Vikings smash Cowboys' playoff hopes as JJ McCarthy leads solution to victory

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The Minnesota Vikings could also be eradicated from the playoffs, however the Dallas Cowboys technically weren’t heading into their Sunday night time matchup at AT&T Stadium.

The Cowboys ’ possibilities at the moment are at all-time low after falling to the Vikings, 34-26, on Sunday night time.

The Vikings at the moment are 6-8 on the season, whereas the Cowboys fell to 6-7-1. And although they’re not technically eradicated, the Cowboys’ playoff chances are high hanging by a thread now.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates after a landing throughout the first half towards the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Photos)

It was an inauspicious begin for the Vikings on this contest, as J.J. McCarthy very first go try was an interception, because it was tipped on the line by a blitzing Donovan Wilson and Quinnen Williams appeared up and hauled it in.

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense had large area place for his or her opening drive, and although it took 11 performs to go 35 yards, Javonte Williams was capable of nail it into the tip zone for the 7-0 lead.

It additionally wouldn’t have occurred with no pretend area objective, as Brandon Aubrey, probably the most trusted legs within the NFL, ran for a primary down on fourth-and-4 from the Minnesota 29-yard line. Nevertheless, Aubrey would come up in a not so great way later on this recreation.

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The Vikings had been lastly capable of get one thing going after the sector was flipped on their third drive when Aaron Jones was pushed out of bounds on an 18-yard reception, and the Cowboys had been referred to as for a horse collar deal with, tacking on 15 yards. On the very subsequent play, McCarthy fired a landing go to Jalen Nailor — his first of two scores on this one — to tie the sport at seven apiece.

The second quarter caused a wave of offense on either side, as Dallas responded with Malik Davis dashing one in from a yard out, whereas McCarthy capped a 75-yard drive with a wonderfully executed pretend handoff on Dallas’ one-yard line for a walk-in landing.

On the following drive, Aubrey, who once more has probably the most dependable legs within the recreation, missed simply his third area objective try of the 12 months, this one from 51 yards out. After Will Reichard nailed one, Aubrey had some redemption earlier than halftime, as each groups tallied 17 factors.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) seems to be to throw throughout the first half towards the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Photos)

Within the second half, the Cowboys ended up with a 23-17 lead thanks to 2 extra Aubrey area objectives, however seven factors is what they had been hoping for. McCarthy helped make it occur with an enormous go to Nailor to arrange the Vikings within the purple zone.

After Justin Jefferson , who struggled on this one regardless of the targets, not hauling in a landing go, C.J. Ham buried a one-yard landing to make it 24-23 after the additional level.

Prescott tried to match his second-year counterpart, however the Cowboys stalled on Minnesota’s 41-yard line. At 59 yards out, it’s effectively inside Aubrey’s vary, however he missed but once more. All 4 of his area objective misses this season have been from 50 yards and past.

Now, with the ball close to midfield, the Vikings had an opportunity to additional their lead and so they obtained simply what they wanted. On 1st-and-goal from the Dallas four-yard line, McCarthy discovered Nailor once more and he celebrated because the Vikings went up 31-23.

The Cowboys would flip the ball over on downs on the following drive, and the Vikings noticed Aaron Jones choose up a number of first downs to not solely maintain the clock working, however power Dallas to make use of all their timeouts.

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Within the field rating, McCarthy was 15-of-24 for 250 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, as Jordan Addison’s 58-yard catch was amongst a few of his nice throws.

For the Cowboys, Prescott was 23-of-38 for 294 yards, although he by no means threw a landing go. CeeDee Lamb led all receivers on this recreation with 111 yards on six catches, however George Pickens was saved quiet for the second straight recreation. He had simply three catches for 33 yards.