Was that a dirty hit on Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs? It sure looked like it.

The play call from head coach Kevin O’Connell was too cute at the time. There was no reason to have quarterback Josh Dobbs take a quick toss from tight end T.J. Hockenson in a short-yardage situation. Frankly, it wouldn’t have made much sense in any situation.

The fact that Dobbs absorbed a shot in the open field and fumbled the ball in the process added insult to injury. He shouldn’t have been put in that position in the first place. Why willingly give him the ball way behind the line of scrimmage with defenders barreling down at him at 100 mph?

The decision was rightfully criticized in the immediate aftermath of the Vikings’ 21-20 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday night at Empower Field. Taking a closer look at the sequence, however, the Vikings have every right to be upset with how the officials handled themselves in that moment.

There should have been a flag thrown as Dobbs appeared to be the victim of a dirty hit from Br...