Mar 3, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports.
A where were you when moment, a Minnesota Vikings fan did the unthinkable.
Newcomer quarterback Josh Dobbs led the Vikings to a triumph in Week 9 at the Atlanta Falcons, using extreme mobility and a dominant clutch gene to defeat the NFC foe — just five days after he joined the franchise via trade.
Dobbs has a condition known as Alopecia and often has thin eyebrows or none at all, depending on the photo one pulls from the internet. And while that has absolutely nothing to do with his career as a football player, one Vikings fan decided he must get rid of his eyebrows in solidarity with the new Vikings quarterback.
The X app account belongs to a man named Red and a handle @christvaulter. Right after the game — like mere minutes — Red jettisoned eyebrows from his face, declaring it Josh Dobbs season at his home.
Here’s the video:
Dobbs joined the Vikings five days ago at the NFL’s trade deadline, shipped from the Arizona Cardinals to the Vikings along with a 7th-Round draft pick for a 6th-Rounder to the desert.
The veteran passer was nominated for QB2 duty on the depth chart heading into Week 9, available if something happened to rookie quarterback Jaren Hall. Almost right away, Hall was injured with a concussion, and Dobbs was thrust into action.
After a topsy-turvy affair, Minnesota prevailed 31-28, thanks to a game-winning drive from Dobbs, propelling the Vikings to a 5-4 record and driver’s seat placement in the NFC’s playoff picture.
All told, Dobbs posted 158 passing yards on 20 for 30 completions versus attempts, 66 rushing yards, 3 total touchdowns, a couple of fumbles, and a safety. His afternoon absolutely was not flawless — no one thought it would be — but with two minutes remaining in the game and trailing by four points, Dobbs marched his Vikings 75 yards in one minute and 46 seconds. Impressive.
Minnesota needed to down the Falcons on Sunday and the New Orleans Saints next week if it wanted to be considered playoff contenders, chiefly because both teams are teetering on the NFC’s wildcard cut-off. Dobbs provided the spark — and then some — in Atlanta and will travel to Minneapolis for a possible QB1 gig against the Saints in six days.
For now, it is unclear if Dobbs will start versus the Saints, but if fans are shaving off body hair in support, there’s a reasonable chance Dobbs is the guy at QB1.
Otherwise, Red shaved his eyebrows in tribute to QB2.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.