The Minnesota Vikings aim to exploit a Dallas Cowboys defense that allowed 44 points to the Detroit Lions in Week 14. Moreover, coming off a 31-point outing against the Washington Commanders, the Vikings hope to build on that momentum.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy returned from a concussion and went 16 of 23 for 163 yards, throwing three touchdowns while keeping the offense turnover-free with no interceptions.
The stats might not be flashy, but they show McCarthy taking a significant step forward, and the focus now is on maintaining that momentum. While the Cowboys’ defense had its issues against the Lions, they’ll be looking to bounce back as they aim to make McCarthy uncomfortable.
On December 10, McCarthy spoke with reporters and shared his thoughts on facing the Cowboys’ defense and the challenge that unit brings.
“From an overall scheme standpoint, Matt Eberflus has been doing this for a while, and I have tremendous respect for him—how he calls the game and coaches his players,” McCarthy told reporters. “Up front, though, they’re really strong, especially with those two new additions [of Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark]; it’s going to be a real test for us.
“Trevon Diggs might be back, and their linebackers are extremely athletic and physical. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but we just need to keep grinding, execute the game plan, and see where we stand Sunday night.”
Vikings’ Aaron Jones Sr. Gets Honest About Dallas Defense
In their win over Washington, Minnesota relied heavily on the ground game, racking up 162 rushing yards. Aaron Jones Sr. led the way with 76 yards on the ground, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
The strong running attack also eased the burden on McCarthy, reducing the need to pass to make up for a struggling rush. Ahead of the matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, Jones addressed the media on what to expect from Dallas’ defense.
“They’re a fast [and] physical defense,” Jones told reporters on December 10. “They’re flying around, they have pieces at every level on their defense, and they’re playing hungry. So we got to exceed that.”
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Looks to Impress
The running game should give McCarthy a significant lift, but he still must deliver timely throws and do so with confidence. With just four games left, the young quarterback faces the pressure of proving to the front office that he’s their franchise leader.
Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner shared his thoughts on what he hopes to see from McCarthy in these final contests, emphasizing the qualities that could solidify his case as the team’s No. 1 starter next season.
“I think you want to continue to see steady growth,” Warner said on the latest “One on One” published on December 10. “The biggest thing is that you want to try to use these last four games to build into next year. And, you know, that doesn’t mean you’re giving up on this year and you’re not saying, ‘Hey, let’s try to win them all and see if we can get in the playoffs.’
“But the idea is simply, let’s keep getting better. Let’s keep building. Let’s go into the offseason with everybody feeling really good about where we’re at, or in this specific case, let’s get everybody feeling really good about the quarterback that’s in our room and what he can be for us…
“We want him going into the offseason feeling really good that we’re putting him in a position to play his best football and to help us win. And so that, to me, is kind of the underlying thing that you’re trying to accomplish in these last four games: play good football, be competitive.”
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