Dallas Sees Their Playoffs Chances Die at Home

ARLINGTON, TX — The Dallas Cowboys took a major hit to their playoff hopes in a disappointing home loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. Despite success on offense all night, the Cowboys' defense never managed to stop the Vikings as the Cowboys fell, 34-26.

The Vikings' J.J. McCarthy threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another, C.J. Ham scored the go-ahead touchdown on his first carry of the season, and the Minnesota Vikings claimed the win at AT&T Stadium.

The Vikings (6-8), eliminated from playoff contention before kickoff, won their second straight game after entering the night in spoiler mode. Minnesota, a 14-win playoff team a year ago, pushed the Cowboys (6-7-1) to the brink of elimination. Dallas must win its final three games and hope Philadelphia loses out to have any chance of overtaking the Eagles in the NFC East.

The loss was Dallas’ second straight following a three-game winning streak that briefly moved the team above .500 for the first time this season. Prescott said the sudden shift underscored how thin the margins are.

McCarthy completed 15 of 24 passes for 250 yards with an interception — a tipped ball on his first attempt — improving the rookie’s record to 4-4 as a starter. Both of his touchdown passes went to Jalen Nailor, including a 4-yard grab early in the fourth quarter that extended Minnesota’s lead to 31-23.

Ham’s 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter gave the Vikings the lead for good.

Brandon Aubrey kicked four field goals for Dallas but missed two attempts at home for the first time in his career, pushing kicks from 51 and 59 yards wide right. The second miss set up the short field that Minnesota converted into Nailor’s second touchdown.

Dallas failed on a fourth-down conversion in the fourth quarter when Malik Davis was marked short after a replay overturned the initial first-down ruling. The Cowboys also lost a challenge on Aaron Jones’ 16-yard run, which helped set up Will Reichard’s 53-yard field goal that sealed the win with 1:08 remaining.

Prescott, the NFL’s passing leader entering Week 15, completed 23 of 38 passes for 294 yards but did not throw a touchdown for just the third time this season. Javonte Williams and Davis each scored on 1-yard runs for Dallas.

Up next

Vikings: Visit the New York Giants next Sunday in their road finale.
Cowboys: Host the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday in their regular-season home finale.