The Minnesota Vikings have crashed back down to earth, at least for a week, despite the efforts of 'Passtronaut' Josh Dobbs. The Vikings are playing with a third-string quarterback who is performing well above his weight, so I will spare Dobbs from this list. The Vikings signal-caller was the primary reason Minnesota had won their last two games heading into a winnable Sunday night display against the Denver Broncos.
Yet, it was Minnesota's defense which faltered late, and Kirk Cousins wasn't around to bail them out this time. Cousins has been missed more than you may know, as Dobbs has helped mask some of the offense's inefficiencies since he was acquired. The lack of a true big-play threat is missing. Hopefully, Justin Jefferson will be back soon to help alongside Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson, both of whom have largely been stellar, even in defeat.
Minnesota's hopes of winning the NFC North was essentially dashed with this loss. They are now 2.5 games behind the Detroit Lions, who won on Sunday in a heroic effort over the lowly Chicago Bears.
The Vikings offensive line deserves a lot of blame for not protecting Josh Dobbs
Dobbs has the escapability that many head coaches covet in their quarterback, but asking him to do it all is a bit much. The Vikings offensive line failed to provide Dobbs with consistent time to throw against the Broncos pass rush, and it showed. Denver had 10 quarterback hits on Dobbs to go along with two sacks. While the Broncos pass rush didn't always get home, they made an impact.
On the final drive of the game in particular, Dobbs was regularly running around the pocket, trying and failing to make a play on his own. On the last set of downs, he couldn't receive consistent time in the pocket, and thus was forced away from his receivers and even was called for a critical intentional grounding on third down, which set up a fourth-and-forever situation.
Dobbs could have played better, yes. He had an interception and a fumble. Still, we have to lower expectations some for a player who is on his fourth team since training camp. Dobbs is capable, but he is not Cousins. The o-line needs to provide him with more time if Minnesota is going to make a run to the playoffs.
Kevin O'Connell deserves blame for the Vikings offensive play-calling
As great as Josh Dobbs has been of late, he's still Josh Dobbs. Kevin O'Connell looked as though he schemed this game prep for Kirk Cousins, who is notably absent from the starting lineup.
O'Connell had Dobbs drop back over 32 times, and while the rushing attempts may suggest the Vikings ran the ball 36 times, keep in mind that eight of those were on Dobbs scrambles. Minnesota averaged 4.9 yards per rush on the game, and despite Alexander Mattison's struggles at times, he and Ty Chandler were able to find plenty of running room when they were handed the football consistently.
O'Connell is a creative play-caller at his best, but at his worst he can overdo it some. Dobbs is new to the Vikings system and will need time to assimilate fully. He's not there just yet, but another week of practice plus the potential return of Jefferson can help get him there.
Tonight wasn't O'Connell's night, and Vikings fans know it.
Where have you gone, Alexander Mattison? Turnovers plague Vikings
Alexander Mattison's issues with ball security have been well documented in Minnesota. The Vikings running back's greatest flaw so far this season is arguably holding onto the football, especially when it matters most. Mattison had a critical fumble lost in this one, and Denver's points as a whole primarily came off of turnovers. A Dobbs interception and fumble lost played a major role in the Vikings eventual downfall.
The turnover battle will tell the story of almost any NFL game. On Sunday night, the Vikings had three, while the Broncos didn't turn the ball over once. Losing the turnover battle 0-3 is not a winning recipe, and literally anyone could have told you that.
Mattison was largely outplayed by Ty Chandler, who averaged over seven yards per carry. Expect him to get more work moving forward, especially if Mattison remains fumble-prone or cannot hit the holes with the same ferocity Vikings fans expected to begin the season.
Minnesota must be able to rely on its running game moving forward, especially if Dobbs heroics are a thing of the past.
