Dalton returns, helps snap four-game skid
MINNEAPOLIS — The refreshed Dallas Cowboys had a steady hand back at quarterback, eager to initiate the same post-off week bounce the Minnesota Vikings had been enjoying this month.
For as badly as the first half of the schedule went for the Cowboys, they’re still alive and well this season in the well-below-average NFC East.
Andy Dalton returned froma two-game absence to throw three touchdown passes, hitting Dalton Schultz for a 2-yard score with 1:37 left to lift the Cowboys over the Vikings 31-28 on Sunday to stop their four-game losing streak.
“Everything’s in front of us. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done up to this point. It’s all about these next seven games,” said Dalton, who went 22 for 32 for 203 yards and one interception after fill-ins Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert started the previous two games.
After taking over for the injured Dak Prescott a month ago and missing games himself to a concussion and COVID-19, Dalton directed an 11-play, 66-yard drive down the stretch that was extended with a fourthand-6 completion to Amari Cooper at the 19.
Kris Boyd stepped in front of Schultz and almost picked off a first-and-goal pass, but Dalton delivered to his wide open tight end two plays later. That put the Cowboys (3-7) in a threeway tie for second place behind Philadelphia (3-6-1).
After three straight wins over NFC North foes following their bye to climb back into contention, the Vikings (4-6) were plenty wary of the Cowboys despite entering as a seven-point favorite.
They trailed 16-7 at halftime, more because of bad breaks than poor performance. Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook each lost fumbles forced by hard-hitting safety Donovan Wilson that Dallas converted into nine points. Minnesota also had six penalties for 60 yards in the first half.
“There are positives to point to, but ultimately when you don’t win, you leave the stadium feeling sick to your stomach,” Cousins said.
NFL leader Dalvin Cook had 115 rushing yards and a touchdown plus 45 receiving yards for the Vikings, who remained two games out of the final wild-card spot and in ninth place in the NFC.
“I really felt like we were going to win,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said, “throughout the whole course of the game, even as bad as we started off offensively.”
When it counted the most, though, the Vikings stalled as Cousins went 2 for 7. His fourth-and-6 toss to Thielen from the 29 fell incomplete with 1:18 left.