NEWS FLASH: The Minnesota Vikings have received good news.

Despite a 1-4 start to the NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings have worked their way into playoff contention. After going 6-2 in their last eight games, the Vikings have moved up to the sixth seed in the NFC wild card battle, where someone needs to make it. Minnesota is solidly in the driver’s seat to qualify for a postseason berth in 2024 after defeating 7th seed and division foe Green Bay Packers earlier in the season.

More impressive is that all has been accomplished without the franchise’s much-maligned quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who has put up a borderline MVP stat line over the last two years – ever since his season-ending Achilles injury in Week 8 against, ironically, the Packers.

Since his amazing, fresh-off-the-plane triumph against the New Orleans Saints, the Vikings have been witness to the wonders of Joshua Dobbs. However, once the initial awe faded, Dobbs’ play has dropped in recent weeks, resulting in his benching in the Vikings’ 3-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

And now, it appears like Dobbs will spend more time on the sideline, as Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings have made a change at quarterback, according to Ian Rapoport.

Why Is Nick Mullens the Minnesota Vikings’ new starting quarterback?
Really good performance. Kevin O’Connell had this to say about the situation after replacing Dobbs with former undrafted 49er Nick Mullens on Sunday.

“We’ll look into it.” “I don’t want to get into anything,” O’Connell stated, according to the team’s official X account. “At this point, we’re a week-to-week offense… and we’ll keep you updated throughout the week.”

Being deliberately evasive and non-committal is rarely a positive sign for an incumbent starter, as head coaches are usually quick to support their quarterbacks, even if they are considering a change. The fact that O’Connell was verbally indicating uncertainties about the position’s short-term prospects should have been interpreted as a (metaphorical) death warrant.

After a 4 interception performance against the Chicago Bears in their previous game, the Vikings were already exploring adjustments at the position. And when Dobbs struggled against a mediocre Las Vegas Raiders unit that ranks in the middle of the pack in Defensive DVOA, going 10 for 23 for 63 yards through the air, it was evident that Minnesota needed to make a change.

The Vikings face the Cincinnati Bengals this week, who are coming off an astounding 20-point 34-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts, and the Vikings are 3.5 point underdogs – let’s see what Mullens can do!