Minnesota and Dallas on Sunday Night Football is a must-win for the Cowboys (6-6-1) to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The Vikings are barely hanging on at 5-8 and would need to win out, plus get a lot of help, to make the postseason. The loser will pretty much be done, while the winner keeps some resemblance of hope alive.
It’s been a tough year for the Vikings, handing the reins over to J.J. McCarthy as the team’s franchise leader and starting quarterback. The up-and-down performance on the field, coupled with injuries that have derailed Minnesota’s 2025 campaign. The Vikings got a huge shutout victory over Washington last week, 31-0. McCarthy had a big game with three touchdown passes in the win. He’ll need to duplicate that performance against the Cowboys in Week 15 to keep the momentum going.
Advertisement
Dallas took one on the chin against Detroit in Week 14, falling 44-30. The Cowboys lost the turnover battle, committing three, while the Lions played a clean game in that regard. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense moved the ball as he passed for 376 yards, but he was also picked off twice. CeeDee Lamb was off to a nice start with six catches for 121 yards before leaving with a concussion. Due to Philadelphia’s recent struggles, Dallas is still alive in the NFC East and NFC wild-card races, although it cannot afford any additional setbacks.
Vikings vs. Cowboys start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium | Arlington, Texas
TV channel, live stream: NBC, Peacock, NFL+
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Vikings and Cowboys close out the Week 15 Sunday slate in primetime.
Live30 updates
Sun, December 14, 2025 at 8:05 PM PST
Ryan Young
A holding penalty pushed the Cowboys back there, and then Davis was stopped just shy of the first down marker there.
The Vikings have pulled off the stop, and will now take over near midfield with 5:21 left in the game. This one is about over.
Ryan Young
Looking back, the Cowboys should have punted. That missed field goal gave the Vikings a short field, and they took full advantage.
J.J. McCarthy just found a wide open Jalen Nailor in the end zone, and the Vikings are suddenly up by eight.
Ryan Young
Brandon Aubrey has now missed twice tonight, this time from 59 yards out. It’s a stunning off night from him.
The Vikings are still up by 1 now with 12:20 left.
Ryan Young
The Vikings have taken the lead, but the Cowboys — who essentially need a win here to keep their playoff hopes alive — will have a 2nd-and-1 just across midfield when we come back.
Ryan Young
The Vikings are now out in front after a short handoff to CJ Ham, who rolled into the end zone untouched. That’s the fifth rushing touchdown of his career.
The Vikings are up 24-23 now with 1:12 left in the third.
Ryan Young
That was a huge stop for the Cowboys there on third down. Wilson just drilled Nailor in the backfield on a third-and-short, but J.J. McCarthy found Nailor again for a 23-yard gain on fourth down.
So, the Vikings will keep moving down the field.
Ryan Young
The Cowboys used several big plays there to get down the field quick, but a false start penalty pushed them back on third down and eventually forced another Brandon Aubrey field goal. Dallas is 1-for-9 on third down so far tonight.
He’s good from 41, so the Cowboys lead 23-17 now with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
Ryan Young
The Cowboys forced a quick three-and-out, so Dak Prescott and thier offense will come back out now after a deep punt.
Ryan Young
The Cowboys got all the way into the red zone, thanks in part to a wild one-handed grab from Schoonmaker for a 29-yard gain, but the drive stalled out.
Brandon Aubrey drilled a 26-yarder, and the Cowboys are back in front.
Ryan Young
We’re all locked up halfway through this Sunday Night Football matchup. The Cowboys will get the ball out of the break.
Ryan Young
Brandon Aubrey made this one from 37 yards out after the earlier miss, and this game is tied again just before halftime.
Ryan Young
The Vikings made it all the way down into the red zone, but the Cowboys came up with a huge stop after back-to-back incompletions.
Will Reichard drilled a 29-yard field goal, though, so the Vikings are up 17-14 now with 1:48 left in the half.
Ryan Young
Well, Brandon Aubrey just missed his second field goal of the year. That was a 51-yard attempt.
So the Vikings will take over at their own 33 yard line with about six minutes left in the half.
Ryan Young
J.J. McCarthy was stopped just shy of the goal line on third down on a scramble there. The Vikings went for it on fourth, and McCarthy whipped out the perfect fake.
He just strolled into the end zone, and we’ve got a tie game once again.
Ryan Young
Jordan Addison was WIDE open there on third down, and the Vikings are suddenly in scoring position after that 58-yard gain.
Ryan Young
And there it is. Malik Davis punched in the 1-yard score, his second touchdown of the season, and the Cowboys are back in front.
Ryan Young
We’ve got a tie game, but the Cowboys will start the second quarter at the 1-yard line ready to punch in a touchdown. Dak Prescott found CeeDee Lamb for a 30-yard gain, and then quickly pushed the Cowboys into scoring position.
Ryan Young
The Cowboys haven’t even attempted a fake field goal since 2001…
Ryan Young
The Vikings are on the board. J.J. McCarthy just found Jalen Nailor with a wild throw in the corner of the end zone. Nailor was shaken up on the play, but the touchdown stands.
We’re all tied up 7-7.
Ryan Young
That’s a three-and-out for the Cowboys, who started their drive inside their own 5-yard line.
Also, Javonte Williams is now questionable to return with a shoulder injury.