Getty Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spent days wrestling with the difficult decision of who to start under center following the team’s bye last week. On Wednesday, December 6, he finally made it.
O’Connell announced during a press conference that Josh Dobbs will start at quarterback when the Vikings square off against the Las Vegas Raiders in Sin City on December 10.
“We will be starting Josh Dobbs in the football game on Sunday,” O’Connell said. “We feel great about our plan we have for Josh.”
O’Connell chose Dobbs over Nick Mullens who began this season as Kirk Cousins‘ back up and rookie Jaren Hall who suffered a concussion in the first quarter of his first start against the Atlanta Falcons roughly one month ago.
A back injury sidelined Mullens for several weeks starting in early October. However, O’Connell said the QB has ramped up and will be prepared to play against the Raiders if necessary.
“Nick Mullens will be ready to go,” O’Connell said.
Kevin O’Connell Says Josh Dobbs Deserves Belief From Coaches, Teammates
GettyHead coach Kevin O’Connell talks with quarterback Josh Dobbs of the Minnesota Vikings before an NFL game in 2023.
O’Connell’s decision comes after two consecutive defeats, in which Dobbs threw a combined five interceptions.
He tossed four of those picks during a home loss to the Chicago Bears in primetime on Monday Night Football nine days past. Minnesota lost that game by a score of 12-10, allowing the Bears their first victory absent a touchdown in three decades.
But on Wednesday, O’Connell said it was important that Dobbs felt belief coming from the head coach, adding that the locker room also continues to believe Dobbs can lead Minnesota to success down the stretch.
That success could take several forms but regardless of the path, it ends with the Vikings in the playoffs. ESPN’s Football Power Index currently projects Minnesota’s record at 8.5-8.5, giving the team a 50-50 shot to win nine games based on the metrics. Nine wins is probably the magic number for any NFC Wildcard hopeful, as reflected in FPI affording the Vikings a 49.6% chance to make the postseason as of Wednesday.
Josh Dobbs May Be Only a Couple of Mistakes from the Vikings’ Bench
GettyMinnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell talks with quarterback Josh Dobbs during an NFL game in 2023.
O’Connell said he could see the excitement on Dobbs’ face when he offered him the news that he would be the starter in Las Vegas. O’Connell added that he believes the offensive staff can game plan more effectively to help the QB cut down on his turnovers.
The mild-mannered O’Connell on Wednesday said all the things one might expect a head coach to utter on the afternoon that he publicly reaffirms his confidence in the starting quarterback. However, O’Connell did couch that confidence a bit with some further comments while also propping up the two players who didn’t get the nod for Sunday’s game.
“I feel like we’ve got three quarterbacks we can win football games with,” the coach said.
That statement could get put to the test early if Dobbs doesn’t stop completing passes to players wearing the opposite uniform, as evidenced by O’Connell’s choice to leave open ended the question of who would start moving forward as the Vikings entered their bye last week.
As it stands Wednesday, that man is Dobbs. But as a year defined by wild momentum swings and deflating injuries has proven, Vikings fans should be ready for anything over the final five games of the season.
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