Life without Kirk Cousins didn’t start pretty but it did start with a win. Joshua Dobbs connected with Brandon Powell for the winning touchdown with 22 seconds left. The defense closed out the win when a desperation heave by Taylor Heinicke hit the turf harmlessly well short of the end zone.
Rookie quarterback Jaren Hall started the game. He lasted two possessions. His day ended when a big Falcons hit stopped him just short of the goal line. Whether from the hit or his head bouncing off the turf, Hall left with a concussion. Enter Joshua Dobbs. The Vikings acquired him at Tuesday’s trade deadline. Going on a handful of workdays with his new team that included not a single snap with the starters and a crash course in the playbook, Dobbs was suddenly forced to quarterback his new team. It didn’t start well.
-his first possession ended when he was sacked in the end zone for a safety
-his second possession ended with a fumble that was returned to the 1
Saying that Dobbs’ first Vikings game didn’t start well is selling it way short. It was a horrible start. The only thing that could’ve made it worse was if the fumble was returned for a score. Thankfully it wasn’t and the Vikings defense did a great job to force the Falcons to settle for a field goal.
Dobbs looked like a quarterback playing for a new team on about four days of preparation as the backup. He wasn’t even supposed to play in this game. He had several rough moments but he also had a slew of incredibly scrappy moments. His running made the difference while he coordinated his passing with his new teammates. When the Vikings needed a big play in the second half, he often made it. Running, passing, whatever. Dobbs had a great, scrappy debut.
His numbers:
20 completions
30 attempts
158 yards
2 touchdowns
1 two-point conversion
7 carries
66 yards
1 touchdown
While the Vikings offense was scrappy and ultimately productive, the difference in the game may have been the Vikings defense limiting the Falcons offense to four field goals. Atlanta had many opportunities, too many opportunities. They had to settle for field goals. They didn’t score their first touchdown until the midpoint of the third quarter. Then there was the long, draining, go-ahead touchdown with two minutes to play.
It appeared that the Falcons sideline felt that long drive and go-ahead score had broken the Vikings.
It hadn’t.
Dobbs needed 1:46 to guide his new team 75 yards for the winning score. The key play to the drive was his 22-yard run on 4th-and-7 to the Falcons 12-yard line. Three plays later, Dobbs hit Powell for the game-winning touchdown.
31-28.
This was perhaps the most “team win” I’ve ever seen from the Vikings. Kevin O’Connell gave the entire team a game ball. It was deserved. Every player, coach, and staff was needed. From the acquisition of Dobbs on Tuesday, to getting Hall and Dobbs to varying degrees of ready, to O’Connell explaining the plays to his new quarterback in real time, to all of players on the field. Everyone was needed. Everyone contributed. The entirety of it all damn near brings this Vikings fan to tears. I can’t watch the video of the postgame lockeroom enough. It was a great “team win.”
The Vikings defeated the Falcons without:
-starting quarterback
-backup quarterback
-lost their third quarterback after 12 plays
-all-everything receiver
-left tackle
-#2 pass rusher
-K.J. Osborn was knocked out of the game in the second quarter
-Cam Akers left an apparent torn Achilles
The Vikings just went about their necessary football business with the players they had.
The Vikings have won four consecutive games. It’s remarkable that they’ve done so without all-everything receiver Justin Jefferson. He could be back as soon as next week. That will be a tremendous gift for whomever is quarterbacking the Vikings.
Who will be the quarterback next week? If Hall doesn’t clear the concussion protocol, the answer is easy. With the way that Dobbs ultimately played against the Falcons, the answer might be easy no matter the playing status of Hall. It just doesn’t seem fair for Hall to lose this opportunity to an injury. He played well while he was in the game. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in the game very long. We’ll see.
No matter the quarterback, the Vikings must run the ball better. Combined, Alexander Mattison and Cam Akers averaged less than three yards per carry. Dobbs’ scrambling made the team rushing numbers somewhat respectable. The Vikings were often in second-and-long situations because of their inability to dent the Falcons on the ground. Mattison and Akers were routinely dealing with defenders in the backfield. Just brutal. The Vikings must run the ball better.
After starting the season with three losses, the Vikings are 5-4. They host the 5-4 New Orleans Saints next Sunday.
No comments:
Post a Comment