Vikings ruin Cowboys’ chances for the playoffs while JJ McCarthy guides the win

Vikings Defeat Cowboys in Close Matchup

The Minnesota Vikings may not have playoff aspirations anymore, and oddly enough, the Dallas Cowboys weren’t even expected to play at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night. However, the Cowboys’ situation looks dire following a 34-26 defeat to the Vikings.

With this loss, the Vikings’ record improved to 6-8, while the Cowboys dropped to 6-7-1. They’re still technically in the race for the playoffs, but it’s a precarious position.

The game had a rough start for the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy’s first pass, intended to set the tone, ended in an interception due to a blitz from Donovan Wilson. It kind of set the mood, didn’t it? The Cowboys quickly capitalized, with Dak Prescott leading an 11-play drive that ended with a touchdown from Javonte Williams, putting Dallas up 7-0.

Things got interesting when a fake field goal attempt opened opportunities for the Cowboys. Brandon Aubrey, who is usually reliable, took a chance on a fourth-and-4 from Minnesota’s 29-yard line. Spoiler alert: he didn’t miss that chance—and he would return for a less favorable moment later.

The Vikings finally responded when Aaron Jones made an 18-yard reception. They faced some struggles but managed to equalize when McCarthy found Jalen Naylor for a touchdown, bringing the score to 7-7.

The second quarter was quite the rollercoaster, featuring a score from Malik Davis for the Cowboys and McCarthy executing a brilliant fake handoff for what would be another touchdown, keeping the game tight. Aubrey, however, missed a 51-yard field goal attempt—his third miss of the year was certainly unexpected.

After halftime, Dallas was leading 23-17 thanks to Aubrey’s two additional field goals, but the Vikings wouldn’t go down quietly. McCarthy’s big toss to Naylor set them up again.

Justin Jefferson didn’t find the end zone, which was surprising given his capabilities, but CJ Ham scored a one-yard touchdown to give the Vikings a 24-23 lead. In an attempt to reclaim momentum, Prescott found his potential but was stalled at Minnesota’s 41-yard line, leading to another missed field goal from Aubrey. Seriously, can he catch a break?

With the Vikings now in great position, McCarthy connected again with Naylor for a crucial touchdown, enhancing their lead to 31-23. Dallas attempted to retaliate but turned the ball over on downs, which forced them to burn through their timeouts as the Vikings seized control of the clock.

Statistically, McCarthy went 15-of-24 for 250 yards, including two touchdowns and one interception, while Prescott had a tough game without any touchdowns, completing 23 of 38 for 294 yards. CeeDee Lamb had a strong showing with six catches for 111 yards, while George Pickens struggled again, with just three catches for 33 yards.