NFL Power Rankings: Vikings move up and down after loss vs. Broncos

Minnesota was on a five-game winning streak entering Sunday night and set to get wide receiver Justin Jefferson back in the lineup, but blew a late fourth-quarter lead in a 21-20 loss to Denver.

Josh Dobbs was 20-32 passing for 221 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Dobbs also had eight carries for 21 yards and one rushing touchdown. Even with the loss, Minnesota will remain in the 7th and final playoff spot entering Week 12.

The Vikings gave up the late drive to the Broncos and lost, but the play of their defense was still impressive. The Vikings held the Broncos out of the end zone until the final two minutes. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who does a great job sending pressure, has been a really good hire.

Without Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson, the Vikings are 4-1, and that one loss came Sunday on a late score by the Broncos. Minnesota is within two games of division leader Detroit and still gets to play the Lions twice. We’re not suggesting the Vikings are that level of good, but this team continues to surprise.

Cousins was making a strong play to return as the Vikings’ starter next season when he suffered a season-ending rupture of his right Achilles in Week 8. At the time, he was leading the NFL in touchdown passes, had the league’s second-most passing yards and ranked No. 10 in QBR. What happens next is anyone’s guess. There are most certainly people in the organization who would like to see him back next season, despite the performance of Joshua Dobbs in his absence. But general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will have to weigh the value of a player who will be 36 next season and coming off the first serious injury of his NFL career. — Kevin Seifert

They had an opportunity to steal one in Denver, but they could only manage three points over their final four possessions, turning it over three times (INT, fumble, downs) in the final 18 minutes of the game. Joshua Dobbs had some moments early, and the run-game duo of Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler was potent, but Mattison and Dobbs combined for three turnovers. Likewise, the defense took and gave, holding Denver to five field goals before allowing the game-winning TD drive in the final minutes. Kevin O’Connell has done a tremendous job with this team, and the Vikings remain firmly in the playoff race for now, but this was one that got away. They would have been 5-1 on the road had they pulled it off Sunday night.

Joshua Dobbs’ singularly circuitous season continues with the quarterback becoming the first in NFL history to have both a TD pass and run in his first three games with a team.

Over the past few weeks, the story of Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs has captivated the NFL. Just a few days after arriving in the Twin Cities, Dobbs led the Vikings to a win over the Atlanta Falcons. The following week, he and the Vikings beat the New Orleans Saints.

However, Sunday night in Denver, Dobbs’ bid for a third straight win came up short. But even Denver head coach Sean Payton acknowledged to reporters that he was impressed by what he saw from the journeyman backup.

“Man, he’s a lot slippier than I ever (realized) … he was tough to get down,” Payton said. “And he’s taller. I turned to (offensive coordinator Joe) Lombardi in pregame and said, ‘Gosh, I don’t remember Dobbs being 6’3″. And I didn’t realize how well he can move in the pocket. And we all kind of lived it in that last two-minute drive. It was just one escape after the other and finally we got off the field.”

“Dobbs’ feel-good story doesn’t end simply because the Vikings lost to the Broncos on Sunday Night Football,” Sobleski said. “The quarterback still had his squad in a position to win late in the fourth quarter. But Minnesota’s defense finally broke and allowed a touchdown as the two-minute warning neared. Granted, Dobbs committed two turnovers, which led to six points in a one-point loss. However, the fumble came courtesy of what should have been deemed an illegal hit and his arm was hit from the backside to tip the ball for an interception.”

They blew a lead to the Broncos on Sunday night because they turned the ball over three times. The defense continues to be special, but they need Justin Jefferson back on offense.