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00:00NBC Sports, home of Super Bowl 60, welcomes you to the following presentation of the National Football League.
00:11Getting to the homestretch, tonight starts the final 50 regular season games of the 2025 season.
00:17Dallas probably has to win all four of theirs to have any postseason hopes.
00:21A moment ago, Melissa Stark with the Cowboy quarterback, Dak Prescott.
00:24Dak, playoffs on the line. What's your mindset going into these final four games starting tonight?
00:31Yeah, we've got to control what we can. You know, it's completely, it's not all the way in our hands at this point.
00:35So we just got to go out here and take care of the Minnesota Vikings starting with the first play and the repeat is what I just told the guys in the huddle and we'll be happy with at the end of the game.
00:42You have the best offense in the NFL, but you told us you haven't had a win this season where you control and dominate.
00:49How do you do that tonight?
00:50Yeah, start fast. First drive, we got to get in there and get a touchdown and we got to repeat that over and over again.
00:54Can't wait till the second quarter or late in the game to get the run started.
00:57So just start fast and we'll be good.
00:59CeeDee Lamb cleared to play.
01:00George Pickens coming off a tough game in Detroit, but having his best season of his career.
01:06What do those two guys bring to the offense?
01:08Yeah, they're ready to go. Trust me, they're resilient.
01:10You said CeeDee's coming off the injury. George is coming off the performance he's not proud of.
01:13They're both going to give you something special to watch tonight.
01:15Yeah, thanks a lot.
01:15Thank you, thank you.
01:16All right, interesting little comment there at the end from Dak.
01:19So, you know the Eagles won today for Brian Schottenheimer and the Cowboys.
01:22The simplest math to the playoffs is this.
01:25Win the rest and the Eagles lose two of their last three.
01:27Dallas would then win the NFC East.
01:29For Kevin O'Connell's Vikings, they were eliminated by virtue of Chicago's win on the cold day along the lakefront in Illinois today.
01:38The Bears now at the number two seed.
01:40Vikings sit at five wins and out of the mix.
01:42We'll talk about the wild card implications for the Cowboys as the night goes on.
01:47There is the man, Dak Prescott.
01:48I was just talking about George Pickens.
01:51A lot of noise and attention around his performance last Thursday in Detroit.
01:55J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings coming off the shutout win over Washington.
01:59Been out with injury a couple of times.
02:00Now back with some confidence off of last week.
02:03We'll see if he can double down on that.
02:05Cowboys won the toss and they defer the option to the second half.
02:08So the terrific kicker, Brandon Aubrey, will send it away for Dallas.
02:12Minnesota has seen most of their returns this year in the hands of Miles Price, their rookie return man.
02:20He'll be the lone returner back there.
02:25Always great to come here to Arlington, to AT&T Stadium, which opened in 2009.
02:32And even though their team is an uphill climb to the postseason, Cowboys fans still enjoying the night.
02:41See if they can send their team off on a good foot here in the final month of the season.
02:48Dallas has the Chargers, Washington, and the Giants for their remaining games.
02:52Off we go to be in the hands of Price from the sixth.
02:56At the 30-yard line, Dell and company drag him forward a little bit.
03:02The whistle is blown, and we meet the Minnesota offense.
03:07J.J. McCarkey, Michigan.
03:09Aaron Jones, Sr., El Paso, Texas.
03:11Justin Jefferson, LSU.
03:14Jordan Addison, Pitt, USC.
03:16Jalen Ayler, Michigan State.
03:17T.J. Hawkinson, Iowa.
03:19Justin School, Vanderbilt.
03:20Donovan Jackson, The Ohio State University.
03:23Ryan Kelly, Alabama.
03:24Will Fries, Penn State.
03:26Ryan O'Neal, Pitt.
03:28Name missing there, Christian Darasaw, the left tackle.
03:31Knee giving him problems, so this is the starting group for week one and two.
03:35Justin School is the starting left tackle.
03:38Both teams without their starting left tackle tonight.
03:42It begins in the 32.
03:45It begins with Aaron Jones to the left.
03:47Passed over, shown.
03:48And about six yards beyond the 37-yard line.
03:55Well, Chris alluded to it in the beginning.
03:57J.J. McCarthy and his story.
03:58It's starting eight.
03:59It's the 10th pick of the draft in 2024.
04:01Missed his rookie year with a knee injury.
04:03Ankle and concussion has limited him this season.
04:06There were the numbers against Washington.
04:08Best he's done.
04:08And it was the first time, Chris, in his seven-game NFL career,
04:11he didn't throw an interception in a game.
04:14And a lot of people started breathing again in Minnesota because of it.
04:19So much pressure on the franchise.
04:21A drafted quarterback had a couple of veterans here.
04:24They've gone on to successful seasons.
04:27Now, what will McCarthy do?
04:28First throw of the night is deflecting, batting, and intercepting.
04:32So McCarthy tipped it, trying to not get back down,
04:36but it ricochets to the hands of Believer Quinton Williams.
04:39And the X-Jet comes up with the pick after Donovan Wilson deflected it.
04:48Well, well, well, here we go.
04:50Right off the edge here.
04:52And they're going to take McCarthy and go,
04:55all right, have you seen this one yet?
04:57And get that ball tipped straight up in the air.
05:00And somehow that thud woke up the defensive linemen
05:04and allowed them to make that play.
05:06That was Quinton Williams, what a heck of a play.
05:10What a way to start the game.
05:12And McCarthy's just trying to bat it somewhere where it wasn't going to fall
05:15into unfriendly hands.
05:17And Williams comes up with the pick.
05:18So now Javante Williams is the back behind Dak Prescott.
05:22From the 35, it is the 1,000-yard rusher for a yard
05:26as he is slung down by Jalen Redman.
05:30So Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, good start here.
05:32He's started all the games and has been good this year.
05:35Much like his healthy season in 2023, great numbers.
05:39You see some of them there.
05:40He leads the league in completions and yards.
05:43Came into this week tied for second in touchdown passes.
05:46C.D. Lamb left the Detroit game last Thursday
05:53with a concussion in the lineup bottom of the screen.
05:55Yeah!
05:57He'll get you!
06:00Dak comes into the middle and is incomplete.
06:03Early collision with Brevin Spanford.
06:06The tight end.
06:08And he'll bring up third down.
06:09Now, we have seen the two inside linebackers now
06:13for the Minnesota Vikings start to pair up.
06:16Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson.
06:18And because this back jumped in right here,
06:20their guys are going to drop back into zone coverage
06:23and they end up making the play.
06:25But that combination of those two guys
06:27have added some real trickery, if you will,
06:30to that inside combination.
06:32Here they are again, both up at the line of scrimmage.
06:35Dak's going to have to deal with this all night long.
06:38Yeah!
06:39Dak!
06:42Pressure from Harrison Smith off the edge.
06:44The underneath throw is caught by Lamb.
06:46He'll be lassoed by Wilson and company.
06:49He'll set up fourth down.
06:51That will bring Brandon Aubrey on
06:52for what, for him, is a chip shot.
06:56Chip shot, but a big moment in this ballgame
06:59for this Minnesota defense to go three and out
07:02after that bizarre turnover to start the game.
07:06No doubt.
07:07Right after I said McCarthy hadn't been picked.
07:09You know, it's like...
07:10Somehow we have perfect timing, don't we?
07:12Yeah, yeah.
07:13Minnesota, I heard all those daggers coming right at us.
07:15We say a chip shot because Aubrey has
07:17the longest consistent leg we've seen in the league.
07:21This is 47 yards.
07:22And a fake, and a pick back to Aubrey, who's on the run for the first down as he slides at the 23-yard line.
07:33So, the man who does everything with his foot uses two feet for the first down.
07:39Showtime in Big D, here we go.
07:43When you see pressure from both guys on that edge, they will have a game plan of something like this.
07:50I've seen this practice, in practice, a million different times, and it never looks like that.
07:55When they actually try to run it in the game, it never works, and it worked that time.
08:00Cowboys keep it rolling.
08:02Right around the 23, Williams inside for a couple of yards.
08:05Javon St. Williams, fifth year out of North Carolina.
08:09He is a big add to this team in free agency from Denver.
08:12Had success in injuries with the Broncos.
08:14There's really been a perfect fit, Chris, for this Cowboys offense this year.
08:17Yeah, he really has, and this has been one of those kind of years for the Dallas Cowboys.
08:25And you go, there's some interesting things to work with now.
08:29You know what I mean?
08:30I mean, they have got some answers now on the offense, particularly at the wide receiver position.
08:36They have been explosive out there.
08:38Watch the screen.
08:39Yeah, man.
08:41Second and eight.
08:42Dak sends them all out.
08:43Caught underneath.
08:45That's one of the options they've found.
08:46Ryan Flannoy in his second year at Southeast Missouri State.
08:51First down for Dallas right around the 11th.
08:53You hear us talking about it all the time.
08:55Pressure off the edge.
08:56What do you do?
08:57Throw right into it.
08:58Why do you do that?
08:59Because somebody has to try to cover up from the other side the fact that that guy was blitzing.
09:04There was help on its way.
09:06Just didn't quite get there.
09:07Dak read it very quickly.
09:09And how about that, young man?
09:10Ryan Flannoy has been hot here lately.
09:13One of those 200-yard games this season.
09:21Yeah!
09:22Harriton!
09:24First and ten.
09:25Williams inside.
09:27Five-yard line.
09:28He will go.
09:30Made by Drake Rodriguez.
09:31The long air, number 50 of the stop for Minnesota, but a gain of a half dozen for Brian Schottenheimer who calls the playoffs.
09:38Yeah, and you can tell that there's Brian Flores over there.
09:43You can tell that this matchup between these two play callers is going to be the marquee attraction here tonight, right?
09:48I mean, Brian Flores is known for his exotic looks and blitzes and all that, and this Dallas offense has just been smoking hot all year.
09:57Yeah!
09:58Here it's it!
10:00Second and four.
10:01Williams back inside.
10:05So it'll be third down here for the Cowboys.
10:07They can pick up a first down at the one-yard line.
10:10You see a lot from Dallas of them moving and pulling and playing power with they've got athletic offensive linemen, and they like to pull it.
10:23Typically, what I see is they want to go left to right.
10:26They like to bring Tyler Smith around and get in right behind him and that big right side of the offensive line.
10:32So Williams flexing that left arm.
10:35Malik Davis has come in as the running back.
10:37Yeah!
10:38Third down, Dak, quarterback draw.
10:42They've got him, but he may have the first down.
10:46Markle just short for the moment.
10:52Needing to get to the one.
10:53They'll be about a half foot short.
10:58A half-yard short, about a foot and a half.
11:01Well, in this division, you kind of know what you're going to do here.
11:06Just short.
11:07Good call.
11:08He's surprised if it's anything but the quarterback sneak when you've got somebody as big as Dak.
11:18Here we go!
11:18Here we go!
11:196-cd in motion.
11:21Williams juggled it.
11:23Got control of it.
11:24They may have stopped him from getting to the end zone, but I think he's got the first down.
11:27Vikings running off the field.
11:28Vikings running off the field like they've stopped him here on fourth down.
11:33As we said, they needed the first down, needed the one-yard line, the ball just touching the one.
11:37Ryan Flores, the defensive coordinator, down there for a look.
11:43We're going to get a measurement here.
11:44They placed that thing right on the one, and it is rule the first down.
11:51As I said, it just had to touch the one from where this set of downs started.
11:56Whoa!
11:56Whoa!
11:57That was barely a handoff.
12:00You know, so many times, Mike, how many times have we seen it this year that when you try to snap to the line of scrimmage
12:06and make that quick snap, sometimes it just doesn't go well, and that was a big moment.
12:13And that was close there to even reaching the one-yard line.
12:16That ball was in Williams' arm that was closer to the Cowboys' goal line than the Vikings' goal line.
12:27But it is marked at the one.
12:28The play clock stopped for some reason, so that is why we have this administrative delay,
12:33and that Dallas will have it first and goal at the one.
12:36All right!
12:37All right!
12:38All right!
12:38All right, let's do it.
12:38All right, let's do it.
12:39All right, let's do it!
12:39All right, let's do it!
12:40All right, let's do it!
12:43Trying to capitalize on the opening turnover.
12:44Williams' inside into the end zone for a Cowboys' touchdown.
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26:01Джеванте Williams, North Carolina.
26:03CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma.
26:05Brian Flannoy, Southeast Missouri State.
26:08George Pickens, Drip University.
26:10Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin.
26:11Nate Thomas, Louisiana.
26:13Tyler Smith, the University of Tulsa.
26:15Cooper Beebe, Kansas State.
26:17Tyler Booker, Alabama.
26:18Terrence Steele, Steele High School.
26:21I mentioned both teams are missing left tackles.
26:23Tyler Guyton's out for Dallas.
26:24Third game that he is missing.
26:27And we'll update you on Джеванте Williams,
26:29who got the start in a moment.
26:31Prescott first down.
26:32Flannoy bringing it in.
26:34Good run for Flannoy as he's bumped out of bounds by Rodgers.
26:3845.
26:39Melissa, how about the update?
26:40Yes, Джеванте Williams questionable to return
26:43because of a shoulder injury.
26:44We saw him come off the field after scoring that touchdown.
26:47The athletic training staff did a lengthy neck and shoulder exam on him.
26:51Then they took him into the medical tent
26:52with the independent concussion specialist.
26:54But for now, he remains on the sideline.
26:56They just put a little bit of extra padding on that left shoulder.
26:59All right, so we'll keep a close eye on that.
27:02The running backs coach, Derrick Foster,
27:03was just spending some extra time with Hunter Lipke,
27:06who might see more snaps, as Chris alluded to.
27:10Prescott.
27:11It'll shut.
27:12CD left.
27:12And a 24-yard line.
27:17Coming easily there.
27:19It's a gain of 30 in the Dallas first half.
27:22It's the power of having two speedy receivers on the outside.
27:26Pickens on the left side is going to go all the way deep
27:30and drag the safety.
27:32Harrison Smith out of there, leaving that big void.
27:35And the lack of a pass rush that time by the Vikings
27:38is what stretched that zone
27:40and allowed Dak very comfortably to make that throw.
27:4320!
27:4420!
27:46Yeah!
27:47Harrison!
27:49For the 24, and flip it.
27:51CD spins away from Dallas Turner.
27:53Spins again.
27:55And those purple guys are there.
27:57Loss of five against the Minnesota defense.
27:59Jonathan Grenard, Hiram High School.
28:03Jonathan Allen, Alabama.
28:05Jalen Redman, Oklahoma.
28:06Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State.
28:08Andrew Van Ginko, Wisconsin.
28:10Blake Cashman, Minnesota.
28:12Eric Wilson, Cincinnati.
28:14Byron Murphy, U-Dub.
28:15Harrison Smith, Notre Dame.
28:17Joshua Metellus, Charles W. Fanny.
28:19Isaiah Rogers, Blake High School.
28:23They were guilty of a face mask there.
28:25This defense that had a shutout last week.
28:28Limited Washington at 206 yards.
28:31Different story tonight for Kevin O'Connell's team.
28:34There is the face mask right there.
28:39On the pull down.
28:41By Levi Drake-Rodriguez.
28:45They'll take the ball to the 12-yard line.
28:50One of the things that's really key here
28:52is that Dak has been really successful off of play action,
28:55and some of that comes because of their ability to run the ball.
28:59Let's see how that goes now.
29:00Let's not give Malik Davis.
29:03He keeps going.
29:04Inside the 10-to-the-8-and-7-yard line.
29:07As you see after the play,
29:09less than pleasant conversation going on.
29:11Davis, second-year man out of Florida.
29:13The play-action really has been, I think, the biggest difference
29:19with Brian Schottenheimer now taking over as the coordinator
29:22and basically has doubled from about 14% with Mike McCarthy
29:26to about 28%.
29:28And Dak likes it.
29:29The numbers are obvious.
29:31Here's something he likes here.
29:42It's going to be the run,
29:42and Davis puts his head down,
29:45takes it to the one-yard line.
29:47We'll have football's longest walk
29:49to the other end at the end
29:51of the first quarter.
29:55So Malik Davis brings him down to the one.
29:57Each team gets a touchdown
29:59after 15 here in Arlington.
30:01Vikings 7 and Cowboys 7.
30:03Sunday Night Football continues
30:05after these messages.
30:12Back at AT&T Stadium
30:13with Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.
30:15And Kevin, an early interception
30:17for your young quarterback, JJ McCarthy.
30:19How have you seen him bounce back?
30:20Yeah, I think you just saw it.
30:22I mean, he responded, did tip ball.
30:24He's trying to get the ball out of his hands.
30:26They made a play.
30:27Would have loved to see that ball get knocked down.
30:29There, but that's a learning op for him.
30:31But how about the response to come back,
30:33get a great punt, pin them down deep,
30:34defense gets a stop,
30:35and two plays later, we got in the end zone,
30:37and we got it back.
30:38Kevin, thanks.
30:39You got it.
30:39Thank you.
30:40Kevin O'Connell, reigning coach of the year.
30:42A couple of 10-win seasons,
30:43trying to avoid a second 10-loss season
30:46in his four years as an NFL head coach.
30:49Malik Davis, who scored against the Chiefs,
30:51is the back.
30:52Dallas has three tight ends.
30:53And Dak looking to throw.
30:58CD was covered, nothing there,
31:00as Isaiah Rogers blanketed Lamb,
31:03and will set up second and goal.
31:05I'll tell you, you can tell Dak,
31:07with three straight 300-yard games,
31:09he is in complete control of this offense.
31:11He really is.
31:12You can watch him at the line of scrimmage,
31:14sort of like watching Peyton or watching.
31:18There we go.
31:19Watch here for that last play.
31:21He was up there going, kill, kill, kill,
31:23and he was pointing his finger
31:24which way the backup running back's supposed to go, right?
31:26All those different things
31:27play into what he's doing with this offense, right?
31:31Here is that running back.
31:32Inside for the touchdown, Malik Davis.
31:40Second on the season.
31:41Third of his career,
31:43and the Cowboys retake the lead.
31:47Mike, Tyler Booker and Terrence Steele
31:49on the right side of the Cowboys' offensive line.
31:52They go there so much.
31:54But they now have that power back
31:56on that side of the ball.
31:58And for so long, it was Zach Martin
32:00who was a big part of it.
32:02But Booker has come in there
32:03and really, not just the run game.
32:06That's where he was always strong at Alabama.
32:08But he is proving himself now
32:10as a pass protector as well.
32:15Aubrey with the extra point.
32:18So Dallas down the field.
32:19A couple of good chunk plays.
32:21The touchdown for Davis.
32:23We'll be back in 30 seconds
32:24after this from AWS.
32:25It's been a good season at home for Dallas.
32:30They're 4-1-1.
32:32This season is such a struggle.
32:3520-point losses.
32:37It's better here at AT&T Stadium
32:39in year one for Brian Schottenheimer.
32:42Quarter century in the NFL
32:43and finally getting his head coaching opportunity.
32:45And just see, as Chris was alluding to in the beginning,
32:49the plates are moving
32:51and putting it in a good spot for this team
32:53as they go through the back end of this season
32:55and turn their attention to 20-26.
33:02Aubrey will kick it off.
33:04Two return men that time for Minnesota
33:07trying to do with his dirty kick.
33:09Miles Price has it in his hands.
33:12Not headed to 25.
33:14From Spanford's first contact.
33:16It's in a long field.
33:17This look at Justin Jefferson
33:19is brought to you by Nationwide.
33:22One of the best receivers in the business.
33:23But J.J. has been a bit grounded in flight.
33:27Go back to the last five years.
33:2996-and-a-half.
33:30He was the second most for a receiver in league history.
33:33But a career load this year.
33:35In the last two games,
33:36Destination Seattle and Washington
33:37in a quick flight.
33:39Two catches in each game.
33:41And as we update it now,
33:42when they go to him and target him
33:44as he was targeted on that deflection interception,
33:48two touchdowns, ten interceptions.
33:51And J.J. McCarthy was honest with us
33:53about it last night.
33:55I feel a little pressure
33:56when I'm throwing the ball to him,
33:57especially early on
33:58because he's one of the best in the league.
34:01I want to get him the ball.
34:02Ball.
34:03But don't want to force it to him.
34:0625-yard line.
34:07Jordan Mason with a nice run.
34:10For seven yards to the 32.
34:12You were great, former receiver.
34:13When he came in our meeting room,
34:14you said,
34:15man, you're changing the impression
34:16of our position
34:17because you're not being a diva receiver
34:19and complaining when you're not getting the ball.
34:21Yeah, I told him he's off-brand.
34:22What's he doing out there?
34:24But you've got to give him a lot of credit.
34:25It has been a tough couple of weeks for him.
34:27They're not getting him to football.
34:29And for young quarterbacks,
34:30sometimes the hardest thing to know
34:32is how to throw it to a number one receiver
34:35because often they're double-team.
34:37It was part of the issue
34:38with George Pickett a week ago, right?
34:40He got frustrated
34:41because he went from the two to the one,
34:44was getting those double-teams,
34:46and was giving up on some routes
34:47instead of going,
34:49hey, I'm the guy.
34:50CD's out of the game now.
34:51I've got to take over the game.
34:53And you can't be less of a receiver.
34:55You've got to be more of a receiver.
34:57But you also have to have a quarterback,
35:00in this case McCarthy,
35:01who can crack the code
35:03on how to throw that ball
35:04into those double coverages
35:06and give these great players
35:08a chance to make plays.
35:09And Jefferson told us, he said,
35:11we get in the game,
35:12and I see coverage I don't see on film.
35:14Everybody's really treating me differently.
35:16And he's noticed it going back
35:17to that Buffalo game he had a few years ago.
35:20They've got to find ways
35:21to get the ball in the hands of number 18.
35:23First down is picked up on third in inches
35:25as Mason, the fourth year back
35:27out of Georgia Tech,
35:29takes this drive.
35:30And Kevin O'Connell was very honest.
35:32He said, look,
35:32a big part of the rest of this season,
35:34last four games,
35:35is Operation 190.
35:37We're like, what are you talking about?
35:38Well, he needs 190 yards, Jefferson,
35:40to get to 1,000.
35:41He's like, I don't want that 1,000-yard streak
35:43to stop on my watch.
35:45He's too good a receiver.
35:46And he treats him almost like
35:48he's the quarterback of the team,
35:50talking about Jefferson,
35:51that he'll meet with him independently,
35:53and he has been a big part
35:55of that relationship.
35:57And they have built the relationship
35:58between Justin Jefferson
36:00and J.J. McCarthy,
36:01and it helps a young quarterback.
36:02That's the 10, McCarthy,
36:04with the shot to the sideline,
36:06going right where we were talking.
36:08The coverage was terrific.
36:09A complete for Jefferson
36:11with Deron Bland
36:11with the Cowboys step for step.
36:15But that's a perfect example
36:16right there.
36:17You've got your superstar
36:18and you've got Deron Bland out there.
36:20He's completely covered.
36:21Agreed?
36:21Completely covered.
36:23And yet you have to continue
36:24to work that ball to him.
36:27Believe me,
36:27Jefferson's going to make
36:28two or three of those plays tonight
36:30if you keep throwing
36:31those kinds of balls.
36:35He goes to the opposite side.
36:36J.M. and Naylor scored
36:37the touchdown last draft.
36:38Spent about three minutes
36:39in the tent
36:40with the independent
36:41concussion specialist.
36:43He is okay.
36:44Little heating pad on his back.
36:46He's back on the field now
36:47as Mason slips a tackle
36:49from Donovan Ezraku
36:51and he's tackled by
36:53Marvion Overshone.
36:55Game of three
36:57as we enter third down.
37:00And that's also part
37:01of the dilemma,
37:02if you will,
37:03for Kevin O'Connell.
37:04It's like,
37:05do you throw it again
37:06on second down
37:07and take a chance
37:07on a third and ten
37:08and put my quarterback
37:09in a tough spot
37:10or do you run it there
37:12to make it a little bit
37:13more manageable
37:14and so play calling
37:15changes with a young
37:17quarterback as well.
37:19Fullback C.J. Hamm
37:21in the lineup
37:21for the Vikings
37:23on third and eight.
37:27As McCarthy drifts,
37:28fires it down,
37:29field breaking open
37:30is Addison.
37:31Jordan Addison
37:32to the three-yard line.
37:3459 on the game.
37:36McCarthy,
37:37a big shot
37:38to Addison.
37:39Kaelin Carson
37:46on the back end
37:47of this one,
37:47but this is no contest.
37:50You have Jordan Addison
37:51just completely zipped them.
37:53They cleared the free safety out
37:55and J.J. McCarthy
37:56is getting loose.
37:58Totally.
37:59Can you feel it?
37:59Totally.
37:59I mean,
38:00he's just getting loose.
38:01I think it started to happen
38:02for him last week.
38:03He has the bad play early.
38:05The ball gets tipped.
38:06He doesn't get down.
38:08Comes back,
38:08throws a nice touchdown
38:09that way
38:10and hits a bomb there.
38:11He's getting loose.
38:12Sino, Sino, Sino.
38:14On the knee.
38:15That's hot.
38:17Timeout taken.
38:18It was a long field.
38:20Lots of folks
38:20coming down the field.
38:22Takes more than a minute,
38:23so a stoppage there.
38:24Minnesota will take
38:25a timeout
38:26before first and goal
38:27here from the four-yard line.
38:29But let's talk about
38:30the play calling there
38:31just a minute, okay?
38:32So, instead of it
38:34potentially being
38:35a sack
38:36or, you know,
38:37an incomplete pass
38:38and now maybe you get
38:38the blitz from the Cowboys,
38:40now you're in third and seven.
38:42So, they have to play
38:42a normal defense back there.
38:44So, now what is Kevin
38:45coming to?
38:46He says,
38:46all right,
38:47let's take a look at this.
38:48Instead of just trying
38:49to pick up the first down,
38:50let's give my guy a shot here
38:52and take one down the field.
38:54And defenses so many times
38:55on third down
38:56will play the sticks.
38:57And you get opportunities
38:59in that space
39:01to run by people.
39:02Look at Carson
39:03in that replay.
39:04You're going, dude.
39:05It folds him.
39:06It really does.
39:08Three tight ends.
39:09Big part of their success
39:10last week.
39:12We're seeing here
39:12on first and goal.
39:13Romeson.
39:15Overshow and holding on.
39:17Gain of a yard
39:18on that one.
39:19Kenneth Murray
39:19had him by the feet.
39:22Jordan takes this drive
39:23in place of Aaron Jones.
39:26I'll tell you,
39:27having DeMarvia
39:29and Overshown
39:29back in the lineup
39:30just adds,
39:32I don't know,
39:33a spark or something.
39:34He really does.
39:35And for the most part,
39:37this time it was
39:38Kenneth Murray
39:38that got underneath there.
39:39But first play of the game,
39:41you saw this, like,
39:42lightning bolt
39:43come out
39:44of the linebacker spot.
39:46He has just added
39:47something special
39:48to this defense
39:49being bad.
39:50Number zero.
39:51Hawkinson,
39:52Naylor,
39:52Jefferson
39:53all at the top.
39:54Mason alone
39:56to the bottom.
39:58McCarthy.
40:00Byron back
40:01in the end zone.
40:02JJ in the end zone.
40:03Jefferson touchdown.
40:05But there is a flag
40:06and it's procedure
40:07on Minnesota.
40:10Legal formation
40:11on the offense
40:12number 84
40:13was covering.
40:14That's a five-yard penalty.
40:16Second back.
40:18Josh Oliver
40:19is the tight end,
40:20number 84.
40:26Let's see here.
40:28On the line of scrimmage
40:29there,
40:29on the line of scrimmage
40:31there,
40:31that would make him
40:32ineligible.
40:35And not reporting
40:36and that just
40:37messed up everything.
40:39And...
40:39You know
40:41Justin Jefferson's going,
40:43have you ever had
40:43in one of those years?
40:47His last touchdown
40:48was 42 days ago
40:50in Detroit
40:51against the Lions.
40:54So the illegal formation
40:55backs it up
40:56to the eight-yard line.
40:59His three-wide receiver
41:00set has helped.
41:03The timeout taken here
41:03by the Cowboys
41:04as they
41:05had some personnel issues
41:07trying to match
41:08with that.
41:09Well,
41:10that just speaks
41:11to watching the game,
41:12right?
41:12The first part
41:12of the game
41:13was smash it in there,
41:14smash it in there.
41:15Our big guys
41:16have the handle
41:17of your big guys.
41:18So,
41:19what's on page B
41:20of the game plan?
41:20Well,
41:21that's what they did,
41:21right?
41:22They went the swing pass
41:23wide to the running
41:24back Jones
41:24out this way
41:25and come right back
41:26to Naylor
41:26and hit the touchdown pass.
41:28So instead of
41:28trying to beat
41:29their head against the wall,
41:31let's go out
41:31and spread it out.
41:32Now,
41:32that takes some confidence.
41:34You've got to say,
41:34all right,
41:34we're going to put the ball
41:35in the hands
41:36of our young quarterback
41:36and it worked out just fine.
41:38Or,
41:39it's perfect for Minnesota.
41:40They're eliminated
41:41for the playoffs
41:41with the Bears win today.
41:43So,
41:43let's see J.J. McCarthy
41:45on Sunday Night Football
41:46against the Cowboys.
41:47Open it up.
41:48You've got to find out,
41:48right?
41:49And Matt Eberflus,
41:50we know that he was
41:51the coach
41:52that basically J.J. studied
41:54in the offseason
41:55or during the season
41:56last year
41:56because he was on IR.
41:59Eberflus was
41:59the head coach
42:00of the Bears.
42:01McCarthy was doing
42:02in-depth study
42:03on all the division opponents.
42:04It feels like
42:05he's got a feel
42:06for what Eberflus will do.
42:07End zone shot here
42:08for Jefferson.
42:10Incomplete.
42:11Revel with the coverage.
42:14They like what they're getting
42:15out of Savon Revel,
42:17the rookie out of East Carolina,
42:18third-round pick.
42:20So,
42:21sometimes,
42:21safety cheats over that far.
42:23This guy's playing outside.
42:25It's just not there,
42:27right?
42:27At some point,
42:28I'm all four
42:29and I've been preaching
42:29throw it anyway over here.
42:31Uh-huh, right.
42:31But you have
42:32other terrific receivers
42:33and when it's that obvious,
42:35there's just no reason
42:36to throw it away.
42:37You've got to go the other way.
42:44Third and goal.
42:45Cowboys bring four.
42:47McCarthy steps up.
42:49Takes off.
42:50Puts his shoulder down.
42:52Comes down short.
42:54It'll be fourth
42:54and less than a yard.
42:56McConnell's right
42:57to the play sheet.
42:58Vikings going to go
42:59for it down here.
43:01It's so difficult
43:02when you're playing
43:03against a mobile quarterback
43:05and you want to play
43:06man coverage,
43:07which the Dallas Cowboys
43:08clearly did on that one.
43:10There just isn't anyone left.
43:11And this is not unusual
43:14here at all for McCarthy.
43:16He doesn't slide
43:17like a baseball player.
43:19He goes head first
43:20all the time
43:20and I think they're okay with it.
43:23Extra lineman comes in.
43:25Fullback C.J. Hamm.
43:26The big folks
43:27in on fourth and goal.
43:36McCarthy.
43:36The keeper.
43:38The walk-in.
43:39Little gritty
43:40on his way
43:40to the end zone.
43:41Oh, that's a little
43:42nasty right there.
43:44Touchdown, Vikings.
43:45Add a little fun
43:47to your young
43:47quarterback's life.
43:48There you go.
43:50Wasn't quite
43:51Joe Namath doing it,
43:52but it was pretty good.
43:56How about the gritty going?
44:00That's the kind of personality
44:01that is this kid.
44:04And that's why
44:04they're all wanting
44:05to be so patient
44:06because he does add
44:08that element of fun.
44:09even though things
44:12haven't gone well
44:12during the season,
44:13his energy and personality
44:14has not changed.
44:16Will Reichert adds
44:17the extra point.
44:19So, Justin Jefferson
44:20almost had a touchdown
44:21and was called back.
44:22So, if you really
44:23wanted a gritty,
44:24JJ gonna give you
44:25a little
44:25going over the goal line
44:27gritty.
44:2914 apiece.
44:30Tonight's SNF sites
44:37are provided by Nationwide.
44:38You see Dallas
44:39in the distance.
44:39The lights are
44:40in Highland Park.
44:41Great area
44:42in the Dallas suburbs.
44:44A lot of restaurants
44:45lit up for the holidays.
44:46And next Saturday
44:47in Highland Park,
44:48new restaurants
44:49gonna open up soon.
44:49Cafe Luca.
44:50We know some people.
44:51Jason Garrett,
44:52our NBC colleague.
44:54Babe Laufenberg,
44:55former Cowboys quarterback
44:56involved in that place,
44:57getting open there soon.
44:58So, just adding
44:59to Highland Park.
45:01We'll take it.
45:02We know somebody.
45:05Little wreck of the kick.
45:06Devontae Turpin
45:07gonna bring it back
45:07for the Cowboys.
45:09But Turpin
45:10accelerates past the 40
45:12as he's brought down
45:13at the 43-yard line.
45:16Some push and shove
45:16on the sideline.
45:17Everybody's
45:18getting ready
45:19to head their way
45:20because the Cowboys
45:21offense is coming back
45:22on the field.
45:23And if you think back
45:23to the 90s
45:24and NBC's on must-see TV,
45:27Dallas is there.
45:28And they always are.
45:29But because they keep
45:30the games close
45:31and entertaining,
45:32the offense this year
45:32has been great.
45:33Third in the NFL.
45:34Points leading
45:35in yards per game.
45:37Defense
45:38hasn't been great.
45:39And you know what that means?
45:41You've got a bunch
45:41of high-scoring games.
45:42All your friends come by
45:43and they watch
45:44a back-and-forth match.
45:46If it stays this way,
45:47they'd be the second team
45:48in the NFL history
45:48to score and allow
45:5029 points per game.
45:52And the Rams
45:52the year after
45:53the greatest show
45:53on turf
45:54won the Super Bowl
45:55for the other.
45:57It is nowhere to go
45:58for Malik Davis.
46:02I'll say this.
46:03They're not the only team
46:04like that.
46:05Buffalo Bills
46:06have a little bit of that.
46:07That's right.
46:07Cincinnati Bengals
46:08have a little bit of that.
46:10That's right.
46:10So, but it does.
46:11It's a good show
46:12and you can tell
46:14the trust
46:14and the relationship
46:15that just continues
46:17to grow.
46:19And Dak Prescott's
46:20about as confident
46:21a quarterback
46:22as you will meet right now.
46:24He feels really good
46:25about where they're going.
46:2910 pressure comes.
46:31Prescott's pass
46:32deflected towards
46:33CD Lab.
46:34And incomplete.
46:35So Minnesota
46:36freeing some pressure.
46:38It's a third down and 10.
46:40All night long
46:41you're going to see
46:42Blake Cashman 51
46:43Eric Wilson 55
46:45and they're going to be
46:46right in the middle.
46:47And so sometimes
46:48one will blitz
46:49the other drop out.
46:50It all sort of depends
46:51on which way
46:52that center turns.
46:54If the center turns
46:55to one of them
46:56a lot of times
46:57the other linebacker
46:58will blitz.
46:58You saw the Cowboys though
46:59they had a second answer
47:01with their back right there
47:02and they do again
47:03because they'll walk up
47:04their full back
47:05many times
47:06to make sure
47:07that isn't a problem.
47:08Third and 10
47:11protected is Prescott.
47:12Can Ferguson get there?
47:14Yeah.
47:15Couple shy
47:16as he goes
47:16to the 49-yard line.
47:18Dallas Turner
47:19peeled back
47:20along with veteran
47:21Harrison Smith
47:22to make the stop.
47:24Fourth down and three
47:25and Brian Schottenheimer
47:27keeping the offense out.
47:30Yeah, you always have to
47:31think about a field goal
47:32in these situations.
47:34Yeah, absolutely
47:35for Aubrey.
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