ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — J.J. McCarthy threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score, C.J. Ham had the go-ahead TD on his first carry of the season and the Minnesota Vikings severely damaged Dallas’ playoff hopes with a 34-26 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday night.
The Vikings (6-8) won a second consecutive game after they were eliminated from the postseason race before the kickoff. Minnesota was a 14-win playoff qualifier a year ago.
The Cowboys (6-7-1) have to win their three remaining games and hope defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia goes 0-3 in order for Dallas to overtake the Eagles in the NFC East.
Both of McCarthy’s TD tosses were to Jalen Nailor, and Ham’s 1-yard plunge put Minnesota ahead 24-23 late in the third quarter.
Brandon Aubrey kicked four field goals and had a 6-yard run for a first down on a fake to keep alive the drive to Dallas’ first touchdown, but he missed multiple field goals at home for the first time in his three seasons.
Aubrey was wide right from 51 and 59 yards, the latter setting up a short field for a drive that ended in Nailor’s 4-yard catch for a 31-23 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings forced a turnover on downs when Malik Davis’ catch was originally ruled a first down on fourth-and-7, but replay assist quickly reversed the call.
Aaron Jones ran 4 yards on fourth-and-1, and Will Reichard kicked a clinching 53-yard field goal with 1:08 remaining after Dallas’ unsuccessful challenge that Jones was down before the ball came out on a 16-yard run for another first down.
Aubrey’s fourth field goal got Dallas within eight with 19 seconds remaining, but Josh Oliver recovered the onside kick.
McCarthy was 15 of 24 for 250 yards with an interception, a tipped ball that ended up in the arms of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on his first pass of the game. Williams was later ruled out with a concussion.
McCarthy’s touchdown was a nifty fourth-and-1 bootleg when he walked into the end zone all alone.
Dak Prescott, the NFL leader in yards passing coming in, was 23 of 38 for 294 yards but was held without a touchdown pass for just the third time this season. Javonte Williams and Malik Davis each had a 1-yard TD run for Dallas.
Injuries
Vikings: DL Javon Hargrave exited with a groin injury and was ruled out. … T Brian O’Neill injured an ankle.
Cowboys: Williams missed most of the first half with a shoulder injury but returned after halftime. … LT Nate Thomas, the backup filling in for the inactive Tyler Guyton (ankle), injured a shoulder. … FB Hunter Luepke was ruled out with a concussion after getting injured covering a kickoff to finish the first half. … DE Jadeveon Clowney was active after missing one game with a hamstring injury.
Up next
Vikings: Road finale at the New York Giants next Sunday.
Cowboys: Regular-season home finale against the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.
___
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