Josh Dobbs struggles mightily as Vikings suffer brutal loss to Bears
28 November 2023
Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) intercepts a Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) pass in the second quarter in a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) pass bounces off the hands of wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) and into the hands of Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) for the interception in the second quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) intercepts a Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) pass in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards (53) celebrates his interception of (15) Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) in the third quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards (53) intercepts a Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) pass as Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) tries to tackle him in the third quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (33) intercepts a Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) pass in the second quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) leaps high to pull down the quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) touchdown pass against Chicago in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
A young Viktor the Vikings mascot watches the game from the stands in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
The Vikings defense celebrate a Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) fumble recovered by linebacker Anthony Barr (54) in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings linebacker D.J. Wonnum (98) knocks down a Chicago Bears wide receiver Trent Taylor (15) pass in the third quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Day (52) in the second quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) is lifted into the air by Chicago Bears guard Lucas Patrick (62) after making a game winning field goal against the Vikings in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) celebrates his game winning field goal with punter Trenton Gill (16) in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus (44) forces a Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) fumble late in the fourth quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) looks to pass the ball to tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (2) rushes against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter (99) celebrates a Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) fumble in the fourth quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) pass the ball against the Vikings in the third quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. Chicago won 13-10. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell talks with former Vikings running back Robert Smith, left, before the start of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah before the start of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson talk with Minnesota Vikings cornerback NaJee Thompson (11) before the start of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Ivan Clay, 9, from Cincinnati, Ohio, gets an autographed football from Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) before the start of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
ivan clay 9 cinncy
Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) in the second quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (30) is tripped up by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (33) in the second quarter of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) winds up on his head having his catch disrupted by Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson (4) and cornerback Terell Smith (32) in the first half of the NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores before the start of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr (54) warms up before the start of a NFL game against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Nov., 27, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
The clock might have struck midnight on the Josh Dobbs era in Minnesota.
After becoming a leaguewide sensation a couple of weeks ago, Dobbs turned into a pumpkin on Monday Night Football as the Vikings suffered a brutal 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears.
It was a total departure from the confident player the Vikings seemingly acquired at the trade deadline. After captivating the fan base while leading the Vikings to a road win over the Atlanta Falcons and a home win over the New Orleans Saints, Dobbs was a shell of himself in primetime.
There’s regression to the mean and then there’s whatever the heck the home crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium was subjected to watching as Dobbs looked lost en route to throwing four interceptions.
The Passtronaut came back down to earth finishing 22 for 32 passing for 185 yards while looking extremely uncomfortable in the process.
It really felt like the Vikings were going to have to do everything in their power to lose with the way the Bears were playing. They did that and so much more.
The ineptitude started after the Bears took 9 minutes, 7 second to start the game only to miss a long field goal to keep things scoreless. That’s when the Vikings trotted onto the field, then went three and out, ending the opening possession with Dobbs taking a sack for a big loss.
It proved to be a sign of things to come.
After the Bears went up 3-0 on a short field goal, the Vikings proceeded to deliver an unwatchable performance on offense. The swagger that seemed carry the Vikings over the past month was completely gone as Dobbs turned more and more into a pumpkin with each snap.
There was an interception on a corner route where Dobbs never saw cornerback Jaylon Johnson dropping into coverage. There was an interception on a dropped pass where Dobbs appeared to throw the ball too early as rookie receiver Jordan Addison came out of his break. There was a near interception on what might’ve been his worst pass of the game where Dobbs stared down tight end T.J. Hockenson along the sideline.
Luckily for the Vikings, the Bears seemed equally invested in giving the game away. They couldn’t muster any points off of those turnovers, leaving the door open when they should’ve been leading by a wide margin.
Just before halftime the Vikings got the ball back and Dobbs completed a couple of passes to set up kicker Greg Joseph for field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
With the Vikings in desperate need of a spark, head coach Kevin O’Connell got a little too aggressive coming out of the locker room. On fourth down near midfield, O’Connell kept his offense out there only to have Dobbs throw short of the sticks to Hockenson.
That gifted the Bears pretty good field position and they settled for a field goal to make it 6-3.
It got worse for the Vikings as Dobbs forced a pass to receiver K.J. Osborn that got deflected and intercepted by linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. That set up another field goal for the Bears as they stretched their lead to 9-3.
The defense for the Vikings was forced to step up once again after yet another interception from Dobbs on a deflected pass. That’s exactly what star pass rusher Danielle Hunter did, forcing a fumble while bringing quarterback Justin Fields to the ground to give the Vikings new life.
Finally, the offense got into a rhythm with Dobbs leading the charge, and it culminated with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Hockenson over the middle. That score somehow put the Vikings in front 10-9 in a game they had absolutely no business being in.
On the very next drive, Fields took off on a scramble, and safety Josh Metellus forced a fumble that was recovered by veteran linebacker Anthony Barr. With a chance to put the game away, the Vikings went three and out to give the ball back to the Bears.
After tempting fate all night long, the Vikings finally got what they deserved when Fields found receiver D.J. Moore for 36 yards.
That allowed the Bears to bleed the clock on their way to a game-winning field goal from kicker Cairo Santos with 10 seconds left.