The Minnesota Vikings may already be out of the playoff picture, but they delivered a devastating blow to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy accounted for three total touchdowns as Minnesota stunned Dallas 34–26 at AT&T Stadium, pushing the Cowboys’ already fragile playoff hopes to the brink.

With the loss, Dallas slipped to 6-7-1, while Minnesota improved to 6-8. Though the Cowboys are not mathematically eliminated, their postseason path has narrowed to a near impossibility after failing to capitalize at home in a must-win scenario.

Rough start, strong finish for JJ McCarthy

The night began shakily for McCarthy. On his very first pass attempt, Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage, allowing Quinnen Williams to intercept it. The turnover immediately set Dallas up with excellent field position.

Quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense capitalized, though it took time. After an 11-play, 35-yard drive—extended by a bold fake field goal run by kicker Brandon Aubrey—Javonte Williams punched in a one-yard touchdown to give Dallas a 7–0 lead.

Minnesota settled in on its third drive. A key 18-yard catch by Aaron Jones, combined with a 15-yard horse-collar penalty, flipped field position. On the very next play, McCarthy delivered a strike to Jalen Nailor for a touchdown, tying the game at 7–7.

Offensive fireworks before halftime

The second quarter saw both offenses find rhythm. Dallas regained the lead with Malik Davis scoring from a yard out, but McCarthy answered with confidence. After guiding a 75-yard drive, the rookie executed a flawless fake handoff at the goal line and walked in untouched for a rushing touchdown.

Kicking miscues also became a storyline. Aubrey, typically one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers, missed a rare 51-yard attempt—his third miss of the season from beyond 50 yards. Minnesota’s Will Reichard converted his chance, but Aubrey redeemed himself before halftime. Both teams entered the break with 17 points apiece.

Second-half swing favors Minnesota

Dallas appeared to take control early in the second half. Two more field goals from Aubrey gave the Cowboys a 23–17 lead, but those missed touchdowns loomed large.

McCarthy made Dallas pay. A deep completion to Nailor moved the Vikings into the red zone. While Justin Jefferson was heavily targeted but kept out of the end zone, C.J. Ham powered in from a yard out to give Minnesota a 24–23 advantage.

Prescott attempted to respond, but the Cowboys stalled near midfield. From 59 yards, Aubrey missed again—his fourth miss of the year, all from 50-plus yards. The miss proved costly.

Nailor seals it, Cowboys fade

With momentum firmly on their side, the Vikings drove deep into Dallas territory once more. On first-and-goal from the four-yard line, McCarthy found Jalen Nailor for his second receiving touchdown of the night, extending Minnesota’s lead to 31–23.

Dallas’ next possession ended on downs, and Minnesota leaned on Aaron Jones, who picked up multiple first downs to drain the clock and force Dallas to burn all of its timeouts. The Vikings closed out the game, leaving the Cowboys searching for answers.

By the numbers

McCarthy finished 15-of-24 for 250 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception, while adding a rushing score. A 58-yard catch by Jordan Addison highlighted McCarthy’s ability to stretch the field.

For Dallas, Dak Prescott went 23-of-38 for 294 yards but failed to throw a touchdown pass. CeeDee Lamb led all receivers with 111 yards on six catches, while George Pickens was held in check for the second straight week, catching just three passes for 33 yards.

As the season winds down, the Cowboys now face long odds to keep their playoff hopes alive, while McCarthy’s poised performance continues to offer optimism for Minnesota’s future—even in a lost season.