Vikings Shock Cowboys in NFC Divisional Stunner, 45-28

ARLINGTON, TX — The Minnesota Vikings redeemed themselves from last season’s Wild Card heartbreak by overpowering the Dallas Cowboys 45-28 at AT&T Stadium. With the win, the Vikings advance to the NFC Championship Game, where they’ll face the top-seeded Chicago Bears on the road.

Game Recap

Arlington, TX — In a game that saw the top-ranked Dallas defense pitted against Minnesota’s high-octane passing attack, the Vikings delivered a near-flawless performance on offense and weathered every punch the Cowboys threw. The 45–28 final score only told part of the story of a game filled with big plays, costly mistakes, and playoff drama.

The Vikings wasted no time setting the tone, as J.J. McCarthy orchestrated an 8-play opening drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Wan’Dale Robinson. “We knew we had to punch first and keep them on their heels,” McCarthy said postgame. “This is the moment we’ve been working for all year.”

Dallas responded in the first quarter with a 4-yard touchdown from Dak Prescott to Mike Evans, but the Cowboys’ offense struggled with inconsistency and missed opportunities. “We didn’t execute when it mattered most,” said Prescott. “We had our chances, but too many mistakes cost us.”

The turning point came in the second quarter when McCarthy found Brenton Baskerville on a 28-yard touchdown and James Cook burst through for an 83-yard touchdown run that silenced the home crowd. The Vikings carried a 27–7 halftime lead, turning a close contest into an uphill battle for the Cowboys.

In the second half, Dallas clawed back with a 4-yard touchdown from Prescott to Brandon Garland and a 3-yard run by Aaron Jones, but each time they threatened, Minnesota’s defense answered. Danielle Hunter’s interception return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter all but sealed it. “We’ve been hearing all season about how we’re the worst defense,” said Hunter. “We wanted to prove we could step up in the biggest game of the year.”

The Vikings’ final dagger came late, with McCarthy finding Justin Jefferson for 27 yards on a critical third down to kill the clock. “This was for last year, for how we lost in the Wild Card,” Jefferson said. “We’re not done yet.”

Key Stats

The highly anticipated battle between Minnesota’s passing attack and Dallas’s vaunted secondary was won by the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy, the league’s leading passer, proved too much for the Cowboys’ 2nd-ranked pass defense, completing 21 of 31 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns, no interceptions. Running back James Cook broke loose for an 83-yard touchdown that flipped the momentum in the second quarter. McCarthy added 36 yards and a rushing score himself, demonstrating poise and versatility in the face of a rested defense.

For the Cowboys, Dak Prescott finished 18 of 42 for 231 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions, failing to find rhythm against a Vikings defense that bent but didn’t break. Mike Evans was his most reliable target, notching 80 yards and a score on six receptions.

Ultimately, the Vikings’ defense, despite ranking last in the league, rose to the occasion, with critical takeaways by Danielle Hunter (pick-six), Charleston Galloway, and Jalen Ramsey (each with an interception), flipping the script on a game that had favored Dallas’s defense on paper.

Up Next

The Vikings now head to Chicago to face the NFC’s top-seeded Bears in the NFC Championship. The Bears will host the game at Soldier Field next week, looking to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.