Despite loss, Vikings mostly contain Prescott, Elliott

This is the type of football Dallas has to be able to win if they want to win the Super Bowl.

Special teams coach Mike Priefer took over from Zimmer, who has now undergone three eye surgeries in 30 days. Perhaps tackles T.J. Clemmings and Jeremiah Sirles, repeatedly overmatched by recent opponents with the Vikings up to their seventh starting combination, will settle in and help keep quarterback Sam Bradford from feeling too much pressure.

“It would have been nice to go out and win it for him”.

But, for the most part, the Vikings’ defense had nothing to be ashamed about in a 17-15 loss with defensive coordinator George Edwards calling the plays and the players swarming to the ball.

The lack of offense eventually caught up with the Vikings because the turnover differential the defense created in the early going was unsustainable, and teams have plenty of ways to scheme against a team with no running game and no pass protection. As Bradford launched his pass over the head of Kyle Rudolph, the Cowboys defender hit him in the face. This is a guy who really wanted to be here tonight for us. “That is what we are made of”.

Zimmer was diagnosed with a detached retina, missing a game for the first time in his 23-year National Football League coaching career.

The injury is believed to have occurred during a loss to the Seahawks on November 13, in which Gronkowski said he received “probably one of the hardest I’ve got hit in my career” from safety Earl Thomas. “That’s the thing that says the most about our team”. It could have also made the difference in their losses to teams like the Detroit Lions (twice) and Washington Redskins.

Dez Bryant scored a fourth-quarter touchdown one play after the Cowboys’ first takeaway since October 30, and Dallas (11-1) won its 11th consecutive game to tie a franchise record.

The second half started with two punts, but the Vikings then drove down the field to grab another field goal, cutting the lead to 7-6.

Bradford was 7 of 7 on the final drive and finished with a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerick McKinnon. Bradford has shown to be a very capable passer when given time. Well, partly because he took a pretty solid shot to the face from Cowboys defensive lineman Cedric Thornton.

“I knew coming into this game it was going to be a tough match and I had to be on my “A” game”, Bryant said. Luckily, the Cowboys stopped the two-point conversion attempt and held on to win the game. “He puts his heart and soul into this, and we’ve got to give it back to him”.

The pattern for Elliott has been consistent in recent weeks – a slow start before a late surge that gets his rushing total close to 100 yards. He also fumbled the snap on what could have been the game-clinching first down with just over two minutes left. “It’s just self-inflicted stuff”.

That last sentence contains two key points.

“We have to find a way to win these, even when we shoot ourselves in the foot”, Griffen said.

On the other hand, Vikings did their best to maintain their position against Cowboys but seemed to be overpowered. And based on record, they are. The Vikings played a video clip of Zimmer encouraging the team during training camp with a get-well-soon message on the scoreboard prior to kickoff. Overall the Cowboys gained only 264 yards, far below their 400+ ypg average, and were only one for nine on third down, by far their worst performance on the year. The Vikings would like nothing better, but right now only one of these teams is a lock to reach the postseason.