Minnesota and Dallas on Sunday Night Football is a must-win for the Cowboys (6-6-1) to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The Vikings are barely hanging on at 5-8 and would need to win out, plus get a lot of help, to make the postseason. The loser will pretty much be done, while the winner keeps some resemblance of hope alive.
It’s been a tough year for the Vikings, handing the reins over to J.J. McCarthy as the team’s franchise leader and starting quarterback. The up-and-down performance on the field, coupled with injuries that have derailed Minnesota’s 2025 campaign. The Vikings got a huge shutout victory over Washington last week, 31-0. McCarthy had a big game with three touchdown passes in the win. He’ll need to duplicate that performance against the Cowboys in Week 15 to keep the momentum going.
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Dallas took one on the chin against Detroit in Week 14, falling in defeat 44-30. The Cowboys lost the turnover battle, committing three, while the Lions played a clean game in that regard. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense moved the ball as he passed for 376 yards, but he was also picked off twice. CeeDee Lamb was off to a nice start with six catches for 121 yards before leaving with a concussion. Due to Philadelphia’s recent struggles, Dallas is still alive in the NFC East and NFC wild-card races, although it cannot afford setbacks anymore.
Vikings vs. Cowboys start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium | Arlington, Texas
TV channel, live stream: NBC, Peacock, NFL+
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Vikings and Cowboys close out the Week 15 Sunday slate in primetime.
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Ryan Young
The Vikings made it all the way down into the red zone, but the Cowboys came up with a huge stop after back-to-back incompletions.
Will Reichard drilled a 29-yard field goal, though, so the Vikings are up 17-14 now with 1:48 left in the half.
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Ryan Young
Well, Brandon Aubrey just missed his second field goal of the year. That was a 51-yard attempt.
So the Vikings will take over at their own 33 yard line with about six minutes left in the half.
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Ryan Young
J.J. McCarthy was stopped just shy of the goal line on third down on a scramble there. The Vikings went for it on fourth, and McCarthy whipped out the perfect fake.
He just strolled into the end zone, and we’ve got a tie game once again.
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Ryan Young
Jordan Addison was WIDE open there on third down, and the Vikings are suddenly in scoring position after that 58-yard gain.
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Ryan Young
And there it is. Malik Davis punched in the 1-yard score, his second touchdown of the season, and the Cowboys are back in front.
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Ryan Young
We’ve got a tie game, but the Cowboys will start the second quarter at the 1-yard line ready to punch in a touchdown. Dak Prescott found CeeDee Lamb for a 30-yard gain, and then quickly pushed the Cowboys into scoring position.
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Ryan Young
The Cowboys haven’t even attempted a fake field goal since 2001…
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Ryan Young
The Vikings are on the board. J.J. McCarthy just found Jalen Nailor with a wild throw in the corner of the end zone. Nailor was shaken up on the play, but the touchdown stands.
We’re all tied up 7-7.
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Ryan Young
That’s a three-and-out for the Cowboys, who started their drive inside their own 5-yard line.
Also, Javonte Williams is now questionable to return with a shoulder injury.
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Ryan Young
The Vikings picked up a first down there, but then Dallas stuffed Aaron Jones on third and short to force a quick punt.
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys will get the ball back quickly.
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Ryan Young
After the fake field goal and a fourth-and-1 push near the goal line, Javonte Williams punched in the touchdown.
Dallas leads 7-0 early.
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Ryan Young
Brandon Aubrey is almost automatic, but he and the Cowboys suddenly pulled out a fake FG there.
That’s a 6-yard run from Aubrey, and the Cowboys have a fresh set of downs.
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Ryan Young
That was a brutal start for J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings. His first pass is tipped at the line and intercepted, so the Cowboys will take over with great field position right away.
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Ryan Young
The Cowboys have won the toss and deferred, so J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings will get the ball first. Here we go…
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Kate Magdziuk
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Kate Magdziuk
The Cowboys caught a break for Week 15 as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive with a win over the Vikings; star wideout CeeDee Lamb has officially cleared concussion protocol and will be available for Sunday night.
Lamb entered concussion protocol after a big hit attempting an end-zone grab against the Lions in Week 14’s TNF contest, giving him an extra couple of days to clear protocol leading up to tonight’s matchup.
Lamb has had 100-plus receiving yards in two consecutive games, having totaled 13 catches for 233 yards and 1 touchdown over his last two games.
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Jori Epstein, Andrew Siciliano
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Kate Magdziuk
The Minnesota Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention before they even took the field Sunday as the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles both walked away with victories in Week 15.
That means the Vikings will have now missed the playoffs in two of Kevin O’Connell’s four seasons as head coach in Minnesota despite coming off a win over the Commanders in Week 14.
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Kate Magdziuk
With less than 90 minutes remaining until the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys kick off on “Sunday Night Football,” each team has announced its Week 15 inactives for gameday.
Here’s a look:
Vikings inactives
Cowboys inactives
