The Dallas Cowboys are back under the prime-time spotlight this Sunday night, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Coming off a disappointing 44-30 loss to the Lions, 6-6-1 Dallas needs to make a statement against the 5-8 Minnesota Vikings to keep pace in a tightening NFC playoff race.
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The Cowboys have won five of their last six against the Vikings, but they’re just 6-8 against Minnesota in Texas, a stat Brian Schottenheimer’s squad will want to rewrite at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys are favored by 6, but they’ll need to tighten up their league-worst pass defense to avoid a meltdown against rising rookie J.J. McCarthy, who posted a career-high passer rating (129.2) and his first turnover-free game last week.
Dallas’ secondary has been shredded in Matt Eberflus’ first year as defensive coordinator, giving up chunk plays and failing to stop late-game surges.
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George Pickens, who’s third in the league in receiving yards, is under the microscope after a poor effort in Detroit. With CeeDee Lamb cleared from concussion protocol and expected to play, all eyes will be on Pickens to respond.
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The Cowboys’ defense must also contend with Jordan Mason, Minnesota’s breakout back, who’s racked up 630 yards and six touchdowns this season. The good news is that the Vikings’ offense ranks near the bottom in almost every statistical category – including 28th overall and 30th in passing.
But don’t let that lull you into a false sense of confidence. This team just blanked Washington 31-0 and is finally healthy across the board.
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Meanwhile, Dak Prescott is chasing history, aiming to become the first Cowboys QB to throw for four straight 300-yard games.
He’ll face a fierce Vikings defense that has held 12 of 13 opponents under 250 passing yards and ranks fourth against the pass.
Injuries could be a factor.
The Cowboys will be without LT Tyler Guyton, while TE Jake Ferguson is questionable. DE Jadeveon Clowney should return after missing the Detroit game.
If Dallas wants to stay alive in the NFC East and avoid a second straight prime-time embarrassment, they’ll need Prescott to cook, the defense to wake up, and Pickens to show up.
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The margin for error is gone as the Cowboys are either storming toward January or sleepwalking into irrelevance … again.
WHAT: Minnesota Vikings (5-8, 3-4 Road) at Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1, 4-1-1 Home)
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 | 7:20 p.m. CT
WHERE: AT&T Stadium | Arlington, TX | Capacity: 100,000
TV: NBC
RADIO: KRLD-FM 105.3 The Fan
SPREAD: MIN +5.5
TOTAL: 47.5
MONEYLINE: MIN +225 | DAL -278
