Josh Dobbs is the aerospace engineer who labored at NASA however turned down a profession in a galaxy far, distant and has used his rocket arm to develop into the Vikings’ personal Passtronaut!

To the annals of loopy sporting careers add the identify of Josh Dobbs — often known as the Passtronaut.

Whereas many would argue you want to be a rocket scientist to play quarterback within the NFL —studying huge playbooks by coronary heart and processing info in break up seconds — Dobbs, 28, resides proof.

With a level in aerospace engineering from the College of Tennessee, Dobbs as soon as interned at NASA. However he determined in opposition to a profession in house and as a substitute set his sights on changing into a capturing star within the NFL.

Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2017, Dobbs was a profession backup earlier than becoming a member of the Tennessee Titans (his fifth group) final time period.

He made two begins, each defeats, and returned to former group Cleveland for a brief spell within the offseason earlier than heading to the Arizona Cardinals, his sixth franchise, in August.

After main Arizona to their solely win thus far this season, in opposition to the then undefeated Cowboys in week three, Dobbs couldn’t even purchase his shirt within the Cardinals group store.

But it surely wouldn’t be lengthy earlier than the nomadic quarterback, 28, was on the transfer once more…

Enter the Minnesota Vikings. They had been the NFL’s luckiest group final season, successful 11 one-score video games as they completed an unbelievable 13-4. However their fortune ran out on the first hurdle within the postseason, shedding 31-24 in opposition to the New York Giants within the wild card spherical.

And after beginning 0-3 this day trip, few gave the mistake-prone Vikings a prayer of getting something out of this season, bar a high 10 draft decide for the primary time since 2014. Since 1990, solely 4 of 158 groups (2.5 per cent) who started 0-3 have reached the playoffs.

So when Minnesota break up the subsequent two video games — and misplaced famous person receiver Justin Jefferson to a hamstring harm within the second, a defeat in opposition to the Chiefs — the possibilities appeared distant. However there’s something within the Mississippi River in terms of this most undulating of groups.

With out Jefferson, the Vikings have gained 4 straight. The primary three got here beneath the management and accuracy of statuesque quarterback Kirk Cousins, who had solely missed two video games since 2015. For the primary he was rested (the Vikings had been within the playoffs); the second as he had Covid.

So when the sturdy Cousins tore his proper achilles tendon in a non-contact harm at Lambeau Subject, there was a numbed sense of disbelief and disappointment {that a} one way or the other promising season had been cruelly minimize quick.

Rookie Jaren Corridor was named starter for final Sunday’s sport in Atlanta, however the Vikings moved for Dobbs earlier than the NFL’s commerce deadline.

With Arizona starter Kyler Murray set to make his return tomorrow after 10 months out with an ACL tear, they despatched a sixth spherical decide to the Cardinals, and Dobbs joined Minnesota final Tuesday.

To lose one quarterback could also be considered a misfortune; to lose each appears to be like like carelessness. After Cousins went down in Inexperienced Bay, Corridor suffered a concussion within the first quarter in opposition to the Falcons, forcing Dobbs to swimsuit up for less than the 18th time within the NFL.

And a shaky begin — his first drive led to a security; the second in a pressured fumble — Dobbs started to make a sport of it, with head coach Kevin O’Connell continually providing steering into his earpiece.

Dobbs had first attended Vikings apply the Wednesday earlier than the sport and didn’t know lots of his new team-mates’ names. He was taking snaps from centre Garrett Bradbury on the sidelines to familiarise himself with the cadence.

‘I do know he’s very, very sensible however I can let you know that what he was in a position to do in 5 days’ time is as spectacular as what I’ve seen a quarterback do,’ O’Connell mentioned.

Already with out impregnable left sort out Christian Darrisaw earlier than the journey to Dobbs’ residence metropolis, the accidents stacked up.

Down went Vikings receiver KJ Osborn, dominated out with a concussion — after which operating again Cam Akers to a season-ending achilles tear.

However regardless of the adversity, Dobbs was precisely what the Vikings wanted, a pacesetter who used his legs and was correct together with his arm. And boy, did he improvise.

He led his new group with 66 yards on the bottom — 18 from a scramble into the tip zone within the third quarter; 22 on fourth and 7 within the game-winning last drive.

Dobbs, who threw for 224 complete yards, tossed two landing passes, together with the go-ahead six-yarder to receiver Brandon Powell with 22 seconds remaining to seal an unbelievable 31-28 win.

‘On this league,’ Dobbs mentioned, ‘there’s by no means an excuse on your circumstance. I discovered that from (Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin). Often individuals don’t care about your circumstances. They only need to see you succeed given the circumstances you’re given.’

Dobbs — beforehand 1-9 as an NFL starter — made historical past. No Vikings participant had beforehand led a game-winning drive on their debut, and nor had anybody run and thrown for a landing on their first Vikings sport.

To proceed the Hollywood-esque storyline, Dobbs was hoisted aloft within the locker room by Vikings gamers following the last word group win.

The defence had been clutch, mustering turnovers at essential factors, whereas the particular groups unit had been very good, with kicker Greg Joseph good and punter Ryan Wright not lacking a beat.

The laborious a part of the Vikings’ schedule is up to now.

Their subsequent 4 video games are in opposition to the Saints, Broncos, Bears and Raiders (after a bye). Then come the Bengals, Lions, Packers and Detroit once more.

And now, due to their rocket man at quarterback, it’s not inconceivable that injury-depleted Minnesota make one other against-all-odds run on the playoffs. If not, they’ll at all times have Atlanta…

Can Belichick break file? 

Huge bother in New England because the Patriots head to Frankfurt to play Indianapolis within the NFL’s fifth and last abroad sport of this season.

Invoice Belichick has coached the Pats since 2000 and with 331 complete profession wins, he solely trails Don Shula (347) within the all-time listing. However with the Patriots in disarray at 2-7 — the worst begin Belichick has had since his first 12 months in New England — it’s honest to ask if he’ll ever surpass that file. And if that’s the case, the place?

As wild rumours swirl in Boston that defeat by the Colts will see the six-time Tremendous Bowl-winner dismissed by proprietor Robert Kraft, a reporter went thus far to ask him. ‘I’m going to regulate what I can management and prepare for the Colts,’ he replied in true Belichickian trend.

And regardless of the lead to Deutsche Financial institution Park, Belichick will likely be giving nothing away.

‘I do the identical factor I at all times do. I attempt to do the most effective I can to assist our group each week,’ he mentioned forward of the sport.