Vikings @ Cowboys

Over/under is 47.5-48.5

I dont know which way it'll go? Depends so much on how JJM plays, he's a bit more of an unknown vs Dak ;)

I think the Vikings try to ball control, keep Dak and company on the bench as long as they can.

Would love to see JJM have a good showing on national tv for his own sake.

He's gotta be feeling better about things after last week.

MaroonBells wrote:
This game is going to be a doozy. Provided JJ McCarthy doesn't step on his own Willy again, the Vikings should be able to move the ball as well or better than they did against Washington. Cowboys have the worst pass defense in the NFL.

They also have best pass offense in the NFL. But it's not a clean offense. Prescott throws for a shit-ton of yards, but can also make mistakes. He threw for nearly 400 yards against the Lions, but also threw 2 picks and took 5 sacks. I expect a similar, football-flying, error-filled performance against a much better pass defense than the Lions have (Vikings have the NFL's 4th ranked pass defense. Lions rank 19th).

Strength against strength; weakness against weakness. Good old fashioned playground game with a lot of yards, scores and big plays on defense.

I don't like this match up at all especially with their two receivers. Plus just hope JJM can continue to improve. No regression please  :(

purplefaithful wrote:
Over/under is 47.5-48.5

I dont know which way it'll go? Depends so much on how JJM plays, he's a bit more of an unknown vs Dak ;)

I think the Vikings try to ball control, keep Dak and company on the bench as long as they can.

Would love to see JJM have a good showing on national tv for his own sake.

He's gotta be feeling better about things after last week.

To the bold- me three. If McCarthy plays well again, maybe even incorporate Jefferson (a guy can dream!), I won't be upset if we lose the game. I still believe in him and do think he's going to play well this week. But Dallas defense is going to play well too I imagine. It's a huge game for them.

I think our straightest path to getting the win is short passes, chew clock, and hope Dallas commits their usual blunders with some costly turnovers or boneheaded personal fouls. Ultimately though if you believe in conspiracies, it benefits the NFL a lot if Dallas is in the playoffs. And we're already eliminated so...

We'll see. Hopefully it's a fun game. Last week definitely was.

I think it will be tough for us to stop Dallas on offense unless CeeDee doesn't get cleared from concussion protocol.

This will be a good test for JJ McCarthy. Dallas can get pressure, but their defense has holes. I'd just like to see him pick up where he left off against Washington. Ball out on time, hit a few deep passes, and be efficient in the red zone.

I expect Dallas to win, but I have a weird feeling Jettas has a monster game.

MAD GAINZ wrote:
I think it will be tough for us to stop Dallas on offense unless CeeDee doesn't get cleared from concussion protocol.

This will be a good test for JJ McCarthy.  Dallas can get pressure, but their defense has holes.  I'd just like to see him pick up where he left off against Washington.  Ball out on time, hit a few deep passes, and be efficient in the red zone.

I expect Dallas to win, but I have a weird feeling Jettas has a monster game.

I tend to agree on Jet,  KOC needs to find a way to scheme him open enough for JJM to feel comfortable getting him more involved,  and to do it in a timely fashion so we dont give the home crowd any reason to be louder than usual.

MAD GAINZ wrote:
I think it will be tough for us to stop Dallas on offense unless CeeDee doesn't get cleared from concussion protocol.

This will be a good test for JJ McCarthy.  Dallas can get pressure, but their defense has holes.  I'd just like to see him pick up where he left off against Washington.  Ball out on time, hit a few deep passes, and be efficient in the red zone.

I expect Dallas to win, but I have a weird feeling Jettas has a monster game.

This is a game that screams to get the running game going in order to keep the Dallas offense on the sidelines.

Knucklehead wrote:

This is a game that screams to get the running game going in order to keep the Dallas offense on the sidelines.

100% agree...

Dont put this on JJM shoulders, dont get behind the sticks, lets go OL, old man Jones and Mason.

purplefaithful wrote:

100% agree...

Dont put this on JJM shoulders, dont get behind the sticks, lets go OL, old man Jones and Mason.

Agree. But Dallas has a league-average run defense. Their pass defense is where they're historically bad. KOC might be tempted to take advantage of that.

MaroonBells wrote:

Agree. But Dallas has a league-average run defense. Their pass defense is where they're historically bad. KOC might be tempted to take advantage of that.

I think doing so would be playing into their hands,  have to think they want a track meet not a boxing match.

MaroonBells wrote:

Agree. But Dallas has a league-average run defense. Their pass defense is where they're historically bad. KOC might be tempted to take advantage of that.

This defense is one of the worst in the league. 

- Fourth most yards allowed with 4,922
- Second most points given up per game at 29.7
- Most passing yards allowed with 3,317 averaging 255.2 per game
- 20th in rushing yards with 1,605

Two really bad defenses two weeks in a row.

Vikings offense vs. Cowboys defense
Cowboys’ defensive front still potent without Parsons: Even after trading Micah Parsons to Green Bay in a blockbuster deal before the season, Dallas has a group that will test a Vikings offensive line that had all five of its starters playing into the fourth quarter last week for the first time this season. Christian Darrisaw didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday because of the surgically repaired knee that’s still affecting his 2025 season; he would face rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku, who’s played his way into a starting role. The Cowboys fill out their front with former top picks like Quinnen Williams, Dante Fowler Jr., Jadeveon Clowney and former Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who came to Dallas in the Parsons trade.

Run game could provide key assist for McCarthy: The Vikings ran the ball on 55.6% of their snaps last week against the Commanders, posting the highest run rate they’ve ever had under Kevin O’Connell. The fact they never trailed helped them run the ball, but they also used the run game to put McCarthy in better situations that helped him play quickly and efficiently. The Vikings could take a similar approach against a Cowboys defense whose success rate against the run is just 46.5%, the second-worst in the NFL. The Vikings’ run game might also help them control the clock and keep Dallas’ offense on the sideline.

Cowboys’ receivers a test: CeeDee Lamb is trying to return from a concussion after hitting his head while leaping for a pass in the Cowboys’ loss to the Lions last Thursday night, but the four-time Pro Bowler could be back in time to lead a Dallas receiving group that might be the toughest the Vikings will face this season. George Pickens, the mercurial receiver the Cowboys acquired from Pittsburgh, has 78 catches while averaging 15.1 yards per touch. Fourth-year man KaVontae Turpin has impressive downfield speed that made him an All-Pro kick returner last year, and tight end Jake Ferguson has caught 75 passes for the NFL’s most prolific air game. Dallas will likely try to spread the Vikings out and test their secondary depth, though the Cowboys will have to have a plan for the Vikings’ pass rush in the process.

Pressuring Prescott is tough to do: Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has the 10th-lowest pressure rate in the NFL this season at only 30.9%, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. But he’s thrown five interceptions and had eight turnover-worthy plays when he is pressured, per Pro Football Focus. The Vikings, who blitz more than any team in the NFL, will come after Prescott and try to beat a Cowboys offensive line that has some weak spots — particularly on the left side, where second-year man Nate Thomas is filling in for the injured Tyler Guyton.

strib

It would make my day to see the Vikings go into their stadium and knock my least favorite team out of any chance for the playoffs.
Unfortunately, the teams who have to win, and are still in contention, usually win these games; not to mention, the Cowboys usually win at home.
This game has the feel of a potential rout to me.
I hope JJ plays well win or lose.

hogjowlsjohnny wrote:
It would make my day to see the Vikings go into their stadium and knock my least favorite team out of any chance for the playoffs. Unfortunately, the teams who have to win, and are still in contention, usually win these games; not to mention, the Cowboys usually win at home. This game has the feel of a potential rout to me. I hope JJ plays well win or lose.

It does to me too...And it will be if they go back to turning it over, dont run the ball well and the D decides to stay back in MN.

I think the D slows down their offense, feeds off the turnovers like last week and makes it a laugher. Run the ball well, get a lead and let JJ loose.

I think what has been lost to many Viking fans through all of our QB problems is just how good our defense has been the last few weeks. Vikings defense shut out the Commanders and held them to under 100 yards passing and 0 TDs, by far their lowest total of the year. Sure, Daniels was coming off an injury and may have been rusty. But the week before, the Vikings held Sam Darnold to under 100 yards passing and 0 TDs. By far his lowest total of the year. The week before that, the Vikings held Jordan Love to 139 yards passing and 0 TDs, by far his lowest total of the year. Yes, I'm fully aware that game script (the fact that the Vikings were completely inept on offense) had an impact in Seattle and Green Bay. 

Still, the Vikings defense has benefitted greatly from surges in performance from players like Hargrave, Wilson and Van Ginkel. If they stay on this trajectory, this is not going to be an easy outing for the Cowboys offense.

Ceedee Lamb cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday night

JimmyinSD wrote:

I think doing so would be playing into their hands,  have to think they want a track meet not a boxing match.

I think they want a track meet when they have the ball, maybe not so much when we have the ball. 

Since the Cowboys brought in Quinnen Williams, their run defense has improved quite a bit. They also have former Viking nemesis Kenny Clark. Vikings may not be able to run the ball as easily against the Cowboys as they did against the Commies. Dallas may actually stack the box in this one and force JJ to beat them, which would be bizarre for a team who ranks dead last in pass defense, but JJ's struggles are well known. He has to make them pay for that. He just can't turn the ball over.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think they want a track meet when they have the ball, maybe not so much when we have the ball. 

Since the Cowboys brought in Quinnen Williams, their run defense has improved quite a bit. They also have former Viking nemesis Kenny Clark. Vikings may not be able to run the ball as easily against the Cowboys as they did against the Commies. Dallas may actually stack the box in this one and force JJ to beat them, which would be bizarre for a team who ranks dead last in pass defense, but JJ's struggles are well known. He has to make them pay for that. He just can't turn the ball over.

I think this is exactly what DC's will do until JJM makes em change. That could be a while!

The season long stats on Dallas' defense are deceiving.  Since acquiring Quinnen Williams they are good against the run and more middle of the pack against the pass.  They were just so bad early that it skews the stats.

Their high level passing attack taking advantage of our weak secondary is likely going to be the difference.

comet52 wrote:
The season long stats on Dallas' defense are deceiving.  Since acquiring Quinnen Williams they are good against the run and more middle of the pack against the pass.  They were just so bad early that it skews the stats.

Their high level passing attack taking advantage of our weak secondary is likely going to be the difference.

This is true. Since QW arrived, their run defense has been much better. As I said before, I don't think the Vikings will be able to run the ball quite as well as they did against the Commies, so JJ is going to have to play well. 

Still, this Cowboys team gave up 400 yards and 44 points to the Lions just last week. I also think the Vikings defense has played as well as any defense the last three or four weeks. What's more, with Guyton out, the Cowboys will be starting 7th rounder Nate Thomas at left tackle. Thomas gave up FIVE hurries and EIGHT pressures against the Lions for an illustrious PFF pass blocking grade of 16.3. Fantasy players: bench Jake Ferguson. No way the Cowboys leave Thomas out there alone against Greenard, Gink and Turner. 

The Vikings defense is about attacking and penetrating, but they don't tackle particularly well, especially in the secondary. And Javonte Williams is one of the hardest-running RBs I've seen. With the Vikings focused on rushing the passer, Williams could be a nightmare.