Vikings’ streak sacked
MINNEAPOLIS — The Dallas Cowboys had some hard conversations with each other after their collapse last week at Green Bay.
They took out all that frustration and then some on the Minnesota Vikings, who might need a serious talk themselves after their seven-game winning streak came to a screeching halt.
Tony Pollard had two touchdown catches with a career-high 189 yards from scrimmage, and the Cowboys sacked Kirk Cousins a career-high seven times Sunday in a 40-3 victory over the Vikings.
“We kind of found our formula, just running the ball, pounding the defense, dominating on all phases of the game,” Pollard said.
Dak Prescott was flawless at quarterback, Ezekiel Elliott rushed for two scores in his return from injury and Brett Maher made four field goals — including a 60-yarder to end the first half. The Cowboys scored on their first seven possessions, and the defense was just as good.
Micah Parsons and Dorance Armstrong had two sacks apiece in the fifth-worst loss for the Vikings — and the biggest road win in Cowboys history.
“This league has a way of humbling any football team at any point in time if you don’t play good football,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said.
The Vikings have been the king of the comebacks in an NFL season featuring the smallest average winning margin in 90 years, none more remarkable than last week at Buffalo when they turned a 17-point deficit late in the third quarter into an overtime victory.
Parsons promised Prescott and the offense this week the Cowboys would never again lose a 14-point fourth-quarter lead like they did last week for the first time in franchise history when they fell in overtime.
“I welcome constructive criticism,” Parsons said, “and when you have that balance of understanding it’s OK and giving that back, it turns out really good.”