The moments of excitement over the Dallas Cowboys perhaps getting involved in the playoff race turned out to be nothing but false hope.
The Cowboys won three in a row to get back in the playoff conversation, then lost two in a row to fall well out of it. A loss at the Detroit Lions in Week 14 was somewhat understandable. A home loss to a Minnesota Vikings team that had already been eliminated from playoff contention was not.
The Cowboys aren't mathematically eliminated from the playoffs at 6-7-1, but it would take a miracle for them to make it. And what was apparent inSunday's 34-26 loss to the Vikingsis that the Cowboys aren't a playoff-quality team. The defense couldn't contain Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, who has struggled most of the season. George Pickens continued his late-season disappearance with another quiet game. Even kicker Brandon Aubrey, the Cowboys' most reliable asset, missed two field goals.
The Cowboys made a big move at the trade deadlineto acquire defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, 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't 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's work to do.
J.J. McCarthy has a promising performance
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.
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.
The Cowboys' 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.
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.
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.
Cowboys can't catch Vikings
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's best kicker, had missed only two field goals in Dallas' first 13 games. That's what kind of night it was for the Cowboys.
Minnesota took advantage right after Aubrey's 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't.
The Cowboys aren't 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's an important offseason coming up in Dallas.
After Sunday night's loss, there's no more concern about a postseason run getting in the way of starting the offseason work as soon as possible.
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Up next for Cowboys
The Cowboys will now have to win the NFC East to get into the playoffs, which is going to be nearly impossible. They'll have to win out, and the Eagles will have to lose out.
Up Next: Week 16: vs. Chargers Week 17: at Commanders Week 18: at Giants
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J.J. McCarthy vs. Dak Prescott
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Final: Vikings 34, Cowboys 26
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't win another game.
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.
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Cowboys kick a quick FG
Brandon Aubrey is good from 41 yards out after the Cowboys settled for a quick field goal. They needed one anyways.
It's now an 8-point game. If the Cowboys don't make the onside kick, this one is over.
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Vikings add a FG
Will Reichard hit a 53-yard field goal, and this game is over. The Vikings lead 34-23 now with about 1 minute left.
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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't really a fumble, but they had to try.
The Vikings have 3:02 to close this game out, and Dallas is out of timeouts.
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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.
Brandon Aubrey has now missed twice tonight, this time from 59 yards out. It's a stunning off night from him.
The Vikings are still up by 1 now with 12:20 left.
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End of 3: Vikings 24, Cowboys 23
The Vikings have taken the lead, but the Cowboys — who essentially need a win here to keep their playoff hopes alive — will have a 2nd-and-1 just across midfield when we come back.
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Touchdown, Vikings!
The Vikings are now out in front after a short handoff to CJ Ham, who rolled into the end zone untouched. That's the fifth rushing touchdown of his career.
The Vikings are up 24-23 now with 1:12 left in the third.
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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.
So, the Vikings will keep moving down the field.
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Cowboys settle for another FG
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.
He's good from 41, so the Cowboys lead 23-17 now with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
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The Cowboys forced a quick three-and-out, so Dak Prescott and thier offense will come back out now after a deep punt.
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Cowboys open the second half with a FG
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.
Brandon Aubrey drilled a 26-yarder, and the Cowboys are back in front.
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Halftime: Cowboys 17, Vikings 17
We're all locked up halfway through this Sunday Night Football matchup. The Cowboys will get the ball out of the break.
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Cowboys tie it up
Brandon Aubrey made this one from 37 yards out after the earlier miss, and this game is tied again just before halftime.
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Vikings lead for the first time tonight
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.
Will Reichard drilled a 29-yard field goal, though, so the Vikings are up 17-14 now with 1:48 left in the half.
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Brandon Aubrey ... missed
Well, Brandon Aubrey just missed his second field goal of the year. That was a 51-yard attempt.
So the Vikings will take over at their own 33 yard line with about six minutes left in the half.
