In a game against the NFL’s fifth-ranked defense, the Vikings resolved to gash the Cowboys on the ground, making up for the loss of Adam Thielen and easing the burden on Kirk Cousins with a muscular run game that produced 134 yards in the first three quarters.
The Vikings’ go-ahead touchdown drive at the end of the third quarter — leading to their 28-24 victory — took 6:59 and covered 75 yards in 13 plays (11 of them runs). After Cousins rolled right and connected with Bisi Johnson for a 15-yard pickup on third down, the Vikings ran the ball on 10 consecutive plays that netted 61 yards; Dalvin Cook’s 2-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal gave the Vikings the lead, a short time after the Cowboys led for the first time.