Vikings Flashback: Minnesota sneaks past Dallas in 2019
By Ali Siddiqui
Minnesota Vikings squeezed past Dallas Cowboys on a Sunday night in 2019
On Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys will face off at U.S. Bank Stadium. At 4-5, the Vikings are on a three-game winning streak (all against divisional foes), while the Cowboys are 2-7 and on a four-game losing streak since losing quarterback Dak Prescott for the season.
Dallas leads the all-time series 16-15. The last time these two teams faced each other was last season in Week 10.
The Vikings won 28-24 to improve to 7-3 on the season. The defense came up huge on their final two possessions, stopping the Cowboys on fourth down and then intercepting a hail mary pass to close out the game.
Kirk Cousins completed 23 of his 32 pass attempts for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Dalvin Cook rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. He also had seven receptions for 86 yards. Kyle Rudolph caught two touchdown passes.
“Dalvin handled everything great,” coach Mike Zimmer said in an article on the ESPN website. “He played outstanding. Had some unbelievable runs, tough, competitive runs. I think Dalvin believes that he’s really good. I believe that too.”
For Dallas, Prescott completed 28 of his 46 pass attempts for 397 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 47 yards on 20 carries. Amari Cooper had 11 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown. Randall Cobb had six receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith each tied for a game-high 13 tackles.
When the Vikings were 1-5, it looked like the season was headed for a disaster, but they have really picked it up since, and with a win, they would be only a game out of the final playoff spot in the NFC. Who thought that would have been possible just last month?
The Vikings should win this game and it will be a shocker if they don’t, but again they were also expected to beat the Atlanta Falcons at home and lose to the Green Bay Packers on the road.
If this team wants to make the playoffs, they absolutely need to win this Sunday.