Dillon Gabriel took his much heralded first NFL start on Sunday. In doing so, he became the first quarterback to debut as a starter in an international game! That momentous event took place in an international exhibition game with the Cleveland Browns facing off against the Minnesota Vikings on neutral turf in Dublin, Ireland. In his outing last Saturday, Gabriel became the 41st different starting QB for the Browns since their relaunch in 1999. This will be a notable change for the team.
The Brownies were given new life when backup QB J.J. McCarthy went down with an ankle injury. In making this change, the League added another layer of drama to the game. Gabriel’s debut couldn’t arrive in sharper contrast to what’s been happening over on Vikings, which has been undergoing an impressive transformation of its own. Carson Wentz has given Minnesota’s offense better structure recently, exceeding a total of 500 passing yards in his last two starts. That steadiness shone as he led the Vikings through their pandemic-laden, overseas schedule.
In their last game, the Vikings lost a heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 24-21. Though ultimately unsuccessful, Minnesota made a strong stand. Their entire receiving corps has been unstoppable, with both Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison going over 100 yards each last week. The team has a great overall record in international play, sitting at 4-1. This exceptionally popular win leaves them second only to the Jacksonville Jaguars for international wins.
That matchup in Dublin was already a historic occasion for the Vikings. They literally made history as the first European team to play double headers in two different countries in Europe. Their determination to have a global footprint today is apparent with their recent efforts as they’ve gone double-time in Europe lately.
Both teams were put through the wringer. Gabriel’s debut swung the momentum of the game and signaled the beginning of a new era for the Browns. Gabriel is emerging as a difference maker. Fans and analysts will be keeping a close eye on him in this crucial position to see how he continues to grow.
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