Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s good Sunday night in Dallas included a memorable one-yard rushing touchdown.
McCarthy faked a handoff in the second quarter and then rolled to his left to find nothing but open field in front of him for as easy a score as any player could hope to have. McCarthy had so much space that he began celebrating on his way into the end zone with his version of the “Griddy” dance that teammate Justin Jefferson has made famous.
After the 34-26 win was in the books, head coach Kevin O’Connell praised the play — “I knew the play and I knew what was happening, and the action was so good I even had to take a double take right there” — but said he “would not classify as special” the way McCarthy finished the play. The quarterback acknowledged that he knew the premature celebration would rankle his coach.
“I did it in practice, and I was told not to do it,” McCarthy said. “So, just me being who I am, it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m more enticed to do it.’ But if it’s that open, obviously just get in the end zone no matter what -- and be coachable and do what my coach says. So yeah, I’ll definitely get a minus for that one.”
The win was the second in a row for the Vikings, but they were eliminated from playoff contention before kickoff. That makes McCarthy’s development even more of a focus in the final three weeks and the Vikings will prefer more reasons to celebrate even if they don’t love exactly how it unfolds.
The Cowboys began the day knowing they needed to win out and have the Eagles go 2-2 in the final four games to win the NFC East. That scenario would have left the Cowboys 10-6-1 and the Eagles 10-7.
But it was not to be.
Hours after the Eagles shut out the Raiders 31-0, the Cowboys stunk it up at home. They lost to the Vikings 34-26.
“We certainly didn’t think we’d be here in this kind of shape with three games to go and be behind the eight ball the way we are,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said afterward. “It’s very disappointing. I’m really, obviously, very disappointed for our fans. I’m disappointed for these players. I didn’t expect that. I thought we could come out here and on both sides of the ball make a better accounting of ourselves. Minnesota did the best job out there today on both sides of the ball.”
The Cowboys aren’t eliminated from the playoffs, but their odds are longer than long to make the postseason. Realistically, they are done, something quarterback Dak Prescott acknowledged postgame.
“It’s shitty,” Prescott said at one point, calling Sunday one of the toughest losses of his career.
The Cowboys know where they stand after a second consecutive loss: They will miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
“I don’t know how to describe a miracle,” Jones said. “I know it would take a very tight circumstance to get us in. We expected that. We thought we’d have to win out to have a little room, but not a lot. Now, of course, I know how to count.”
The Vikings had nothing to play for but pride in Sunday Night Football. That was enough for them to put a serious dent in the Cowboys’ playoff hopes.
Minnesota upset Dallas, 34-26.
The Cowboys aren’t eliminated in playoff contention, but their odds aren’t good after a second consecutive loss dropped them to 6-7-1. The Vikings, who are eliminated from playoff contention, improved to 6-8.
The Cowboys punted only once, but turned it over on downs once and Brandon Aubrey missed two field goals. They scored only two touchdowns, going 2-for-12 on third down, as they settled for Aubrey field goals of 37, 26, 41 and 41 yards.
They outgained the Vikings 423 to 327.
J.J. McCarthy’s first pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by blitzing safety Donovan Wilson and McCarthy, in an attempt to knock it down, tipped it to Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The interception gave the Cowboys the ball at the Vikings’ 35, and they took an early 7-0 lead on Javonte Williams’ 1-yard run.
The Cowboys led 14-7 on Malik Davis’ 1-yard run early in the second quarter, but the crowd of 92,991 had little to cheer thereafter.
Will Reichard’s 53-yard field goal with 1:08 remaining, which came after the Cowboys turned it over on downs at the Minnesota 39, was the death knell for Dallas. The Cowboys kicked a field goal with 19 seconds left, but failed to recover the onside kick to end it.
Dak Prescott finished 23-of-38 for 294 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. CeeDee Lamb caught six passes for 111 yards, and Javonte Williams rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries despite injuring his shoulder on the first possession.
McCarthy was 15-of-24 for 250 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Both scoring tosses went to Jalen Nailor for 20 and 4 yards. T.J. Hockenson caught four passes for 66 yards.
Several players left late in the game with injuries. For the Cowboys, Quinnen Williams went in for a concussion check and left tackle Nate Thomas didn’t return from a shoulder injury. The Vikings lost edge rusher Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) and right tackle Brian O’Neill (ankle).
Jalen Nailor’s second touchdown might turn out to be the Cowboys’ death knell.
The Vikings wide receiver caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy, increasing Minnesota’s lead to 31-23 with 9:12 remaining.
The Cowboys won’t be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss, but they would need a miracle for their season to extend beyond the regular season.
The Vikings drove 51 yards in five plays after Brandon Aubrey missed his second field goal of the night. His 59-yard try was wide right.
Josh Oliver and T.J. Hockenson each had a catch of 18 yards in the possession.
McCarthy is now 14- of-23 for 244 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
The Vikings lead the Cowboys 24-23 with 1:12 remaining in the third quarter.
The teams were tied 17-17 at halftime before the Cowboys had field-goal drives of 50 and 67 yards to open the second half. They led 23-17 on Brandon Aubrey’s kicks of 26 and 41 yards.
But the Vikings went 70 yards in eight plays on their second drive of the second half to take back the lead they last had at 17-14.
C.J. Ham scored on a 1-yard run.
J.J. McCarthy had throws of 29 yards to T.J. Hockenson, 23 yards to Jalen Nailor and 10 yards to Justin Jefferson in the drive.
McCarthy is now 11-of-20 for 204 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
