What We Saw: Week 11

Cowboys @ Vikings

Final Score: Cowboys 40, Vikings 3

Writer: Brennan Rampe (@phdinnfl on Twitter)

On Minnesota’s first drive of the game, Micah Parsons had a strip sack which the Cowboys recovered. The Vikings held Dallas to a field goal on the subsequent drive, and answered with a field goal of their own. That was all the Vikings did on offense. Dallas then embarked on a 10-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Ezekiel Elliott. It only got worse from there. The Cowboys added a field goal on their next possession to make it 13-3. On their fourth possession, Tony Pollard scored one of his two touchdowns to make it 20-3. Brett Maher would kick a 60 yard field goal at the end of the second quarter to make the score 23-3. Dallas didn’t punt, have a turnover, or allow a sack in the first half for the first time since 2016.

Any hope of a Vikings comeback ended quickly with Pollard’s second touchdown to start the second half. On their next possession, the Cowboys made it 37-3 with Elliott’s second touchdown. Even CBS knew that the game was over at this point as they switched to Bengals at Steelers. They would add a field goal later on to make the final score 40-3. Minnesota was outgained 458-183 in yardage. Vikings fans can only hope this was a “whoops game” and not a sign of things to come.

Dallas Cowboys

Quarterback

Dak Prescott: 22/25, 276 Yards, 2 TD | 3 Carries, 16 Yards

Cooper Rush: 4/5, 31 Yards

What can you say? Dak Prescott played a nearly perfect game. He had only three incompletions. On the rare occasions that the Vikings brought pressure, he avoided it. His performance was so dominant that it allowed Cooper Rush to finish things up.

Just call @Tp__5 "Mr. Untouchable" 😉

📺: @NFLonCBS | #DALvsMIN pic.twitter.com/etmRpEFgdL

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 20, 2022

Running Back

Tony Pollard: 15 Carries, 80 Yards | 6 Targets, 6 Receptions, 109 Yards, 2 TD

Ezekiel Elliott: 15 Carries, 42 Yards, 2 TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards

Malik Davis: 7 Carries, 13 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 22 Yards

Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott each had 15 carries and they also both scored two touchdowns. Pollard’s touchdowns were receiving and Elliott’s were both rushes. Pollard was clearly the more explosive running back, as he has been all season long. He was also Dallas’s leading receiver. No disrespect to Ezekiel Elliott, but Dallas’s top priority should be to resign Pollard. He will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Malik Davis had seven carries, but it wasn’t anything all that special.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

CeeDee Lamb: 5 Targets, 5 Receptions, 45 Yards

Noah Brown: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 42 Yards

Michael Gallup: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 41 Yards

Jalen Tolbert: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards

Dalton Schultz: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 22 Yards

Jake Ferguson: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards

Peyton Hendershot: 1 Target, 1 Reception, -2 Yards

The receiving corps pretty much caught everything thrown their way, though no one put up huge numbers. CeeDeeLamb and Noah Brown both had superb catches on the sideline to set up scores. Odell Beckham Jr. is scheduled to visit Dallas after Thanksgiving and if he signs with them, the sky is the limit with this team.

.@dak launched a DART to @_CeeDeeThree to set up the end-of-half field goal! 🎯

📺: @NFLonCBS | #DALvsMIN pic.twitter.com/6a24HUJDfu

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 20, 2022

Noah Brown gets the #DallasCowboys to the goal line.

📺: #DALvsMIN on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/nraAG7FZ6b pic.twitter.com/95yngUdiKA

— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2022

Minnesota Vikings

Quarterback

Kirk Cousins: 12/23, 105 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)

Nick Mullens: 5/7, 54 Yards

The writeup for Minnesota’s offensive players will be easy this week, because they did nothing at all. Kirk Cousins was under pressure the entire game and was sacked seven times, which was a career high. Even when he wasn’t sacked, his throws were hurried. This loss isn’t all his fault, as left tackle Christian Darrisaw left with a concussion. Nick Mullens came in and played fine when the game was out of reach.

Running Back

Dalvin Cook: 11 Carries, 72 Yards | 1 Target

Alexander Mattison: 2 Carries | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards

Kene Nwangwu: 4 Carries, 1 Yard | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards

Because the Vikings trailed big so early, the running game was an afterthought. Dalvin Cook had 72 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry, though he never found the end zone. Alexander Mattison and Kene Nwangwu combined for 6 carries and one yard. No highlights here.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Justin Jefferson: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 33 Yards

Adam Thielen: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 25 Yards

K.J. Osborn: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 17 Yards

Jalen Reagor: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 14 Yards

Jalen Nailor: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 15 Yards

T.J. Hockenson: 9 Targets, 5 Receptions, 34 Yards

Johnny Mundt: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards

Much like the rest of the Vikings offense, the wide receivers and tight ends were extremely underwhelming. Between Dallas’s nonstop pressure and excellent coverage, the opportunity for big plays were virtually nonexistent. T.J. Hockenson dropped a for-sure touchdown on Minnesota’s second drive. There’s too much talent here for performances like this to happen. Justin Jefferson was shadowed by Trevon Diggs all day and Diggs simply played excellent coverage on him all day long. The Vikings should bounce back from this. I hope to include an article that has Vikings highlights next time.