Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brett Maher, right, kicks a 60-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Bruce Kluckhohn
AP
Follow along with Star-Telegram sports editor Dave Ammenheuser’s live blog of Sunday’s Cowboys-Vikings game.
The Dallas Cowboys played their most complete game of the season with a 40-3 crushing of the host Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The 37-point winning margin is the largest gap in a road victory in Cowboys history.
Dallas (7-3) controlled every phases of the game as the Vikings (8-2) struggled throughout. Below is a scoring rundown, stat leaders, video highlights and notes from each team’s possession during the game.
The Cowboys return to action on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. when the New York Giants visits AT&T Stadium on Thanksgiving.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott celebrates with teammate quarterback Dak Prescott (4) after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Bruce Kluckhohn AP
SCORING PLAYS
FIRST QUARTER
DAL: Brett Maher, 27-yard field goal (7 plays, 18 yards). 10:22. Cowboys lead 3-0
Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, left, sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King) Andy Clayton-King AP
Quarter-by-quarter notes
Notes, videos, photos and more from each possession the game. All are posted here in reverse chronological order (as they were written during the game):
Fourth quarter notes
MIN 11th possession: Drive starts at MIN 2.
DAL 10th possession: Drive starts at DAL 10. 8:16 left. Cooper Rush replaces Dak Prescott at QB. Cowbvoys drive to DAL 45, then punt ball away.
MIN 10th possession: Kurt Cousins is out and Mullens is in at QB. Drive starts at MIN 25. After five plays and 19 yards, Vikings punt again.
DAL 9th possession continues: First down at the DAL 33. Using several reserves, the Cowboys drive to the MIN 32 where Brent Maher boots a 50-yard field goal to extend Cowboys lead to 40-3 with 10:04 left.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott celebrates with teammate quarterback Dak Prescott (4) after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Bruce Kluckhohn AP
Third quarter notes
DAL 9th possession: Starts at DAL 24. Quarter ends with Cowboys driving and the ball at the DAL 33.
MIN 9th possession: Starts at MIN 17. Vikings pick up a few first downs, but drive stalls at MIN 31. Micah Parsons may have twisted an ankle on final play of the drive. Vikings punt ball away with 1:09 left in the quarter.
DAL 8th possession: Starts at DAL 34. 6:11 left in third quarter. The scoring streak ends. Cowboys go three-and-out and punt.
MIN 8th possession: Starts at MIN 21. SIx plays later, Vikings punt again.
DAL 7th possession: Starts at MIN 41. Cowboys on the scoreboard again. This time, on a 1-yard Ezekiel Elliott touchdown run. Touchdown was set up on a Dak Prescott to Noah Brown 35-yard pass play. Maher gets another extra point. Cowboys lead 37-3. 8:15 left in the third quarter. Who would’ve thought the Cowboys would roll this easy?
Look at @Tp__5 sprinting like a track star untouched into the end zone!
DAL 6th possession: Starts at DAL 25. Drive struggles until Dak Prescott connects with Tony Pollard on a 68-yard touchdown pass on third down. Maher’s extra point; Cowboys lead 30-3 with 12:32 left in third quarter.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs from Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Bruce Kluckhohn AP
Second quarter notes
DAL 5th possession: Starts at DAL 14 with 31 seconds left in half. Cowboys move ball to MIN 42 on four Dak Prescott completions (the last a beautify 27-yard catch by CeeDee Lamb). As time expires in first half, Brent Maher boots 60-yard field goal for a Cowboys 23-3 lead at halftime. (He was forced to kick it twice; Vikings called timeout to challenge Lamb catch just as he booted first 60-yard field goal; after catch was ruled good, he kicked it again ... hard to beleive this guy had to fight for a job in training camp.)
MIN 5th possession: Starts at MIN 25. Vikings move ball to MIN 38, then punt ball to Cowboys at 4. Turpin returns it to DAL 14.
DAL 4th possession: Begins at DAL 41. Cowboys drive down field, scoring on a 30-yard pass from Dak Prescott to Tony Pollard with 1:43 left in the half. Maher’s extra point extends Cowboys lead to 20-3.
Look at @Tp__5 sprinting like a track star untouched into the end zone!
MIN 4th possession: Begins at MIN 25. Three-and-out and the Vikings punt to DAL 31 where KaVontae Turner makes a fair catch at the DAL 41. 4:27 left in the half.
DAL 3rd possession: Begins at DAL 17. Cowboys take more than 7 minutes off the clock, moving ball to the MIN 35. Maher’s 53-yard field goal is good. Cowboys lead 13-3 with 5:31 left in the half.
Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) tries to break a tackle by Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Bruce Kluckhohn AP
MIN 3rd possession continues: Vikings reach MIN 41 where they punt. KaVontae Turpin returns punt from DAL 13 to DAL 17. 13:25 left.
First quarter notes
MIN 3rd possession: Starts at MIN 21 and goes to the MIN 43 as time expires in first quarter.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs from Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Bruce Kluckhohn AP
DAL 2nd possession: Starts at DAL 25. Backed by Tony Pollard’s running (43 rushing yards), Cowboys move back ahead with a 10-play 75-yard drive that ends on a Ezekiel Elliott 1-yard run. Maher boots extra point. Cowboys lead 10-3 with 1:26 left in the quarter.
Zeke & destroy anyone who tries to stop @EzekielElliott on the goal line!
MIN 2nd possession: Starts at MIN 25. Vikings drive the field, nine plays and 69 yards later, Greg Joseph kicks a 25-yard field goal to tie game 3-3 with 6:39 left in the quarter.
DAL 1st possession: Starts at MIN 27. Cowboys take advantage of the turnover, seiin to the Vikings 9 where Brent Maher connects on a 27-yard field goal for a 3-0 Cowboys lead. 10:22 left in the quarter.
MIN 1st possession: Vikings start at MIN 25. On third play, Micah Parsons has an immediate impact, sacking Kurt Cousins and causing a fumble. Armstrong recovers at the MIN 27.
First drive of the day for the defense and ️ takeaway on the board thanks to @MicahhParsons11!
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings. He will play today. Andy Clayton-King AP
Dave Ammenheuser was a Star-Telegram sports editor. He’s worked in newsrooms all across the country, including overseeing the USA TODAY sports department. He’s covered every sport imaginable, from Little League to the World Series to the Olympics.
