to acquire defensive tackle Quinnen Williams<\/a>, and although that was never meant to be just a one-year, win-now move, it showed some hubris. If Dallas truly thought it could make the playoffs after a 3-5-1 start to the season, they were ignoring some deficiencies that couldn\u2019t be fixed with one move. It was clear to see Sunday night, with Dallas being outplayed by a team that was 5-8 coming in, that there\u2019s work to do.<\/p>\nJ.J. McCarthy has a promising performance<\/p>\n
One of the big questions before the game was whether McCarthy would be able to build on a solid performance last week, or revert to the subpar form from his first six starts.<\/p>\n
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It was pretty good news for the Vikings. McCarthy was far from perfect. He missed a few throws, including several to Justin Jefferson, who had another quiet game. But he also made some nice plays. A touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor in the back of the end zone, against tight coverage, was impressive. McCarthy also scored on a nifty naked bootleg after he sold the fake handoff very well. That came on fourth-and-1 and tied the game at 14.<\/p>\n
The Cowboys\u2019 pass defense has been suspect most of the season, even though the defense as a whole improved after the Williams trade. But it was still good for Minnesota to see McCarthy making things happen in what was just his eighth career start.<\/p>\n
A nice 29-yard pass to T.J. Hockenson and a 23-yard pass to Nailor set up a 1-yard touchdown run by C.J. Ham. That put the Vikings ahead 24-23 heading into the fourth quarter. McCarthy completed 15-of-24 passes for 250 yards. The Vikings have to be pleased with that.<\/p>\n
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The Vikings (6-8) were mathematically eliminated from the playoff race before the game started but they were still putting plenty of pressure on Dallas, thanks to their young quarterback keeping the offense moving.<\/p>\n
Cowboys can\u2019t catch Vikings<\/p>\n
The Cowboys had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, but something strange happened: Kicker Brandon Aubrey missed his second field goal of the game. Aubrey, widely considered the NFL\u2019s best kicker, had missed only two field goals in Dallas\u2019 first 13 games. That\u2019s what kind of night it was for the Cowboys.<\/p>\n
Minnesota took advantage right after Aubrey\u2019s rare miss. McCarthy hit a few passes, including his second touchdown pass to Nailor, and the Vikings led 31-23. The Cowboys went for it on fourth down shortly after that, and a catch was just short of the first-down marker, leading to a turnover on downs. When the Vikings went for it on fourth down shortly after, Aaron Jones easily picked it up on a run up the middle. That helped set up a field goal that gave the Vikings a two-score lead. Minnesota made those plays on Sunday night and the Cowboys couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
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The Cowboys aren\u2019t that far off, but they do need some improvements over the offseason. They will need to make a decision on whether to re-sign Pickens, which is a little more complicated with him having two straight poor outings. The defense needs to get better against the pass. It\u2019s an important offseason coming up in Dallas.<\/p>\n
After Sunday night\u2019s loss, there\u2019s no more concern about a postseason run getting in the way of starting the offseason work as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
Live coverage is over37 updates![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1765776010_840_dims\"\/)
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
The Cowboys will now have to win the NFC East to get into the playoffs, which is going to be nearly impossible. They\u2019ll have to win out, and the Eagles will have to lose out.<\/p>\n
Up Next:
Week 16: vs. Chargers
Week 17: at Commanders
Week 18: at Giants<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 8:29 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
The Vikings have pulled off the win in Dallas, which all-but eliminated the Cowboys from playoff contention. They now have to win out to get in, while the Eagles can\u2019t win another game.<\/p>\n
The Vikings were eliminated before the game, too. But the win moved them to 6-8 on the season. Dallas now sits at 6-7-1.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 8:27 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
Brandon Aubrey is good from 41 yards out after the Cowboys settled for a quick field goal. They needed one anyways.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s now an 8-point game. If the Cowboys don\u2019t make the onside kick, this one is over.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 8:22 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
Will Reichard hit a 53-yard field goal, and this game is over. The Vikings lead 34-23 now with about 1 minute left.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 8:17 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
Aaron Jones just broke out an 18-yard run for a first down, and that may do it. The Cowboys challenged a fumble there, which wasn\u2019t really a fumble, but they had to try.<\/p>\n
The Vikings have 3:02 to close this game out, and Dallas is out of timeouts.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
This was such a good tackle to force a fourth down. The Vikings easily picked it up on the next play, however, so they keep going.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 8:05 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
A holding penalty pushed the Cowboys back there, and then Davis was stopped just shy of the first down marker there.<\/p>\n
The Vikings have pulled off the stop, and will now take over near midfield with 5:21 left in the game. This one is about over.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 7:55 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
Looking back, the Cowboys should have punted. That missed field goal gave the Vikings a short field, and they took full advantage.<\/p>\n
J.J. McCarthy just found a wide open Jalen Nailor in the end zone, and the Vikings are suddenly up by eight.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 7:50 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
Brandon Aubrey has now missed twice tonight, this time from 59 yards out. It\u2019s a stunning off night from him.<\/p>\n
The Vikings are still up by 1 now with 12:20 left.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 7:45 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
The Vikings have taken the lead, but the Cowboys \u2014 who essentially need a win here to keep their playoff hopes alive \u2014 will have a 2nd-and-1 just across midfield when we come back.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 7:39 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
The Vikings are now out in front after a short handoff to CJ Ham, who rolled into the end zone untouched. That\u2019s the fifth rushing touchdown of his career.<\/p>\n
The Vikings are up 24-23 now with 1:12 left in the third.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
That was a huge stop for the Cowboys there on third down. Wilson just drilled Nailor in the backfield on a third-and-short, but J.J. McCarthy found Nailor again for a 23-yard gain on fourth down.<\/p>\n
So, the Vikings will keep moving down the field.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 7:28 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
The Cowboys used several big plays there to get down the field quick, but a false start penalty pushed them back on third down and eventually forced another Brandon Aubrey field goal. Dallas is 1-for-9 on third down so far tonight.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s good from 41, so the Cowboys lead 23-17 now with 4:50 left in the third quarter.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
The Cowboys forced a quick three-and-out, so Dak Prescott and thier offense will come back out now after a deep punt.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
The Cowboys got all the way into the red zone, thanks in part to a wild one-handed grab from Schoonmaker for a 29-yard gain, but the drive stalled out.<\/p>\n
Brandon Aubrey drilled a 26-yarder, and the Cowboys are back in front.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 6:53 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
We\u2019re all locked up halfway through this Sunday Night Football matchup. The Cowboys will get the ball out of the break.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 6:52 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
Brandon Aubrey made this one from 37 yards out after the earlier miss, and this game is tied again just before halftime.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
The Vikings made it all the way down into the red zone, but the Cowboys came up with a huge stop after back-to-back incompletions.<\/p>\n
Will Reichard drilled a 29-yard field goal, though, so the Vikings are up 17-14 now with 1:48 left in the half.<\/p>\n
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM PST<\/p>\n
Ryan Young<\/p>\n
Well, Brandon Aubrey just missed his second field goal of the year. That was a 51-yard attempt.<\/p>\n
So the Vikings will take over at their own 33 yard line with about six minutes left in the half.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The moments of excitement over the Dallas Cowboys perhaps getting involved in the playoff race turned out to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":346104,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[72535,67137,117942,49,48,1721,3163,1750,1771,33132,38444,27240,514,63157,28544,82,29903,29822,20935,13271],"class_list":["post-346103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-aaron-jones","tag-brandon-aubrey","tag-c-j-ham","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-dallas-cowboys","tag-detroit-lions","tag-george-pickens","tag-j-j-mccarthy","tag-jalen-nailor","tag-jj-mccarthy","tag-justin-jefferson","tag-nfl","tag-playoff-race","tag-quinnen-williams","tag-sports","tag-t-j-hockenson","tag-the-cowboys","tag-touchdown-pass","tag-vikings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=346103"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346103\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/346104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=346103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=346103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=346103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}