Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys fall flat vs. the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night as their NFC East dreams fade fast.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys returned to AT&T Stadium on Sunday night, riding the momentum of a three-game win streak, but left with their playoff hopes dangling by a thread after a brutal 34-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Arlington.
What was supposed to be a late-season charge has now turned into desperation. The Cowboys (6-7-1) need to win out and pray for a Philadelphia Eagles meltdown to sneak into the playoffs.
That scenario feels increasingly unlikely after Sunday's performance.
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Dak Prescott, the NFL's passing yardage leader heading into Week 15, had a quiet night, going 23-of-38 for 294 yards with no touchdown passes for just the third time this season.
The Cowboys' offense, which looked unstoppable just weeks ago, stalled out repeatedly despite two short touchdown runs from Javonte Williams and Malik Davis.
The Vikings (6-8), already eliminated from playoff contention, played the spoiler role to perfection.
Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy looked confident, throwing for 250 yards and two touchdowns to Jalen Nailor, while also running in a score himself and celebrating with Justin Jefferson's "Griddy" dance.
Brandon Aubrey hit four field goals but missed two long ones from 51 and 59 yards, giving the Vikings critical field position. One of those misses led directly to a touchdown that helped Minnesota take an 8-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys never recovered.
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A failed fourth-down conversion and a missed challenge on an Aaron Jones run sealed their fate. Minnesota's Will Reichard kicked a 53-yard field goal with just over a minute left, putting the game out of reach.
After stringing together statement wins over the Chiefs and Eagles earlier this month, Dallas has now lost two straight - both in gut-wrenching fashion. Confidence is fading fast, and so are the playoff dreams.
"You win those games and people start talking. Then you lose two, and it's back to square one," Prescott said postgame. "Every play matters. This league doesn’t care."
Dallas hosts the Chargers next week in a game that might not even matter unless they find a miracle in the standings ... and in themselves.