EAGAN, Minn. – In football, the phrase reads ‘the good teams find a way.’ For the Dallas Cowboys, that statement rang true in the thrilling Halloween NFC showdown. Without Dak Prescott under center and starting left tackle Tyron Smith for a good portion of the ballgame, the Cowboys found a way to rally and come out victorious.
Cooper Rush stepped in for Prescott, who is nursing a right calf strain, and guided the team to a win. Rush completed 24 of 40 passes for 325 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in his NFL debut in primetime. The Vikings loaded the box to prevent getting gashed on the ground by Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard but that just created favorable one-on-one matchups on the outside for Dallas’ receiving threats. Amari Cooper led the charge with eight receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown. CeeDee Lamb also eclipsed the 100-yard marker, accumulating 112 yards on six receptions with an 18.7 average-per-catch. The team’s X-factor vertical threat, Cedrick Wilson, put up three receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown to shift the momentum during the matchup. Rush evenly distributed the ball and despite a makeshift offensive line and an all-around rocky team start, led the squad to a notch in the win column.
“I’m very proud of Coop [Cooper Rush],” CeeDee Lamb stated after the game. “For him to come in with the shoes he had to fill, with Dak, and a hostile environment, first start, there’s a lot riding on the game, I know he felt a lot of pressure…I’m proud of him, proud of what he accomplished.”
On the defensive side of the ball. Micah Parsons and Randy Gregory spearheaded Dan Quinn’s unit. Parsons showcased his sideline-to sideline range and was effective both in coverage as an off-the-ball linebacker and attacking the line of scrimmage. Parsons led the team in tackles (11) and tackles for loss (4). Gregory led the charge in the trenches. His relentless pursuit wreaked havoc on Kirk Cousins. He constantly bullied rookie Christian Darrisaw and collapsed the pocket with a lethal speed/power combination. Gregory registered his fifth sack of the season and three quarterback hits.
Here is an overview of the Week 8 matchup.
First Quarter:
Not the best start for the Cowboys. The Vikings marched down the field 75 yards on their opening drive, culminating in an Adam Thielen 20-yard touchdown. Dallas’ defense allowed two plays of 20-plus yards and a pass interference penalty on Trevon Diggs put the Vikings in favorable field position. Kirk Cousins hit a wide-open Thielen on a quick screen to take an early lead at U.S. Bank Stadium, 7-0.
The Cowboys’ offense did not come out with a favorable outcome on Cooper Rush’s first drive. Despite Rush’s poise in the pocket, a missed linebacker blitz pickup by Ezekiel Elliott on third down resulted in a sack by Eric Kendricks. Then, Greg Zuerlein missed a 43-yard field goal to end the drive.
Dallas got fortunate on the next series. Cousins missed Justin Jefferson, who beat Anthony Brown on a double move. Then, Cousins missed a wide-open Tyler Conklin on third down to result in a punt.
Second Quarter:
The continued drive by Dallas’ offense ended in an interception to begin the second quarter. Cooper Rush made a poor decision and threw into traffic, the ball was tipped by Harrison Smith and picked off by former Cowboy, Xavier Woods.
The defense responded. Anthony Brown laid out a monstrous hard hit on third down to prevent a would-be Vikings’ first down. Minnesota was not able to capitalize on Rush’s interception. The score remined 7-0, despite a missed field goal and pick in the first two offensive possessions.
Kellen Moore tried to stay committed to the run to try and keep balance on offense. Several dirty runs by Elliott and Tony Pollard, a 29-yard completion to Cooper early on the drive, and a third-down 9-yard conversion to Cedrick Wilson helped move the chains and get the Cowboys in field goal range. Zuerlein made a 38-yarder to make it a 7-3 ballgame.
A costly defensive offside penalty on the punt by Bradlee Anae provided the Vikings with a first down, and a 32-yard gain on fourth-and-one given up to Thielen put the Vikings in position for a field goal. Joseph’s 45-yarder was good, and the Vikings then took a 10-3 lead.
The Cowboys had to punt with a struggling offensive line and nearly another turnover by Rush; A lucky output that seemed to be a microcosm of the team’s seven-point deficit despite the miscues. Tyron Smith left the game with an ankle injury and Ty Nsekhe came in at left tackle.
Third Quarter:
The Cowboys got the ball to start the second half and maximized. In three plays, Dallas marched 75 yards down the field. Rush connected with Cedrick Wilson on a 73-yard pass/catch to tie the game, 10-10. Both safeties were lined up wide in Cover 2, Wilson split them down the middle of the field with speed and made his way into the end zone. Rush’s pass to Wilson was the longest pass by a quarterback making his first start as a Cowboy since Roger Staubach had a 75-yard touchdown pass against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969.
Dallas began to hit their stride. Randy Gregory came up with an impact play that stalled the next drive for Minnesota. He quickly shot past rookie Christian Darrisaw on third down by using his hands against him and brought Cousins to the ground, notching his fifth sack of the season. His relentless pursuit and game-wrecking speed off the edge forced the Vikings to punt.
Then the Vikings returned the favor. Everson Griffen got to Rush on third down to force a Cowboys’ punt.
On the next drive, the Cowboys’ defense held Cousins and co. to a field goal. Joseph drilled a 40-yarder to give Minnesota a three-point lead. Following a 10-yard pass to Amari Cooper on the next drive for Dallas, the possession ended in a punt following an incompletion to Dalton Schultz and short passes to both Elliott and Wilson.
The next drive ended by a Micah Parsons ‘tackle for loss. Before Cousins had finished making his read, Parsons sniffed out the play and flew to Ham on third down to end the Vikings’ drive.
Then, despite a beautifully executed trick play – 35-yard completion from Cedrick Wilson to CeeDee Lamb — the Cowboys once again had to settle for a field goal. Wilson rolled back to his right and hit an open Lamb across the field for a big gain. Zuerlein made a 39-yarder to tie the game, 13-13 at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
An impressive drive for the Cowboys ended with a turnover. After a connection with Lamb for 13 yards, a 15-yard gain for Amari Cooper, and 19-yards to Lamb, Rush was sacked, and the ball stripped. Xavier Woods knocked Rush off his feet at midfield, Anthony Barr recovered, and Cousins took over.
The Cowboys then forced a three-and-out and no points resulted. Mike Zimmer’s defense did the same thing to the Cowboys’ offense on the following drive, culminating in another punt. CeeDee Lamb dropped a pass on third down, that likely would have resulted in a first down and continued drive. Team has a small margin for error with so many players out due to injury and that play cost the squad.
After several penalties by Dallas, the unit held the Vikings to a field goal. Tarell Basham was flagged for a roughing the passer penalty (although suspect) that gave the Vikings a first down. A few plays later, Randy Gregory was called for unnecessary roughness (14 yards) and set the Vikings up at the Dallas 13-yard line and a first. Two plays later, another unnecessary roughness call on Gregory (4 yards), put Minnesota at first and goal. Joseph made the 24-yard field goal to make it a 16-13 game.
The following drive sealed the win for Dallas on the grand stage. From second-and-ten, Amari Cooper hauled in a circus catch. On a 33-yard pass/catch, the ball bounced off Breeland’s chest and Cooper juggled the ball to gain possession with absurd concentration. The next play, Rush once again connected with Cooper, this time for an 18-yard gain. A third-down completion to Ezekiel Elliott set up the touchdown play. Rush found Cooper in the back corner of the end zone with single coverage for the victory. Cooper leapt and made the catch over Cameron Dantzler for the 20-16 win.
Following the game in his postgame interview, Rush described “I couldn’t tell if he [Amari Cooper] caught it or not. There was a little traffic. It was high and inside, and I saw it go in between, but I didn’t know if he completed the process or not. Looked up, he had a touchdown, we’re good to go.”
The Cowboys continue their win streak and improve to 6-1. Dallas keeps pace with the elite NFC teams and extends the lead in the division.
