It’s Cowboys Week, And Here Are Some Things to Keep in Mind
Nate Powalie
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It’s Cowboys Week for the Minnesota Vikings, and there’s a lot of hype leading up to this game.
Two of the top teams in the NFC are about to do battle on Sunday. The Vikings are currently Kings of the North with an 8-1 record. On the other side of the coin, the Cowboys are 6-3, putting them third in the NFC East.
In the all-time series, Minnesota is 15-18 against “America’s Team”, including a 3-4 mark against Dallas in the playoffs (per the team website). And fortune favors Dallas, considering the Vikings are 7-12 in home games against the ‘Boys in the series.
Last time these two met was on Halloween 2021, and the Vikings took a 20-16 loss at home. Dallas has won four out of the last five match ups in this series heading into Sunday.
Key Match ups to Watch
There is definitely some star power to keep an eye on in this game. Of course, the big battle everyone will want to watch is wide receiver Justin Jefferson against corner Trevon Diggs. Both of these players are known for their big-play ability on their respective sides of the ball. Diggs takes more chances, and he has been burned more frequently this season. However, he does lead Dallas with three interceptions so far this season. Likewise, Jefferson is the Vikings lead receiver, totaling 1,060 yards through nine contests this season.
Another intriguing match up to watch will be the battle of the running backs. And this is where Vikings vs. Cowboys could really prove interesting. You have two top-flight running backs in Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook. But, the ‘Boys also have someone behind Elliott in Tony Pollard. Minnesota’s backup is Alexander Mattison. Both RB2s are strong players.
Big Test for Minnesota’s O-Line against Dallas’ D
This will be a difficult undertaking for a banged-up Vikes’ Offensive Line. Dustin Baker explains why the Cowboys’ D could spell trouble in the trenches.
Dallas has sacked the quarterback 35 times through nine games this season, tops in the NFL, according to Statmuse. For a team that has a injury-plagued offensive line, that is not good news.
Another piece to watch will be the rushing attack. Dallas has the eighth-best ground game in the NFL averaging just over 134.5 yards per contest. The Vikings, on the other side, are only 23rd in rushing at 107 yards per game in 2022. Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News explains how that statistic could be advantageous to the Cowboys.
Final Rundown/Media Guide for Cowboys vs. Vikings
This, surprisingly, is one of the more anticipated match ups of the 2022 season. Here’s how to watch and some of the details:
Game – Dallas Cowboys (6-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (8-1)
When – Sunday, Nov. 20, 4:25 PM ET (3:25 PM CT)
Where – U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Forecast: Dome Stadium, Outside will be 23 degrees and partly sunny with a brisk 15 mph wind.
How to watch: CBS, streaming on Sunday Ticket, NFL+, and other services. The Vikings website has more ways to connect to the game.
This game will be one of the most exciting for the 2022 season, and it will be a proving ground for a team’s playoff case.
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