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The Minnesota Vikings may be eliminated from the playoffs, but the Dallas Cowboys technically weren’t going into their Sunday night at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys’ chances are now at rock bottom after falling to the Vikings, 34-26, on Sunday night.
The Vikings are now 6-8 on the season, while the Cowboys fell to 6-7-1. And while they’re not technically eliminated, the Cowboys’ playoff chances hang in the balance now.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy (9) celebrates after a touchdown in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
It was an inauspicious start for the Vikings in this contest as JJ McCarthy’s very first pass attempt was an interception as it was tipped at the line by a blitzing Donovan Wilson and Quinnen Williams looked up and hauled it in.
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense had great field position for their opening drive, and even though it took 11 plays to go 35 yards, Javonte Williams was able to punch it into the end zone for the 7-0 lead.
It also wouldn’t have happened without a fake field goal when Brandon Aubrey, one of the most trusted legs in the NFL, ran for a first down on fourth-and-4 from the Minnesota 29-yard line. However, Aubrey would come up in a not-so-good way later in this game.
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The Vikings were finally able to get something going after the field was turned over on their third drive when Aaron Jones was pushed out of bounds on an 18-yard reception and the Cowboys were called for a horse-neck tackle that gained 15 yards. On the very next play, McCarthy fired a touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor – his first of two scores in this one – to tie the game at seven apiece.
The second quarter brought a flurry of offense on both sides as Dallas answered with Malik Davis rushing in from a yard out while McCarthy capped a 75-yard drive with a perfectly executed fake pass at the Dallas one-yard line for a walk-in touchdown.
On the ensuing drive, Aubrey, who again has one of the most reliable legs in the game, missed just his third field goal attempt of the year, this one from 51 yards out. After Will Reichard hit one, Aubrey had redemption before halftime as both teams had 17 points.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) looks to throw in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
In the second half, the Cowboys finished with a 23-17 lead thanks to two more Aubrey field goals, but seven points is what they were hoping for. McCarthy helped make it happen with a big pass to Nailor to set up the Vikings in the red zone.
After Justin Jefferson, who struggled in this one despite the goals, didn’t haul in a touchdown pass, CJ Ham buried a one-yard touchdown to make it 24-23 after the extra point.
Prescott tried to match his sophomore counterpart, but the Cowboys stalled at Minnesota’s 41-yard line. At 59 yards out, it’s well within Aubrey’s reach, but he misses once again. All four of his field goal misses this season have been from 50 yards or more.
Now, with the ball near midfield, the Vikings had a chance to extend their lead, and they got just what they needed. On 1st-and-goal from the Dallas four-yard line, McCarthy found Nailor again and he celebrated as the Vikings went up 31-23.
The Cowboys would turn the ball over on downs on the ensuing drive, and the Vikings saw Aaron Jones pick up multiple first downs to not only keep the clock running, but force Dallas to use all of their timeouts.
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In the box, McCarthy was 15-of-24 for 250 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, as Jordan Addison’s 58-yard catch was among some of his big throws.
For the Cowboys, Prescott was 23-of-38 for 294 yards, though he never threw a touchdown pass. CeeDee Lamb led all receivers in this game with 111 yards on six catches, but George Pickens was held quiet for the second straight game. He had just three catches for 33 yards.
