ARLINGTON, Texas – There were fake field goal runs and interceptions by defensive linemen, but in the end, this game came down to missed chances by the Cowboys offense, defense and special teams once again.
Here are five plays that might be forgotten but played a role in Sunday's outcome.
Turpin failed to catch the punt – After another solid defensive stop, the Cowboys were about to get the ball back with decent field position and a 7-0 lead, but KaVonte Turpin chose not to catch the punt that bounced at the 27-yard line and then took a major Vikings roll down to the 3. From there, the Cowboys offense was conservative, and after three plays, they punted it back to the Vikings, who this time got the ball near midfield and quickly scored to tie the game. The decision not to catch the punt flipped the field position in favor of Minnesota.
McCarthy's third-down draw – Back in the second quarter, the Cowboys led 14-7 with the Vikings driving inside the 10-yard line. On third-and-goal from the 9, quarterback J.J. McCarthy couldn't find an open receiver, so he took off running and escaped up the middle for 8 yards to the 1. The Vikings kept their offense on the field as they elected to go for the touchdown and not the field goal. McCarthy then faked out everyone on the next play, bootlegging for a touchdown where he literally danced his way into the end zone to tie the game. Without getting most of the yardage on third down, the Vikings likely settle for a field goal.
Fourth-down pass to Nailor – The Vikings were able to keep the Cowboys out of the end zone in the third quarter and trailed by six when they mounted a drive to the Cowboys 37-yard line. But on fourth-and-3, the defense couldn't get any pressure on McCarthy, who calmly fired a strike to Jalen Nailor for 23 yards to the Dallas 14. A stop there would've been huge for the Cowboys. Instead, the Vikings got the ball inside the red zone, and then got another favorable penalty with illegal contact, which led to a touchdown and the lead.
Prescott sacked on third down – With the Cowboys trailing by one early in the fourth quarter, the offense had a third-and-4 at Minnesota's 37-yard line. But sticking with the theme of the night – the Cowboys finished the game a dismal 2-of-12 on third-downs – the offense again didn't convert. But what made it worse was Dak Prescott took a sack, losing four more yards. That pushed the ball back to a 59-yard field goal attempt for Brandon Aubrey, who had already missed once, and he then pushed this kick wide to the right.
Holdings negate KO return, big pass – Down eight points after the Vikings touchdown early in the fourth quarter, a pair of crucial holding calls wiped out potentially big plays by the special teams and offense. Turpin's 55-yard return to the Vikings' 45 was called back due to a holding call on C.J. Goodwin. After the Cowboys were able to get back closer to midfield, a first-down pickup by Malik Davis was brought back on a holding call by newly-inserted tackle Hakeem Adeniji. The Cowboys never could get the 20 yards back, falling a yard shy on fourth down.
