Vikings QB Sam Bradford leaves after hard hit from Cowboys

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is having emergency eye surgery Wednesday night, and his availability to coach Thursday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys is uncertain, the team announced.

Star running back Ezekiel Elliott was held under 90 yards rushing for the first time since Week Two. Then they travel to NY to play the Giants (8-3) and Dallas to play the Cowboys (11-1) before finishing the season at home in a big division match-up against the Green Bay Packers (5-6).

The Vikings, who began the season 5-0 behind replacement quarterback Bradford, have now lost six of their last seven games to fall out of realistic playoff contention.

RELATIVELY SMOOTH TRANSITION: Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer had one day to prepare for his National Football League head coaching debut, after beloved boss Mike Zimmer had emergency eye surgery to fix a detached retina. Minnesota’s third-ranked defence did their fiery leader proud, holding the explosive Cowboys offence to season lows in points, yards (264) and first downs (13). Officials initially did not catch the fumble, but a heads-up challenge by Jason Garrett got the call overturned and Prescott found Bryant on the next play. “Like I said what we have in this locker room is bigger than the record”.

Bradford was hit in the head as he released the ball by defensive lineman Cedric Thornton, but the referee didn’t call the penalty.

Early in the second quarter, the Cowboys crossed midfield but defensive end Everson Griffen forced Cowboys wideout Lucky Whitehead to fumble. Additionally, with the win they move to three games ahead of the 7-3-1 Seattle Seahawks atop the NFC and 2.5 games ahead of the New York Giants in the NFC East. With the Green Bay Packers defense now ranked seventh in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game, the addition of a healthy Adrian Peterson to the Vikings offense could be enough to send Minnesota to the NFL Playoffs in a Wild Card spot. Bryant scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard catch on the next play.

“We had an opportunity to win the game, it just slipped away”, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said.

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said Zimmer was uncertain to recover in time for the matchup Thursday night against the league-leading Cowboys.

Minnesota took a 9 to 7 lead in the fourth-quarter. The Vikings says Zimmer’s status for coaching tonight’s game is uncertain. And suddenly, with four games left in their season, they are on the verge of securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

There’s something else a 12th straight win would do when the Cowboys return from an extended break with a visit to the New York Giants on December 11.

“They must think I’m Dak”, Wilber said, referring to rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. When does Marcus Sherels come back?

But Bryant continues to be focused on what the Cowboys have going on and the dream of reaching the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995, the last of three Super Bowl title teams Irvin was a part of. Minnesota K Kai Forbath has converted all four of his field-goal attempts since replacing Blair Walsh.