NFL Week 15 overreactions
USA TODAY’s Prince Grimes breaks down the best storylines from NFL Week 15.
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The NFC playoff picture is beginning to focus. Will the Dallas Cowboys be a part of it?
They have an opportunity to take another step into the playoff picture when the Cowboys defend home turf against the Minnesota Vikings in the Week 15 “Sunday Night Football” matchup (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).
Dallas’ best chance to make the 2025 NFL playoffs will be through the NFC East, where the division-leading Philadelphia Eagles are in the midst of a bit of a tailspin, as they entered Week 15 losers of their last three games. That gives the Cowboys an opportunity to pick up some ground as the season nears its boiling point.Â
Dallas, though, will have to stack every win possible as the final four weeks of the NFL’s regular season arrive, starting with one over J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings on Sunday. McCarthy is coming off his best performance as a pro, tossing three touchdowns in a win over Washington.
Minnesota is clinging to its playoff life, but would need a ton of help to make it to the dance. First and foremost, they’ll need to keep stacking wins if they want to stay in the hunt. That means a win on Sunday night would keep their hopes alive for one more week.
USA TODAY Sports will provide updates, highlights and more from the “Sunday Night Football” matchup between the Cowboys and Vikings below.
Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey nailed a 37-yard field goal after missing a 51-yarder earlier to even the score as “Sunday Night Football” headed into halftime.
The Cowboys will receive the kickoff to begin the second half.
Kicker Will Reichard knocked through a 29-yard field goal to give his team its first lead of the game after Minnesota’s drive stalled in the red zone. It’s 17-14 Vikings with 1:48 left in the first half.
Vikings 17, Cowboys 14
Length: Four yearsValue: $140 millionAAV: $35 million
Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension with the Vikings in 2024, including $110 million in guarantees. At the time, the deal made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
After former college teammate and current Cincinnati Bengals receiver inked a four-year, $161 million contract this past offseason, Jefferson is now the second-highest-paid receiver in the NFL by average annual value.
Kevin O’Connell is the Vikings’ head coach. The former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator took over as Minnesota’s head coach in 2022, shortly after helping the Rams win Super Bowl 56.
Dallas opened the 2025 season with a new coaching staff after firing previous head coach Mike McCarthy.
Head coach: Brian SchottenheimerOffensive coordinator: Klayton AdamsDefensive coordinator: Matt Eberflus
Schottenheimer previously served as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach in the offseason. Dallas hired Adams, the former Cardinals offensive line coach, to replace Schottenheimer as offensive coordinator. Eberflus served as the Chicago Bears‘ head coach from 2022 until his firing after Thanksgiving last year.
Yes. The Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention before tonight’s kickoff.
On a fourth-and-goal play from the 1-yard line, McCarthy faked a handoff to running back Jordan Mason, then literally danced into the end zone untouched.
It’s 14-14 with 9:28 left in the first half.
Cowboys 14, Vikings 14
Dallas ran two plays from the 1-yard line to begin the second quarter, and Davis hit pay dirt on the second try.
Filling in for the injured Williams, Davis scored the second touchdown of the season and third of his four-year career to put the Cowboys back on top. It’s 14-7 Dallas, eight seconds into the second quarter.
Cowboys 14, Vikings 7
Nailor was the beneficiary of a deep throw from quarterback J.J. McCarthy at the end of the Vikings’ third offensive drive. He hauled in the 20-yard pass for the touchdown, and kicker Will Reichard’s extra point evened the score.
Nailor remained on the ground and had to be attended to by Vikings trainers after the play. The game is tied at seven with 2:35 left in the first quarter.
Cowboys 7, Vikings 7
After scoring his touchdown, Williams underwent a medical evaluation with trainers on the Cowboys’ sideline.
The team has declared the running back questionable to return with a shoulder injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Prescott is wearing a jersey patch honoring his 2022 selection as the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year.
The jersey patches were created by the NFL in 2017 to raise awareness of the award, which the league considers its most prestigious. The jersey patches are to be worn by any active player who has won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
The Cowboys take the lead on a one-yard rush from the veteran running back early in the first quarter. A fake field goal rush by kicker Brandon Aubrey on a fourth-and-4 situation a few plays earlier set up the rest of the touchdown drive. Dallas was able to put seven points on the board coming off of Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s interception on the second play of the game.
It’s 7-0 Cowboys with 8:23 left in the first quarter.
Cowboys 7, Vikings 0
What TV channel is the Cowboys vs Vikings game on?
NBC is the broadcast home of “Sunday Night Football.” Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be on the call, with Melissa Stark providing updates from the sidelines.
What time is the Cowboys game on tonight?Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET | 7:20 p.m. CT
The Cowboys and Vikings are scheduled for an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff, the customary start time for “SNF.” The Vikings travel to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the tilt.
Cowboys vs Vikings stream
NBC’s proprietary streaming service, Peacock, will carry the matchup.
Watch Cowboys vs. Vikings on Peacock
Cowboys vs Vikings picks, predictions
Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ NFL experts feel this week’s game will go (hint: it’s a clean sweep for Dallas):
Jarrett Bell: Cowboys, 30-23Nick Brinkerhoff: Cowboys, 30-23Chris Bumbaca: Cowboys, 26-23Nate Davis: Cowboys, 27-23Tyler Dragon: Cowboys, 28-20Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Cowboys, 23-20Cowboys vs Vikings odds, moneyline, O/U
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 9:11 a.m.
Moneyline (ML):Â Dallas -275 (Bet $275 to win $100) | Minnesota +225 (Bet $100 to win $225)Against the spread (ATS):Â Dallas -5.5 (-110) | Minnesota +5.5 (-110)Over/Under (O/U):Â 48 (O: -105 | U: -115)
The Cowboys enter tonight’s game in second place in the NFC East.
Dallas will be without startingtackle Tyler Guyton for a third straight week.
WR Jalen TolbertOT Tyler GuytonRB Jaydon BlueDT Jay ToiaDT Perrion WinfreyLT Christian DarrisawT Walter RouseEDGE Chazz ChamblissDT Elijah Williams
The Cowboys enter Week 15 with an estimated 7% chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. With a win on “Sunday Night Football,” those odds would improve to 10% and a loss would drop those chances down to just 1%.
Los Angeles Rams (11-3, NFC West leaders)*Chicago Bears (10-4, NFC North leaders)Philadelphia Eagles (9-5, NFC East leaders)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, NFC South leaders)Seattle Seahawks (11-3, wild card No. 1)San Francisco 49ers (10-4, wild card No. 2)Green Bay Packers (9-4-1, NFC North leaders)
* Clinched playoff berth
In the hunt: Detroit Lions (8-6), Carolina Panthers (7-7), Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1).
Eliminated:Â Minnesota Vikings (5-8); Atlanta Falcons (5-9); New Orleans Saints (4-10); Washington Commanders (4-10); Arizona Cardinals (3-11); New York Giants (2-12).