NFL Power Rankings, Week 11: Josh Dobbs Has Vikings On the Rise

When Kirk Cousins went down with a season-ending Achilles tear a couple weeks ago in Green Bay, it felt like the competitive portion of the Vikings' season had come to an end. Sure, they could give Jaren Hall a shot at quarterback or go acquire a backup-caliber passer, but they weren't going to find anyone capable of leading them deep into the playoffs.

Two wins later, that no longer feels like the case. The Vikings' five-game winning streak is still going. Josh Dobbs, who they acquired from the Cardinals for almost nothing, has won both games he's played with his new franchise. On Sunday, he lit up a top-ten defense and electrified the U.S. Bank Stadium crowd as Minnesota took a 24-3 lead at halftime and hung on for a win over the Saints.

Suddenly, fans are dreaming big again. The Vikings have Kevin O'Connell calling plays and Dobbs making it happen with his arm and his legs. They've got Justin Jefferson coming back soon to join T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison. They've got one of the best offensive tackle duos in the NFL. And they've got a Brian Flores-led defense that has been sensational during this winning streak.

Maybe this team can still be dangerous in the postseason after all.

Let's take a look at this week's power rankings to see what various national analysts think of Dobbs and the Vikings.

Conor Orr, SI.com: No. 12 (Up 3 spots)

What a victory for Kevin O’Connell. We’re rightfully enamored with Joshua Dobbs, who, I feel, the NFL should consider awarding a share of the Comeback Player of the Year award to (Damar Hamlin cannot not win this). But this was a game won against a great defense without very many passes thrown beyond the 15-yard mark. O’Connell and Dobbs’s ability to work T.J. Hockenson into the game plan, giving him his fourth 11-plus target game of the year, was the catalyst for a fifth straight win.

Josh Kendall, The Athletic: No. 13 (Up 4 spots)

Kevin O’Connell didn’t get a lot of credit for Minnesota’s 13-4 record in his first season as head coach because of the Vikings’ crazy luck in one-score games and ensuing playoff flameout, but what he’s done in the two games since Kirk Cousins suffered an Achilles injury is impressive. Two weeks ago, Minnesota scored 31 points with a quarterback, Josh Dobbs, who had not taken a snap with the team until that day. On Sunday, the Vikings followed that up with another win under Dobbs, who had a 101.1 passer rating.

Eric Edholm, NFL.com: No. 15 (Up 2 spots)

If nothing else, this is clear: Joshua Dobbs can play in this league, and Kevin O’Connell can coach a little. This season has gone nothing like the 2022 campaign did, and yet, the Vikings are right back in contention. After Sunday's triumph over New Orleans, they’ve won five straight — the longest active win streak in the league — despite starting three different quarterbacks in the last three games. That shouldn’t be a problem going forward, assuming Dobbs stays healthy, because he’s the man. I openly called for a change in Arizona because things went stale there after a certain point with Dobbs, but he’s rediscovered his mojo and is in a better situation, especially with Justin Jefferson approaching a return. Oh, and how about that Minnesota defense? It is allowing 297.9 yards per game since Week 4 and has 11 turnovers in the past five contests, including two huge ones against the Saints in the final three-plus minutes.

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: No. 13 (Up 5 spots)

The Vikings haven't lost a game by more than seven points all season. They could easily be better than 6-4. It's hard to know if all this is sustainable. But as the weeks go on, it's clear that Kevin O'Connell is a prime Coach of the Year candidate and the Vikings are in great position to make the playoffs in a top-heavy NFC.

Bleacher Report Staff: No. 15 (Up 3 spots)

The magic of Joshua Dobbs can't be denied. When Cousins suffered a torn Achilles tendon two weeks ago, the Vikings' season appeared lost. Instead, the organization immediately responded at this year's trade deadline by trading for Dobbs, who was on his way out in Arizona with Kyler Murray nearing a return. Dobbs has been wonderful in his short stint. The veteran journeyman has quickly picked up Kevin O'Connell's offense and executed well, with a 67.2 completion percentage and five total touchdowns. The biggest difference with Dobbs behind center is that he can actually create outside of structure and provide the Vikings with something different.

ESPN Staff: No. 15 (Up 1 spot)

Biggest remaining game:

Week 16 vs. Detroit

The Vikings have pulled themselves out of a 1-4 start with five consecutive wins, all with receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve, and are in good position for an NFC wild-card playoff spot. But they're also only 1.5 games behind the Lions in the NFC North, and the teams will play twice in the final three weeks of the season. That makes the first matchup, to be played at U.S. Bank Stadium, pretty darn important. Much could happen between now and then, but if the teams are within a couple games at that point, it'll be a must-win for the Vikings. On the other hand, the Lions could potentially knock the Vikings out of the playoff race altogether by sweeping the season series. —

Kevin Seifert

The Ringer Staff: No. 15 (Up 3 spots)

The deadline trade for quarterback Joshua Dobbs suddenly looks like one of the most savvy deals of the season. It cost almost nothing, but Dobbs has led the Vikings to two wins and has Minnesota back in the playoff hunt. The Vikings front office and coaching staff doubled down on winning this season despite ample reason not to, and players like rookie Jordan Addison, tight end T.J. Hockenson, Danielle Hunter, Dobbs, and others have stepped up in a big way, reinforcing that the non-tank was the right move. We often credit Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin for finding ways to win ugly; Kevin O’Connell and his staff deserve the same praise now. — Austin Gayle

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: No. 13 (Down 1 spot)

Josh Dobbs did it again in leading the Vikings to victory over the Saints. The defense has really come on in recent weeks for this 6-4 team.

Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk: No. 12 (Up 2 spots)

With all the focus on the quarterback position, the defense is gradually getting better and better.

David Helman, FOX Sports: No. 13 (Up 3 spots)

All of a sudden, Minnesota owns a two-game grip on the NFC’s final wild-card spot. And when you remember that Justin Jefferson has missed most of this improbable win streak, it’s easy to get excited about this story. Worry about the future later; what’s happening with Josh Dobbs and everyone else is simply too fun.

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