It’s hard to imagine how Josh Dobbs could have a better week than the past one. In that week, he was benched for a rookie and traded to a new team. He was forced into action with the new team. He then led his new team to a come-from-behind victory. Due to his performance in that game, he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. And to top it off, he earned a new nickname from NASA. That was a hard-to-beat week.

But Vikings fans may acknowledge that he came pretty close to topping it as he led Minnesota to a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints. It was the team’s fifth straight win after starting the season 1-4.

Ty Chandler Contributes

The two teams exchanged field goals in the first quarter, but Dobbs got the Purple rolling in quarter two. Running back Ty Chandler chewed up some tough yards on the first drive of the quarter. This was his first extended action as he is filling in for Cam Akers who is out for the season.

Dobbs showed his mobility picking up a key first down on an 11-yard scramble around right end. And Dobbs hit T.J. Hockenson and Brandon Powell for passes that kept the chains moving. And Chandler, from a direct snap, ran it in from two yards out to give the Vikings a 10-3 lead.

Dobbs is on Fire

But Dobbs and the Vikings had a lot more in the tank. On their next possession, Dobbs used his talented group of receivers to drive the team down the field. Hockenson, Powell, and super-rookie Jordan Addison all were on the receiving end of throws by Dobbs as the Saints defense had no answers for the Minnesota passing attack.

Then on third and six from the Saints seven-yard line, Dobbs finding no one open, made a sprint to the end zone. The speedy quarterback beat three New Orleans defenders to the pylon and the Vikings expanded their lead to 17-3.

Dobbs to Hockenson Success

But the first half fireworks were not over yet. After a Saints punt, Minnesota took possession of the ball at their own 24-yard line with 1:47 left in the half. The T.J. Hockenson show continued as he was on the receiving end of five throws from Dobbs totaling 58 yards during the drive.

The Dobbs to Hockenson connect would end the drive with a crescendo with a 28-yard touchdown pitch and catch with 22 seconds left in the half. The score was now Vikings 24, Saints 3.

Saints on a Comeback

In the second half, the Saints defense would stiffen, and Dobbs and the Vikings were only able to add a field goal to their total. Meanwhile, New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr was finding holes in the Minnesota secondary. But while throwing a pass to Chris Olave, Carr would sustain an injury that would force him to the sidelines for the remainder of the game.

But the Saints did not miss a beat. Jameis Winston who was subbing for Carr would find Olave in the left corner of the end zone for the Saints first touchdown of the game. Olave did a beautiful tightrope act on the play to stay in bounds. Running back Alvin Kamara ran it in for the two-point conversion and the Saints were now down 27-11.

After a missed Vikings field goal in the fourth quarter, Winston once again led the Saints offense on a long scoring drive. New Orleans gained 51 yards on 11 plays that culminated with a Winston to A.T. Perry fifteen-yard touchdown reception. Kamara once again scored on a two-point conversion and the Vikings lead was cut to eight.

The Vikings D Would Shut it Down

Dobbs

Minnesota Vikings CB Mekhi Blackmon (5) – AP Photo/Abbie Parr

But that is as close as the Saints would get. Interceptions by Mekhi Blackmon and Byron Murphy would halt two late-quarter Saints drives and the Vikings would walk away with a 27-19 victory.

Dobbs was outstanding in the win, passing for 268 yards through the air and rushing for 44 additional yards on the ground. T.J. Hockenson, playing with sore ribs, would haul in 11 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown.

Vikings’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ squad would contribute three sacks and two interceptions to the effort. And safety Cam Bynum’s wife was finally able to secure her visa to leave the Philippines after a very long wait. She arrived in plenty of time to watch her first NFL game. Now it’s bring on the Broncos for the Vikings Sunday night clash with Denver. I wonder what Josh Dobbs will do for an encore?