The Las Vegas Raiders are set to take on the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday afternoon as they prepare for the final stretch of the 2023 season. The Vikings hold a Wild Card spot in the NFC at 6-6. At one point in the season, they were just 1-4 but have since turned it around. Despite injuries to key players, the Vikings have remained competitive throughout the entire season. In the game against the Green Bay Packers, Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles, knocking him out for the season. The Vikings were looking for an answer at the quarterback position to keep their season alive.
The Vikings acquired Joshua Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals at the trade deadline. They started Jaren Hall in their next game against the Atlanta Falcons, but he was injured on the opening drive. This opened the door for Dobbs, who had joined the team just four days prior, to enter the game. Dobbs did not know the playbook or even his teammates’ names, but he threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown. He also ran for a touchdown
Dobbs led the Vikings to another win against the New Orleans Saints the next week, throwing for 268 yards and a touchdown while running for another. In those two weeks, Dobbs was the biggest story in the NFL for his improvisational skills on the fly for his new team.
Since then, Dobbs has not had the same success. He has thrown five interceptions to just two touchdowns in the last two games, and the Vikings have lost both.
However, there is still the possibility that Dobbs will improve and find his rhythm again. He has been a journeyman quarterback, bouncing around several teams since being a fourth-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Tennessee
Dobbs is also well-known for his intelligence, as he studied aerospace engineering in college and has done work with NASA. As a player, Dobbs has a strong arm and is most efficient at creating plays with his legs. He is challenging to tackle and can make big plays on the ground, as he has several times since joining the Vikings
Dobbs is still learning the Vikings’ playbook and trying to get into a rhythm with his new team, but he has shown that he can make big-time, winning plays for them. The Raiders must be wary of Dobbs’ ability to improvise and escape the pocket, or he will take the Vikings higher again.
The Silver and Black will return home to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 10, at 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST.
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