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Week 7 Game Recap: Minnesota Vikings 14, Dallas Cowboys 24
What you need to know
| Minnesota Vikings |
The Vikings were hampered by not being able to get anything going at all on offense the entire day. They could not sustain drives, due largely to their inability to convert third downs, and they could not make any plays in the passing game. RBs Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson were effective with their carries, but did not get enough touches to put up significant yardage.
Tarvaris Jackson was ineffective again in his second start since returning from injury. He was inaccurate all afternoon, took too long to locate receivers, and generally failed to provide any spark in the passing game. Jackson completed a grand total of two passes to wide receivers all day, so no Vikings WR put up any numbers of note.
Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor both played nicely but just didn't get enough opportunities. Each had big gains running the ball. Each also had a nice yards per carry average, but they split 22 carries and four receptions.
The Vikings defense played well. They held the team in the game for most of the afternoon, until a late Peterson fumble gave Dallas great field position and they started to pull away. The Vikings scored once on defense, and had another fumble return called back due to penalty.
| Dallas Cowboys |
The powerhouse Dallas offense was held in check most of the afternoon by the Vikings defense. They finished with nice numbers, but most of their damage was done on a clock grinding first drive, and a clock eating final drive.
Tony Romo spent most of the afternoon passing the ball. He was efficient completing 31 of 39 passes, and was the main reason the Cowboys were able to dominate the time of possession. He did not throw an interception, but did have one fumble.
Marion Barber and Julius Jones spent most of the afternoon rotating series. The number of series, as well as the number of touches each back received was fairly even until the fourth quarter. When the Cowboys had command of the game, Barber was again the back to grind out the final minutes and gained 50+ yards on the final drive.
Terrell Owens lead the Cowboys in receiving yards, and had several big plays, including the one touchdown reception. Jason Witten was Romo's most frequently targeted receiver and led the team in receptions.
What you ought to know
| QB Tarvaris Jackson, Pass: 6 - 19 - 72 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 20 - 0 |
Jackson failed to provide any spark to the Vikings passing game. He completed less than a third of his passes, and completed only two passes to players other than his running backs. He consistently took too long to make decisions, resulting in his once open receivers being covered, or in getting sacked. He did not show any lingering effects from his groin injury and scrambled four times for 20 yards.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 12 - 63 - 1, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (2 targets) |
Peterson played well in his limited opportunities. He was no where near the offensive force he was the week before, but he ran hard, and made plays. He finished with 5.3 yards per carry, but did have one crucial fumble that gave Dallas excellent field position. He did break a few longer runs, but was bottled up much better by the Dallas defense. Being limited to only 12 carries on the day hurt his chances for a bigger day.
| RB Chester Taylor, Rush: 10 - 47 - 0, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (4 targets) |
Taylor again was the starter for the Vikings, but had fewer carries than did Adrian Peterson. Taylor finished with ten carries and added three receptions. However, his touch total was hurt by the Vikings inability to maintain ball control. He finished with 4.7 yards per carry.
| WR Bobby Wade, Rec: 1 - 16 - 0 (4 targets) |
Wade finished with just 16 yards on his lone receptions. Like all Vikings receivers, Wade was hurt by Tarvaris Jackson's inability to accurately throw the ball downfield.
| WR Troy Williamson, Rec: 1 - 25 - 0 (4 targets) |
Williamson finished with a lone 21 yard reception. He added five more yards on a last second lateral play. He was targeted a couple of times deep down field, but Tarvaris Jackson was unable to connect.
| PK Ryan Longwell 0 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points |
Longwell hit both of his extra points, but had his only field goal attempt blocked.
| MIN Rush Defense |
The Vikings rush defense held Jones and Barber in check most of the afternoon. Dallas did not try to test them consistently, until the fourth quarter when Dallas put together a drive comprised solely of Marion Barber runs.
| MIN Pass Defense |
As one would expect, the Dallas offense picked apart the Vikings' pass defense. Romo, while occasionally hurried, had ample time all afternoon to find wide open receivers. He completed almost 80% of his passes, and did not throw an interception.
| QB Tony Romo, Pass: 31 - 39 - 277 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0 |
Romo had an excellent afternoon throwing the ball. He was extremely efficient completing almost 80% of his passes. He had ample time for most of the afternoon to find receivers, who were more often than not, wide open. His lone touchdown pass was to Terrell Owens on the first drive of the game. He looked to Jason Witten most often, using the short passing game in place of the running game. He did not throw an interception.
| RB Marion Barber III, Rush: 19 - 96 - 1, Rec: 4 - 9 - 0 (5 targets) |
Barber displayed good strength and determination on all of his carries. Every time he touched the ball, he ran with purpose. However, the Vikings stout rush defense caused the Cowboys to not spend much time establishing the running game. Nine of his 19 carries, and 64 of his 96 yards came on the Cowboys' final drive running out the clock.
| RB Julius Jones, Rush: 9 - 28 - 0, Rec: 4 - 30 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jones started the game, but did not get the majority of work. He started strong with four carries on the first drive, but managed just 5 more the rest of the game. He did catch all four of his passes and added 30 yards. However, the Cowboys seemed to go with Barber in crucial situations, and Barber again was the back used to run out the clock. With the Cowboys disregarding the running game, Jones' opportunity was limited.
| WR Terrell Owens, Rec: 7 - 103 - 1 (7 targets) |
Owens dominated the Vikings' secondary, and got open with ease. He caught all seven of the passes thrown in his direction. On his touchdown, the Vikings defense left him open and Romo found him alone in the back of the end zone.
| WR Patrick Crayton, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (4 targets) |
Crayton had a relatively quiet afternoon, catching two of the four passes thrown his way. Crayton was the third option for Romo most of the time, after Owens and Witten. Crayton's first reception was a crossing route on the first drive and Crayton was wide open for twelve yards. His only other reception of the game was near the end of the first half. Crayton caught a seven yard pass and was hit almost immediately, fumbling the ball. The Vikings picked up the fumble and returned it for a touchdown. He did not receive a target in the second half.
| TE Jason Witten, Rec: 10 - 86 - 0 (13 targets) |
Witten was Tony Romo's most frequently targeted receiver. The Vikings had no answer to cover Witten who was open most of the afternoon. Most of his receptions were short to mid range routes down the middle of the field. Dallas used the short passing game in place of the running game, and Witten was the prime benefactor catching ten of his 13 targets.
| PK Nick Folk 1 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points |
Folk hit all of his extra points, converted one 45 yard field goal and missed a 50 yard attempt.
| DAL Rush Defense |
When they ran, the Vikings were able to run consistently on the Dallas rush defense. The end of the game totals would have been more impressive, but the Vikings simply did not get enough chances to run the ball, failing to put together any sustained drives.
| DAL Pass Defense |
It was hard to tell if the Dallas pass defense was dominant, or if Tarvaris Jackson just played ineptly. The Cowboys gave up just 65 yards through the air and sacked Jackson three times.
