Vikings Spoil Cowboys’ Home Stand, 34-26, Leaving Dallas on Edge of Playoff Race

The Minnesota Vikings outplayed the Dallas Cowboys 34-26 on Sunday night, snapping Dallas’s brief .500 streak and putting the Cowboys in a precarious playoff position.

Game Overview

J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings’ rookie quarterback, was the driving force behind the win. He finished 15 of 24 for 250 yards, threw two touchdowns and an interception. The first touchdown was a 4‑yard run by Aaron Jones, while the second came on a 4‑yard catch by Jalen Nailor. Nailor also scored the Vikings’ second touchdown, a 4‑yard pass from McCarthy that pushed the lead to eight early in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys, led by Dak Prescott, posted 294 passing yards on 23 of 38 completions but did not throw a touchdown pass for the third time this season. Prescott’s lone touchdown came on a 1‑yard run by Javonte Williams, while Malik Davis also rushed for a 1‑yard touchdown.

Aubrey’s field‑goal attempts were a mixed bag. He made four kicks, but missed two long attempts from 51 and 59 yards. A 6‑yard run on a fake field‑goal helped keep a drive alive, but the Vikings still managed to force a turnover on downs after a contested fourth‑and‑7 play. Malik Davis’ catch was originally ruled a first down, but replay reversed the call.

Will Reichard capped the game with a 53‑yard field goal with 1:08 remaining after Dallas’ challenge failed, sealing the Vikings’ 34‑26 victory.

Key Performances

J.J. McCarthy

McCarthy’s 15‑of‑24 performance was highlighted by a tipped pass that landed in the hands of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on his first pass of the game. He also said, “I think just experience, getting to my eighth game and just feeling more and more comfortable in the pocket, seeing the defenses,” after the game.

Jalen Nailor

Nailor had two touchdowns and was the only Vikings receiver to score twice. He told reporters, “It’s just a thing to keep building on the rest of the way and leading into next year. We just have a one‑game mindset no matter what our record is.”

C.J. Ham

The Cowboys’ running back had the go‑ahead touchdown on his first carry of the season, a 1‑yard plunge that put Minnesota ahead 24‑23 late in the third quarter.

Dak Prescott

Prescott, the NFL leader in passing yards entering the game, expressed surprise at the team’s decline: “Definitely surprised, especially (to) get rolling like we did for those few weeks, then watch the confidence just skyrocket,” he said.

Brian Schottenheimer

Cowboys head coach Schottenheimer noted the lack of momentum: “We never got to the point where I felt like we were able to just kind of seize momentum,” he said. “There wasn’t a momentum‑changing play in any regard other than probably the interception early in the game.”

Injury Report

**Vikings:

• DL Javon Hargrave exited with a groin injury and was ruled out.
• T Brian O’Neill injured an ankle.

Cowboys:**

• Javonte Williams was ruled out in the second half with a concussion.
• LT Nate Thomas, the backup filling in for the inactive Tyler Guyton (ankle), injured a shoulder.
• FB Hunter Luepke was ruled out with a concussion after getting injured covering a kickoff to finish the first half.
• DE Jadeveon Clowney was active after missing one game with a hamstring injury.

Playoff Implications

The Cowboys, sitting at 6‑7‑1, must win their remaining three games and hope that defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia goes 0‑3 to overtake the Eagles in the NFC East. Earlier in the season, Dallas had a three‑game winning streak that put them over .500 for the first time, with victories over the Kansas City Chiefs and the Eagles.

The Vikings, at 6‑8, had already been eliminated from the postseason race before kickoff. Minnesota had been a 14‑win playoff qualifier a year ago, but their recent performance has left them outside the playoff picture.

Key Takeaways

• Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy and Jalen Nailor combined for two touchdowns, securing a 34‑26 win.
• Dallas’s Dak Prescott finished the game without a touchdown pass for the third time.
• The Cowboys now face a difficult path to the playoffs, needing three straight wins and a collapse from the Eagles.

The Vikings’ victory at AT&T Stadium not only ended Dallas’s brief .500 streak but also highlighted the Cowboys’ need for consistency if they hope to remain in playoff contention.

Closing

With the win, the Vikings have taken a step toward the end of the season, while the Cowboys must regroup and focus on the remaining games. The battle for the NFC East continues, and Dallas’s fate now hinges on both their own performance and the outcome of Philadelphia’s final games.