In Minneapolis on November 12, Joshua Dobbs made his first start with the Minnesota Vikings and led them to a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Dobbs had a strong game, passing for one touchdown and rushing for another. This performance came after he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his impressive performance off the bench in his Vikings debut the previous week. With Dobbs at the helm, the Vikings have now won five consecutive games and improved their record to 6-4.
The game took a turn for the Saints when their quarterback, Derek Carr, left the game due to an injury in the third quarter. Jameis Winston replaced him and threw two touchdown passes, but also had two interceptions. Despite Winston’s efforts, the Saints fell short and dropped to a 5-5 record.
In the third quarter, Greg Joseph kicked a 33-yard field goal to extend Minnesota’s lead to 27-3. On the following possession, Carr was sacked and then hit by the Vikings’ defense, resulting in a concussion and an injury to his right shoulder. This was a significant blow for the Saints, as Carr had already injured the same shoulder in Week 3.
Winston entered the game and quickly made an impact, completing his first three passes, one of which was a 14-yard touchdown to Chris Olave. A two-point conversion run by Alvin Kamara brought the Saints within 16 points at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Joseph missed a 54-yard field goal attempt, giving the Saints an opportunity to close the gap. Winston capitalized on this chance and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to rookie A.T. Perry. Kamara added another two-point conversion, cutting the Vikings’ lead to 27-19 with 11:40 remaining.
However, Winston’s performance took a downturn as he was intercepted twice in the final minutes of the game. Mekhi Blackmon and Byron Murphy Jr. both made crucial interceptions, preventing the Saints from mounting a comeback. The game ended with Winston’s unsuccessful Hail Mary pass as time expired.
The Vikings started the game strong, with Dobbs completing his first four passes for 52 yards, leading to Joseph’s 40-yard field goal. The Saints responded with a 48-yard field goal by Blake Grupe, tying the score at 3 by the end of the first quarter.
Minnesota regained the lead in the second quarter when Ty Chandler rushed for a 2-yard touchdown, putting the Vikings ahead 10-3. Dobbs continued to impress, scrambling for a 7-yard touchdown and throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson. This extended the Vikings’ lead to 24-3 at halftime.
In conclusion, Joshua Dobbs had a stellar performance in his first start with the Minnesota Vikings, leading them to a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Despite a strong effort from Jameis Winston after Derek Carr’s injury, the Saints were unable to overcome the Vikings’ lead. The win marks the Vikings’ fifth consecutive victory and improves their record to 6-4.
