A week ago, quarterback Josh Dobbs started for the Arizona Cardinals in his eighth consecutive start of the season. This Sunday, though, Dobbs came into the Vikings game as their new backup quarterback and sealed a dramatic win for Minnesota over the Falcons in the final seconds.
The quarterback was traded to the Vikings on Tuesday and wasn’t expected to play on Sunday as rookie Jaren Hall got the start. However, Hall was determined out after suffering a concussion in the first quarter of Sunday’s game.
Dobbs battled hard on the Vikings’ last drive of the game, running a total of 25 yards to help get the team to the red zone. He then essentially captured the win by throwing a touchdown pass to receiver Brandon Powell with 20 seconds remaining. The Vikings won 31–28 to move to 5–4.
He did it! Josh Dobbs throws a TD to Brandon Powell for the lead with 21 seconds left.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 5, 2023
HE JUST JOINED THE TEAM THIS WEEK. pic.twitter.com/PYpuwBWkXO https://t.co/5K9biOKE8r
Dobbs, who’s on his fifth team since the start of the 2022 season, received a lot of love on the sideline after his game-winning drive. Coach Kevin O’Connell hugged Dobbs, while some of his new teammates congratulated him, too.
In Dobbs we trust. #Skol pic.twitter.com/OBrmpGDStA
— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2023
This is just wild:
Incredible stories from the Vikings' locker room today. Josh Dobbs didn't take a single rep with the offense in practice. No snaps from Garrett Bradbury. Had never thrown passes to anyone, and didn't know most of their full names. "That's for next week," he said.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 5, 2023
NFL fans, including some players like regular Vikings starter Kirk Cousins who’s dealing with a torn Achilles, loved what they saw from Dobbs as they took to social media to give the quarterback praise. Take a look at some of the best reactions of his heroics.
Let’s go @Vikings!!!
— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) November 5, 2023
JOSH DOBBS!!!!!!!
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 5, 2023
VIKINGS TAKE THE LEAD WITH 20 SECONDS LEFT ON THE CLOCK 🔥
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/sfRmq2aHna
PUT SOME RESPECT ON JOSH DOBBS NAME!!!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) November 5, 2023
The legend of Josh Dobbs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 5, 2023
Josh Dobbs Mic Drop pic.twitter.com/C31WDuemJe
— Purple FTW! Podcast (@PurpleForTheWin) November 5, 2023
That was extremely impressive by Josh Dobbs. Wasn't even on the Vikings roster til this week, didn't start today, then leads the comeback victory.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 5, 2023
Josh Dobbs reviving the Vikings' season like pic.twitter.com/BcRE2ebfDF
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 5, 2023
JOSH DOBBS IS THE DEFINITION OF A GAMER🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/D8j5P1ARBz
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) November 5, 2023
Mad respect for Josh Dobbs , what he did today is hard to understand, unless you’ve been in the @NFL 💜
— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) November 5, 2023
Nobody:
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) November 5, 2023
Josh Dobbs: pic.twitter.com/0O8FHZgTDr
I wanna be Josh Dobbs when I grow up
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) November 5, 2023
Dobbs finished the game with 20-of-30 completions for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 66 yards on seven carries for one touchdown.