in quarterbacking style between Cousins — who's out for the season with an Achilles injury — and Dobbs is eye-opening and has given new life to the offense. In contrast to Dobbs, Cousins runs infrequently.
It feels like Minnesota has just scratched the surface of what it could do offensively with its new starter. On Monday, Chris Simms of NBC Sports — a former NFL QB — tweeted he was "blown away" by Dobbs' performances.
Besides leading a rejuvenation of offensive creativity for Minnesota, Dobbs has protected the football — he has not thrown an interception in 64 passing attempts with the Vikings. Winning the turnover battle is vital in the NFL, especially for a team that struggled mightily at the beginning of the season. In the first five games, the Vikings committed 12 turnovers. During their winning streak, they have only five.
Seven more days to learn even more of the playbook and his teammates' names will only benefit Dobbs and the Vikings, who play at Denver in Week 11 on "Sunday Night Football."
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