10 rapid thoughts on the Vikings loss to the Cowboys in Week 11

More rapid thoughts from Minnesota’s loss to Dallas

Minnesota’s offensive line gets embarrassed: During a season in which the unit has made a lot of progress in the right direction, the Vikings’ offensive line was absolutely dominated by the Cowboys’ pass rush on Sunday.

Dallas finished with seven sacks in the contest, easily the most Minnesota has allowed in a single matchup this year. With Christian Darrisaw out for their next game, things aren’t going to get any easier for the Vikings’ offensive line in Week 12.

Joseph ends his home drought: Before this weekend’s matchup with the Cowboys, we hadn’t seen Vikings kicker Greg Joseph convert a field-goal attempt inside U.S. Bank Stadium since the team’s Week 1 over the Green Bay Packers. But in the first quarter on Sunday, Joseph’s home drought came to an end in the first quarter when he nailed a 25-yard field goal.

Former Viking mocks his old team: Jayron Kearse was brought into the NFL by the Vikings back in 2016 when Minnesota used a seventh-round draft pick on him. Kearse went on to spend his first four seasons in the league with the Vikings, but now, he’s the starting safety for the Cowboys.

Against his former team on Sunday, Kearse wound up sacking Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins in the third quarter. To celebrate his play, the veteran safety decided to mock his old team by doing the Skol chant.

Jefferson held in check: Following a superhuman performance against the Bills in Week 10, Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson came back down to earth on Sunday in the team’s loss to Dallas.

Against the Cowboys, Jefferson finished with just three catches for 33 yards. His 33 receiving yards are the second-fewest he’s had in a single game this season, with his 14 yards in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions being the least he’s had in a contest this year.