Cowboys–Vikings rivalry

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Dallas Cowboys–Minnesota Vikings

Dallas Cowboys Minnesota Vikings
First meeting	September 24, 1961 Cowboys 21, Vikings 7
Latest meeting	October 31, 2021 Cowboys 20, Vikings 16
Next meeting	2022
Statistics
Meetings total	33
All-time series	Cowboys 18–15
Postseason results	Cowboys, 4–3
Largest victory	Vikings, 43–3 (1988)
Longest win streak	Vikings, 5 (1998–04)
Current win streak	Cowboys, 2 (2020-present)

The Cowboys–Vikings rivalry is a rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.^[1] It was considered one of the best NFL rivalries in the 1970s although it has calmed a bit in recent years.^[1] Games between the two are still consequential for the NFC playoff race and three of the last four games have been on primetime.^{[citation needed]} The last six games have been one score games and the Cowboys have come from behind for victories in four of the last five games.

The overall series is led by Dallas 18-15. The Cowboys and Vikings have played 7 times in the playoffs making this one of the most played playoff series in league history (the most played Vikings playoff opponent and the third most played opponent for the Cowboys after the Rams and Packers). The Cowboys lead the playoff series 4-3. Some of the more notable moments include the 1975 Hail Mary against the Vikings, the Herschel Walker trade, Randy Moss leading the Vikings to victory against the Cowboys in 1998, and Brett Favre defeating the Cowboys in the 2009 playoffs.

Memorable Moments[]

• In 1975, the Dallas Cowboys traveled to the Twin Cities for a Divisional Playoff game. The Vikings looked to have the game wrapped-up with a late lead 14-10. However, Roger Staubach threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson in what became known as the Hail Mary game.^[2]
• In 1989, the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys were part of the largest player trade in NFL history, called the Herschel Walker trade. The Vikings received Herschel Walker and three picks from the Cowboys in exchange for eight picks given to the Cowboys. The Vikings felt it was the last piece needed to make a Super Bowl run. Instead, the trade catapulted the Cowboys to three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s; the Vikings won none with Walker. It is thus considered one of the worst trades in NFL history.^[3]
• In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings played the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Randy Moss famously had three touchdowns in a 46-36 thriller.
• In the 1999 playoffs, the Cowboys traveled to the Metrodome for a key wild-card playoff game. The Vikings would win 27-10. .
• In 2010, Dallas traveled to the Metrodome for the NFC Divisional playoff game with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings defeated the Cowboys 34-3. Late in the game, Cowboys player Keith Brooking was seen arguing with Vikings coaches because he believed the Vikings were running up the score.^{[citation needed]} Cowboys head-coach Wade Phillips also believed Minnesota's late game aggression was uncalled for. The Vikings went on to lose the NFC Championship game 31-28 to the New Orleans Saints.
• In 2016, the Cowboys traveled to US Bank Stadium for their first game in the new stadium on Thursday Night Football. The Cowboys went into the game with a 10-1 record while the Vikings had fallen from an early 5-0 start. The Cowboys held on for a 17-15 victory as a late two-point conversion from Sam Bradford failed. The Cowboys went on to finish 13-3 with the number one overall seed in the playoffs.
• In 2019, the Vikings traveled to AT&T Stadium for a primetime Sunday Night Football game. The Vikings jumped out to a 14-0 lead on two Kirk Cousins touchdowns before the Cowboys fought back to take a 21-20 lead. The Vikings would win 28-24 with the Cowboys twice threatening the end-zone late in the game. Cowboys head-coach Jason Garrett was heavily criticized for late game play-calling. The Vikings went on to finish 10-6 with a playoff appearance while the Cowboys missed the playoffs at 8-8 with Jason Garrett being let go. This was considered one the best games of the 2019 season.^{[citation needed]}

Game results[]

See Also[]

• Hail Mary Pass
• Herschel Walker trade

References[]