Eliminated Minnesota Vikings Humiliate Dallas Cowboys 34-26 on Sunday Night Football: Playoff Hopes Evaporate in Devastating Home Loss
In a shocking turn of events that has Cowboys Nation spiraling into despair, the playoff-eliminated Minnesota Vikings stormed into AT&T Stadium and delivered a humiliating 34-26 upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys on December 14, 2025. With nothing left to play for after their postseason dreams ended earlier that day, the Vikings played spoiler to perfection, transforming Dallas’ flickering playoff hopes into total disaster and leaving fans absolutely losing their minds.
Vikings Play Spoiler as Cowboys Collapse in Prime Time
Hours after being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the Minnesota Vikings (now 6-8) unleashed an explosive offensive performance against one of the NFL’s leakiest defenses. Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy torched the Cowboys for three total touchdowns – two passing (both to Jalen Nailor) and one rushing – while completing 15-of-24 passes for 250 yards despite an early interception.
Key moments that buried Dallas:
- McCarthy’s stunning 20-yard TD pass to Nailor while rolling left.
- A 1-yard rushing TD on a bootleg to tie the game.
- Fullback C.J. Ham‘s go-ahead 1-yard plunge – his first carry and TD of the season.
- Nailor’s second TD catch (4 yards) to extend the lead in the fourth.
- Rookie kicker Will Reichard‘s clutch 53-yard field goal to seal it.
The Vikings overcame an early deficit, exploiting big plays like completions of 58, 29, 23, and 18 yards, while their defense bent but held firm when it mattered.
Cowboys’ Offense Stalls, Defense Crumbles in Heartbreaking Fashion
Dak Prescott racked up 294 yards on 23-of-38 passing, but threw zero touchdowns – only the third time this season. Running backs Javonte Williams and Malik Davis each scored short rushing TDs, and CeeDee Lamb (cleared from concussion protocol) added 6 catches for 111 yards.
Yet, red-zone inefficiency doomed Dallas: multiple drives stalled, forcing reliance on kicker Brandon Aubrey, who shockingly missed two field goals – matching his season total in one nightmare night. The defense, despite mid-season reinforcements, allowed 34 points for the seventh time this year, unable to contain McCarthy or generate pressure.
Playoff Implications: Dallas’ Season on the Brink of Total Collapse
Entering the game, the Cowboys (6-7-1) clung to slim playoff hope, needing a win to stay alive in the NFC East and wild-card races. This devastating loss plummeted their postseason probability to less than 1%, per multiple simulators and Next Gen Stats.
Dallas now faces an impossible path: win their final three games and hope the Philadelphia Eagles lose out completely. The mid-season surge that sparked optimism has vanished under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, leaving questions about the team’s direction and fan frustration at an all-time high.
Key Stats from Vikings vs Cowboys
- Final Score: Vikings 34, Cowboys 26
- J.J. McCarthy: 15/24, 250 passing yards, 2 TD passes, 1 rushing TD, 1 INT
- Dak Prescott: 23/38, 294 passing yards, 0 TD
- Jalen Nailor: 2 TD receptions
- CeeDee Lamb: 111 receiving yards
- Notable: Cowboys hurt by 2 missed FGs; Vikings explosive despite elimination
From playoff contenders to humiliated at home by an eliminated team – Cowboys fans are rightfully losing it. Is the 2025 season a total disaster? React below and let us know!
