Cowboys–Vikings rivalry

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Dallas Cowboys–Minnesota Vikings
Dallas Cowboys
Minnesota Vikings
First meetingSeptember 24, 1961
Cowboys 21, Vikings 7
Latest meetingNovember 20, 2022
Cowboys 40, Vikings 3
Next meeting2025 (tentative)
Statistics
Meetings total34
All-time seriesCowboys, 19–15
Postseason resultsCowboys, 4–3
Most recent
January 17, 2010
Vikings 34, Cowboys 3
Largest victoryVikings, 54–13 (1970)
Longest win streakVikings, 5 (1998–2004)
Current win streakCowboys, 3 (2020–present)
Championship Success
NFL Championships (6)

Super Bowls won (5)

NFL Conference Championships (11)

The Cowboys–Vikings rivalry is a rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.[1][2][3][4] The overall series is led by Dallas 19–15. The Cowboys and Vikings have played seven times in the playoffs, making this one of the most played playoff series in league history (the Vikings' most common playoff opponent and the fourth-most for the Cowboys after the 49ers, Rams, and Packers). The Cowboys lead the playoff series 4–3.[5] CBS Sports named the rivalry among the best in the 1970s.[6]

Meetings

  • In 1975, the Dallas Cowboys traveled to the Twin Cities for a Divisional playoff game. The Vikings looked to have the game wrapped-up with a late lead 14–10. However, Roger Staubach threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson in what became known as the Hail Mary game.[7][8][9]
  • In January 1983, future Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett rushed for an NFL-record 99-yard touchdown in a Monday Night Football game in Minnesota. This occurred despite the Cowboys have only 10 players in the game, as fullback Robert Newhouse was on the sidelines. The Vikings won the game.[10]
  • In 1989, the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys were part of the Herschel Walker trade, the largest player trade in NFL history.[11][12][13][14] In this trade, the Vikings received Herschel Walker and three picks from the Cowboys in exchange for eight picks given to the Cowboys. The Vikings felt it was the last piece needed to make a Super Bowl run. Instead, the trade catapulted the Cowboys to three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s; the Vikings won none with Walker. It is thus considered one of the worst trades in NFL history.[15]
  • The 1996 NFC Wild Card Round saw the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys defeat the Vikings 40–15.
  • In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings played the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Randy Moss, a rookie wide receiver who the Cowboys had passed over due to legal issues in college, famously had three touchdowns in a 46–36 thriller.[16][9]
  • In the 1999 playoffs, the Cowboys traveled to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for a key wild-card playoff game. The Vikings won 27–10.[17]
  • In the 2009 playoffs, Dallas traveled to the Metrodome for the NFC Divisional playoff game with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings defeated the Cowboys 34–3. Late in the game, Cowboys player Keith Brooking was seen arguing with Vikings coaches because he believed the Vikings were running up the score. Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips also believed Minnesota's late-game aggression was uncalled for.[18]
  • In 2022, the Cowboys travelled to U.S. Bank Stadium and blew out the Vikings 40–3. Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins was sacked a career-high seven times, and this was the largest road win in Dallas Cowboys' history. The game was so lopsided that CBS Sports switched to a "more competitive" game, this being the Bengals-Steelers, for their national broadcast with five minutes left in the third quarter.[19][20][21][22][23][24]

Game results

Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings season-by-season results
1960s (Cowboys, 4–0)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1961 Cowboys
21–7
Cotton Bowl Cowboys
1–0
Vikings' inaugural season.
Cowboys
28–0
Metropolitan Stadium Cowboys
2–0
1966 Cowboys
28–17
Cotton Bowl Cowboys
3–0
1968 Cowboys
20–7
Cotton Bowl Cowboys
4–0
Final meeting at Cotton Bowl.
1970s (Cowboys, 5–4)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1970 Vikings
54–13
Metropolitan Stadium Cowboys
4–1
First start in the series for Roger Staubach.
1971 playoffs Cowboys
20–12
Metropolitan Stadium Cowboys
5–1
NFC Divisional Round. Cowboys win Super Bowl VI. Game played on Christmas Day.
1973 playoffs Vikings
27–10
Texas Stadium Cowboys
5–2
NFC Championship Game. First meeting at Texas Stadium. Vikings lose Super Bowl VIII.
1974 Vikings
23–21
Texas Stadium Cowboys
5–3
Vikings lose Super Bowl IX.
1975 playoffs Cowboys
17–14
Metropolitan Stadium Cowboys
6–3
NFC Divisional Round (Hail Mary Game). Cowboys lose Super Bowl X.
1977 Cowboys
16–10(OT)
Metropolitan Stadium Cowboys
7–3
1977 playoffs Cowboys
23–6
Texas Stadium Cowboys
8–3
NFC Championship Game. Cowboys win Super Bowl XII.
1978 Vikings
21–10
Texas Stadium Cowboys
8–4
Cowboys lose Super Bowl XIII.
1979 Cowboys
36–20
Metropolitan Stadium Cowboys
9–4
Final meeting at Metropolitan Stadium. Final start in the series for Roger Staubach.
1980s (Vikings, 3–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1982 Vikings
31–27
Metrodome Cowboys
9–5
First meeting at Metrodome.
1983 Cowboys
37–24
Metrodome Cowboys
10–5
1987 Vikings
44–38(OT)
Texas Stadium Cowboys
10–6
1988 Vikings
43–3
Texas Stadium Cowboys
10–7
1990s (Tied, 3–3)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1993 Cowboys
37–20
Metrodome Cowboys
11–7
First start in series for Troy Aikman. Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVIII.
1995 Cowboys
23–17(OT)
Metrodome Cowboys
12–7
Cowboys win Super Bowl XXX.
1996 playoffs Cowboys
40–15
Texas Stadium Cowboys
13–7
NFC Wild Card Round.
1998 Vikings
46–36
Texas Stadium Cowboys
13–8
Thanksgiving game
1999 Vikings
27–17
Metrodome Cowboys
13–9
1999 playoffs Vikings
27–10
Metrodome Cowboys
13–10
NFC Wild Card Round.
2000s (Vikings, 3–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2000 Vikings
27–15
Texas Stadium Cowboys
13–11
Last start in the series for Troy Aikman. Thanksgiving game.
2004 Vikings
35–17
Metrodome Cowboys
13–12
2007 Cowboys
24–14
Texas Stadium Cowboys
14–12
Final meeting at Texas Stadium.
2009 playoffs Vikings
34–3
Metrodome Cowboys
14–13
NFC Divisional Round. Last postseason meeting to date.
2010s (Tied, 2–2)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2010 Vikings
24–21
Metrodome Tie
14–14
Final meeting at Metrodome.
2013 Cowboys
27–23
AT&T Stadium Cowboys
15–14
First meeting at AT&T Stadium.
2016 Cowboys
17–15
U.S. Bank Stadium Cowboys
16–14
First meeting at U.S. Bank Stadium.
2019 Vikings
28–24
AT&T Stadium Cowboys
16–15
2020s (Cowboys, 3–0)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2020 Cowboys
31–28
U.S. Bank Stadium Cowboys
17–15
2021 Cowboys
20–16
U.S. Bank Stadium Cowboys
18–15
2022 Cowboys
40–3
U.S. Bank Stadium Cowboys
19–15
Summary of results
Season Season series at Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings Notes
Regular season Cowboys 15–12 Vikings 7–5 Cowboys 10–5
Postseason Cowboys 4–3 Cowboys 2–1 Tie 2–2 NFC Wild Card Round: 1996, 1999. NFC Divisional Round: 1971, 1975, 2009. NFC Championship Game: 1973, 1977.
Regular and postseason Cowboys 19–15 Vikings 8–7 Cowboys 12–7

See also

References

  1. ^ Dave Roepke (16 January 2010). "A rich rivalry resumes between Vikings-Cowboys today". Inforum.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  2. ^ Kevin Lyons (23 December 1996). "Cowboys renew rivalry with Vikings". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. D6. Retrieved 18 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ Jon Krawczynski (27 December 2007). "Vikings rooting for rival Cowboys". Argus-Leader. Associated Press. pp. 1C, 6C. Retrieved 18 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  4. ^ "Cowboys, Vikings renew Rivalry". Austin American-Statesman. 28 December 1975. p. C5. Retrieved 18 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  5. ^ "Which NFL Teams Have Played Each Other the Most in the Playoffs?". Sportscasting. February 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  6. ^ DeArdo, Bryan (September 17, 2021). "Seven 1970s rivalries that made the NFL 'super': Steelers-Raiders takes top spot". CBS. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "'Hail Mary Pass' highlights Dallas-Minnesota rivalry". The Morning News. December 29, 1977. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Denne H. Freeman (29 December 1977). "Vikings, Cowboys recall 'Hail Mary pass'". The Missoulian. Associated Press. p. 11. Retrieved 18 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  9. ^ a b Bryan DeArdo (17 November 2022). "Cowboys-Vikings Throwback Thursday: The story behind NFL's first Hail Mary pass". CBS Sports. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  10. ^ "PLAYS; Dorsett Runs For 99 Yards And Record". New York Times. January 5, 1983. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "NFL 100 Greatest Game Changers: Herschel Walker trade". NFL.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  12. ^ Yasinskas, Pat. "On the anniversary of the Herschel Walker trade, a look back at the worst NFL deals". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  13. ^ Townsend, Brad (2019-10-12). "It's been 30 years since the Cowboys traded Herschel Walker to the Vikings, fueling a dynasty". Dallas News. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  14. ^ "It's been 30 years since the infamous Herschel Walker trade". NBC Sports. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  15. ^ Allen, Nick. "Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings: The Best Trade in NFL History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  16. ^ Andy Friedlander (27 November 1998). "Hail Moss". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. C12. Retrieved 18 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  17. ^ Mike Baldwin (10 January 2000). "Blunder of it all". The Daily Oklahoman. pp. 1C, 3C. Retrieved 18 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  18. ^ Seifert, Kevin (2010-01-17). "Cowboys' Brooking: Vikings late score classless". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  19. ^ Sutelan, Edward (21 November 2022). "Cowboys' blowout victory over Vikings, by the numbers: Wildest stats from Dallas' historic win". sportingnews.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  20. ^ Igbokwe, Nick (2022-11-21). "Why did CBS switch the Cowboys vs. Vikings NFL game?". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  21. ^ "The Vikings were losing so badly that CBS switched games and NFL fans thought it was hilarious". For The Win. 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  22. ^ Hladik, Matt (2024-02-12). "CBS Makes Controversial Decision On Cowboys vs. Vikings". The Spun: What's Trending In The Sports World Today. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  23. ^ Thompson, Scott (2022-11-20). "Cowboys beat Vikings so bad CBS cuts broadcast to different game before final whistle". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  24. ^ Papke, Grey (2022-11-21). "CBS makes brutal decision with Cowboys-Vikings broadcast". Larry Brown Sports. Retrieved 2024-02-13.