How new Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs led game-winning drive vs. Falcons days after trade from Cardinals

Bryan Murphy

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How new Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs led game-winning drive vs. Falcons days after trade from Cardinals image

When Kirk Cousins went down with a season-ending Achilles injury last week, the outlook looked bleak for the Vikings. The options within the organizations were rookie Jaren Hall, an injured Nick Mullens, and practice squad member Sean Mannion. 

Luckily for Minnesota, the injury came less than 48 hours before the trade deadline, allowing GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to navigate the market for a potential replacement. With the team sitting at 4-4 and the return of franchise star Justin Jefferson looming ahead, the Vikings didn't want to punt on the rest of the season. 

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Enter Joshua Dobbs. 

MORE: Vikings players honor injured Kirk Cousins before Falcons game

Josh Dobbs Vikings debut

Just five days after the Vikings executed a trade with the Cardinals for the 28-year-old QB, Dobbs led Minnesota to its fourth consecutive victory on Sunday. He strung together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a six-yard, go-ahead touchdown to Brandon Powell with 20 seconds left to lift the Vikings to a 31-28 win over the Falcons. 

The final drive was the icing on the cake of a storybook debut for Dobbs. The Vikings were down four points with 2:08 remaining in the game, starting the drive at their own 25-yard line. A third down completion to T.J. Hockenson kept the drive alive before a 24-yard reception by Jordan Addison allowed the Vikings to cross midfield. 

The Falcons had the game in their grasp — literally. Minnesota was facing fourth-and-7 at the Atlanta 34, needing to convert to keep the game alive. Atlanta got into the backfield and nearly sacked Dobbs, but the shifty signal-caller managed to escape the pressure, tip-toe down the sidelines and secure a first down. 

Three plays later, Dobbs connected with Powell in the end zone for the touchdown, and the win. 

Dobbs was not the starter heading into Sunday's matchup. Given how little time he had to learn the team's offensive playbook, head coach Kevin O'Connell went with Hall, the 2023 fifth-round pick out of BYU. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Dobbs did not take any reps with the offense during practice or have any snaps from the team's starting center. He also had not throw passes to any of the team's receivers, and knew few full names.

However, the rookie suffered a concussion in the first quarter, forcing O'Connell's hand. 

The move paid off. Dobbs was effective through the air, winding up with 158 passing yards and two touchdowns while completing 67% of his passes. But it was his legs that were the most effective, something that Vikings fans rarely saw out of the old-school approach from Cousins. Dobbs led all Minnesota rushers with 66 yards on the ground Sunday and added a rushing touchdown as well.  

.@josh_dobbs1 runs for a 23-yard TD! #Skol

📺: #MINvsATL on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/d4RDZpcMkc pic.twitter.com/lfbwdVLJoD

— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2023

"He can change a game athletically with his legs," O'Connell said. "I gave him plenty of bad plays today, and he made it right. That's something that quite honestly we knew bringing him in here, that was one of the traits, in addition to his leadership qualities, his smarts, his toughness."

MORE: Latest injury news, updates on Vikings WR K.J. Osborn

His debut was not one without flaws. Turnovers were an issue for Dobbs during his time in Arizona, and it carried over to Minnesota, as he lost two fumbles against the Falcons. He also took a sack for a safety in the second quarter.

However, the bad was heavily outweighed by the good in Week 9, especially considering how little time he had to adjust to the Minnesota offense. 

"I called him as soon as we finalized the trade, and (Josh) and I had a conversation," O'Connell told reporters. "I said, 'I don't know when it'll be, but I promise you one thing, you are going to get everything out of us. You're going to love your teammates. This is the best locker room in the National Football League, and my goal is that this is the best situation you have ever been in, and just trust us.'

"He's done that, and to go do what he just today ... he should be very, very proud of what just did in a very competitive game in the National Football League."

Minnesota improved to 5-4 on the season thanks to Dobbs' heroics, maintaining its spot in the postseason. With Jefferson eligible to return from injured reserve for next week's game against the Saints, the Vikings all of a sudden look like a potential noise-maker in what is a fairly wide open NFC. 

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.