The Minnesota Vikings have won four in a row and are 5-4 overall after a come-from-behind win, 31-28, over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Josh Dobbs was the hero, but that’s not all there was to talk about from the game. Here are five things that stood out…
1. Vikings were extremely shorthanded on offense
Playing without Kirk Cousins for the first time since his arrival in 2018 stole the headlines, but the Vikings were far more shorthanded than you might’ve realized.
Not only were they without there QB1, but their QB2, Nick Mullens, is on injured reserve and that left QB3 Jaren Hall to start. And Josh Dobbs, who took over after Hall was concussed in the first quarter, was technically Minnesota’s QB4.
They were also without star left tackle Christian Darrisaw, the best wide receiver in the NFL, Justin Jefferson, and then they lost starting receiver K.J. Osborn to a concussion in the second quarter.
Minnesota also lost running back Cam Akers to an ankle injury in the second half.
2. Very little success on first downs to start drives
- Drive 1: 2nd-and-10
- Drive 2: First down play got a first down
- Drive 3: 2nd-and-14,
- Drive 4: 2nd-and-12
- Drive 5: 2nd-and-13
- Drive 6: 2nd-and-9
- Drive 7: 2nd-and-10
- Drive 8: 2nd-and-11
- Drive 9: 2nd-and-5
- Drive 10: First down play got a first down
- Drive 11: 2nd-and-10
- Drive 12: 2nd-and-7
The Vikings had the ball 11 times (kneeled twice) and only twice did the result of the first play of the drive set up situation that wasn’t 2nd-and-long. In fact, eight of the 11 were 2nd-and-9 or longer.
3. Incredible scrambles by Josh Dobbs
Dobbs’ scramble for a first down late in the first half might’ve been the best scramble by a Vikings quarterback since Daunte Culpepper, or dare we even go as far as Fran Tarkenton. He gained 11 yards on third-and-10 and two plays later he connected with Alexander Mattison for a two-yard touchdown pass.
.@josh_dobbs1 scrambles to pick up the 1st!
đź“ş: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/6n7SxLoQd6
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 5, 2023
According to NextGen Stats, Dobbs ran 55.6 yards to gain 11 yards.
On 3rd & 10, Joshua Dobbs scrambled 55.6 yards to pick up 11, enough for a @Vikings first down.
🔹 Expected Rush Yards: 4
🔹 Rush Yards Over Expected: +7
🔹 First Down Probability: 7.6%Alexander Mattison found the end zone on a 2-yard TD run two plays later.#MINvsATL | #SKOL pic.twitter.com/aM8ZmD6FDQ
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 5, 2023
Dobbs in the third quarter scored on a 18-yard touchdown scramble that was arguably just as impressive as the aforementioned run for a first down.
.@josh_dobbs1 take a bow.
đź“ş: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/DclKmtFfjn
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 5, 2023
Dobbs then had what had to of been his best scramble when it was 4th-and-7 with under a minute to play and he escaped pressure and gained 22 yards. Two plays later he hit Brandon Powell for the game-winning touchdown with 22 seconds left.
.@josh_dobbs1 keeping it alive!
đź“ş: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/miSvn22meI
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 5, 2023
4. How serious is Cam Akers’ injury?
Akers left the game in the second half with what the Vikings called an ankle injury, but Dr. David Chao, who is known as “ProFootballDoc” on X, is suggesting that Akers suffered a torn Achilles in his left leg. And head coach Kevin O’Connell said afterward that it does look like an Achilles injury.
#CamAkers
Season ending injury
Lightening does strike twice
This time to other side
Ruled out as "ankle"https://t.co/f9M9eBLV01 pic.twitter.com/DW6114dVR0— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) November 5, 2023
Akers suffered a torn Achilles in his right leg in July 2021. If he has indeed suffered a torn Achilles, his 2023 season is over and the Vikings’ running back situation is limited to Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu.
5. K.J. Osborn’s incredible catch
Lost in the concern was the fact that Osborn actually held onto the ball despite getting concussed on a violent hit by Atlanta cornerback Dee Alford in the first half. It was a 13-yard gain on 3rd-and-8. The 15-yard penalty made it a 28-yard gain.
#KJOsborn taken off sitting on the carthttps://t.co/QFmbE1llXP pic.twitter.com/NfehXjx8vS
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) November 5, 2023
Osborn stayed motionless for a few moments before he ultimately got up under his own power and was carted to the locker room and ruled out for the game. But the man caught the football and then was in street clothes cheering on his teammates after the improbable victory.
Pretty cool. K.J. Osborn, who left because of a concussion, was waiting for players outside the Vikings locker room. That’s him and Trishton Jackson. pic.twitter.com/2NwwTFp4ck
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 5, 2023
