The Minnesota Vikings get back in the hunt with big win over the Dallas Cowboys
The Minnesota Vikings got a huge boost of confidence on Sunday October 17 by taking a must-win game against the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 24-21.
How it happened
It was a rough start for Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings who, once again, came out looking flat on offence as Favre fumbled on the team's first possession. The Cowboys took advantage of the turnover, converting it into seven points after Cowboys quarterback
Tony Romo found receiver Roy Williams in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown reception.
The Vikings did respond by converting a turnover of their own into seven points when linebacker E.J. Henderson picked off Tony Romo with one of his two interceptions on the day. Three plays later and Favre found Greg Camarillo in the end zone for a 10-yard
touchdown.
The Cowboys went into half-time up by a touchdown after Roy Williams caught his second touchdown of the game with a two-yard touchdown catch, capping off a 13-play, 82-yard drive.
The Vikings got the lift they were looking for when Percy Harvin ran back the second half kick-off 95 yards for a touchdown to tie things up at 14-14.
The Vikings and Cowboys then traded touchdowns before Ryan Longwell kicked a 38-yard field goal with just over four minutes to go. The Vikings defence held off the Cowboys the rest of the way to get the win.
What they're saying
With a 1-3 record going into the game, Vikings linebacker E.J Henderson pointed out just how important the win was for his team, "We were desperate. You heard the panic word all week."
The Cowboys, who have now fallen to 1-4, felt that once again they let a game that was within their grasp, slip away.
"We beat ourselves one more time," wide receiver Roy Williams said. "How many times are we going to do it?"
Vikings quarterback, Favre, who has been dealing with some off-field distractions recently, brushed off the idea that the scandal was affecting his play when he said, "I don't feel any added pressure. The fact that we were 1-3 was enough."
What it all means
Few would have predicted that the Vikings and Cowboys would have had two wins between them going into week six, but such was the case last Sunday. It meant that both teams were playing desperate football.
With the win, coupled with losses to both the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings got themselves very much back in the hunt and have a chance to make a real push for contention when Brett Favre, once again, returns to Lambeau field as the
Vikings play the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.
As for the Cowboys, they fall to 1-4 in the NFC East which usually spells the end for any team in so competitive a division. Life doesn't get any easier for them either as they host the New York Giants (winners of their last three) next Monday October 25.
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