Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Josh Dobbs runs an obscene amount of yards to pick up first down

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 11/5/23

On a third down inside the red zone with just 1:17 to play before halftime, the Minnesota Vikings needed just 10 yards to earn a first down.

But a blitzing Atlanta Falcons defense made newly acquired Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs run more than four times that as he scrambled away from cornerback Dee Alford and outran five Falcons defenders as he raced down the sideline before being shoved out of bounds.

Josh Dobbs runs all over the field to pick up the first down!

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Per NextGen Stats, in escaping the sack Dobbs ran a total of 55.6 yards to gain 11. He had a first-down probability of just 7.6% and his expected rush yards were just four.

Running back Alexander Mattison scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown two plays later to pull the Vikings to within 11-10 and halt Atlanta’s run of eight unanswered points.

Dobbs, who was acquired from the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline along with a 2024 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick, came in at the start of the second quarter in relief of rookie QB Jaren Hall, who left the game with a concussion.

The 28-year-old completed 6-of-8 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown in the quarter.

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