National Football League
Dallas 31, Minnesota 28
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, November 22, 2020
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Temperature: Dome
Head Official: Bill Vinovich
Attendance: 0

Andy Dalton threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz with 1:37 to go, and the Dallas Cowboys held on for a 31-28 win over the host Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in Minneapolis.

Dalton completed 22 of 32 passes for 203 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for Dallas (3-7), which snapped a four-game losing streak. Ezekiel Elliott had 21 carries for 103 yards to go along with a receiving touchdown.

The loss spoiled a standout performance by Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, who completed 22 of 30 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Adam Thielen had eight catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns for Minnesota (4-6), which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

The Vikings trailed 16-7 at the half before they regrouped. Justin Jefferson put the Vikings on top 28-24 when he split a pair of Cowboys defenders and hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Cousins with 9:37 remaining.

That set the stage for the Cowboys' game-winning drive within the final two minutes. Schultz brought in a 2-yard score to cap an 11-play, 61-yard drive that took only 2:23 off the clock.

Dallas opened the scoring when Dalton found Elliott for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 9:26 to go in the first quarter. The Vikings blocked the Cowboys' extra-point attempt.

Minnesota bounced back on the next possession, which culminated with a 1-yard touchdown run by Dalvin Cook. It was the running back's 13th rushing touchdown, matching his career high from 2019.

The back-and-forth start continued as the Cowboys grabbed a 13-7 lead with 4:55 left in the second quarter. Rookie CeeDee Lamb provided a highlight-reel catch while twisting and falling backward for a 4-yard score.

A 19-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein increased the Cowboys' lead to 16-7 before halftime.

Minnesota rallied in the second half with back-to-back touchdown passes from Cousins to Thielen.

Thielen's first score, from 2 yards out, came on a remarkable one-handed catch in the back corner of the end zone. The seventh-year wideout secured the ball and tapped both feet inbounds.

The next touchdown reception was much more routine for Thielen, who got open for an easy 3-yard catch that gave the Vikings a 21-16 advantage on the first play in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys answered on the next drive to regain a 24-21 edge. Tony Pollard sprinted 42 yards to the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the season, and Lamb converted a two-point conversion.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
Rushing
Dallas   Minnesota
Ezekiel Elliott Player Dalvin Cook
21 Attempts 27
103 Yards 115
4.9 Avg Yards 4.3
0 Touchdowns 1
18 Long 16
Receiving
Dallas   Minnesota
Amari Cooper Player Adam Thielen
6 Receptions 8
81 Yards 123
13.5 Avg Yards 15.4
0 Touchdowns 2
32 Long 51
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Dallas 376 180 196 4 1 0 2.0 3
Minnesota 430 125 305 4 0 1 1.0 0
Upcoming Games
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Carolina. The Vikings have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .400 after a loss.
  • Dallas will play their next game at home against Washington. The Cowboys have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .429 after a loss.