Cowboys blunt Viking’s late rally to win 11th straight

The Vikings were unfairly handed a loss when they should have had more opportunity to win.

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.

Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer had approximately 24 hours notice that he may be called upon for substitute head coaching duty for Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Vikings defensive end Brian Robison blasted the officials after the game, saying he was sick of referees blowing calls in key moments. Zimmer, however, ordinarily handles all the defensive calls, so that job was assumed by Edwards.

Before the game, the Vikings played a short video of Zimmer addressing the team during a practice.

Minnesota held the Cowboys to season lows in points, yards and first downs.

“We have grit in this organization and this year”, Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway said. “It’s what we’re made of”. We embody Caoch Zimmer.

If Zimmer isn’t ready for the next game at Jacksonville, Priefer probably will stay in place. However, recent reports are that Peterson was seen running at a recent Vikings practice, leading many to speculate that he will, indeed, make a return before the 2016 National Football League season ends.

The biggest story heading into the game was whether or not the Cowboys could continue their historic winning streak against a Vikings team heading in the opposite direction after their own hot start. “That’s the thing that says the most about our team”.

Greenway mentioned the 2012 finish when four straight wins led to a 10-6 mark and a Wild Card berth. The receiver caught an 8-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter after a fumbled punt by Minnesota’s Adam Thielen. Dallas responded with another punt before the Vikings finally put points on the board with 2:33 left in the first quarter on a Kai Forbath 48-yard field goal.

“He’s such a competitor, that’s why I love working for him”, Priefer said. “Just bad ball security and the ball got out on me”. Bradford then fired a high pass to Kyle Rudolph. On the next play, Bradford threw it no man’s land, but the Dallas defender hit Bradford in the helmet and no flag was called. The second came after the Vikings fumbled a punt and then Prescott connected with Bryant for an eight-yard pass and run for the score. The Vikings reached the red zone on two other occasions and had to settle for field goals both times. Minnesota could have sent the game to overtime, but missed on a two point conversion. A running back like Peterson could have a huge game against a struggling defense like Indianapolis, who give up over 116 rushing yards per game this season.

The Cowboys went into the half with a 7-3 lead. “Especially in a close game like this, we need the field position to help us win”. “It’s just self-inflicted stuff”. Sherels, who averages 13.4 yards per return, has missed four of the past six games with injuries. Offense was fighting. It was a great team win. Of course this shows the depth of preparation and untold determination among the Cowboys team. And based on record, they are. But it’s not just that the Vikes are losing, it’s how they’re losing. A flag would have given the Vikings another chance, but none was thrown.

A rematch in the playoffs?