Minnesota Vikings

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Lore & Background

The narrative of this rivalry is anchored in seven specific playoff clashes that shaped both franchises. In 1975, the Dallas Cowboys traveled to the Twin Cities for a Divisional Playoff where they trailed 14–10 late in the game. Quarterback Roger Staubach threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson in what became known as the Hail Mary game. Decades later, the rivalry saw another dramatic playoff shift in 1996 when the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys defeated the Vikings 40–15 in the NFC Wild Card Round. The intensity continued into the late 1990s and 2000s; in the 1999 playoffs, the Vikings won 27–10 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. In 2009, Minnesota defeated Dallas 34–3 in another NFC Divisional playoff game at the Metrodome. That contest sparked controversy when Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking argued with Vikings coaches late in the game for running up the score, a sentiment shared by Dallas head coach Wade Phillips.

In Their Own Story

Beyond the playoffs, single-game moments have defined this matchup. In January 1983, future Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett rushed for an NFL-record 99-yard touchdown against Minnesota on Monday Night Football. This historic run occurred despite the Cowboys playing with only 10 players because fullback Ron Springs was sidelined. Although the Vikings won that game, the play remains a highlight of individual brilliance. Another pivotal moment occurred in 1989 during the Herschel Walker trade, the largest player trade in NFL history. The Vikings received Walker and three picks from Dallas in exchange for eight picks. While Minnesota hoped this would be the final piece for a Super Bowl run, the trade instead propelled the Cowboys to three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s, while the Vikings won none with Walker. In 2022, the rivalry saw another extreme outcome when Dallas traveled to U.S. Bank Stadium and defeated Minnesota 40–3. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was sacked a career-high seven times, resulting in the largest road win in Cowboys history.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking to understand the stakes of this rivalry should note the sheer frequency of their postseason meetings. The series includes Divisional Playoff games in 1975 and 2009, as well as Wild Card games in 1996 and 1999. Regular-season encounters have also produced legendary performances, such as the 1998 Thanksgiving game where rookie Randy Moss scored three touchdowns against Dallas for a 46–36 Vikings victory. The Cowboys had passed on Moss due to legal issues in college. The 2022 matchup was so lopsided that CBS Sports switched its national broadcast to the Bengals–Steelers game with five minutes left in the third quarter. Whether it is a record-breaking run, a trade that altered franchise trajectories for decades, or a playoff upset, every meeting between these two teams carries significant historical weight.

Did You Know?

• This is the Vikings' most common playoff opponent and the fourth-most for the Cowboys.
• In January 1983, Tony Dorsett scored a 99-yard touchdown while his team played with only 10 active players on the field.
• The 2009 playoff game ended 34–3, leading Cowboys coach Wade Phillips to call the Vikings' aggression 'uncalled for'.
• During the 2022 game, CBS switched its national broadcast away from the matchup with five minutes remaining in the third quarter due to the 40–3 score.
• The 1989 Herschel Walker trade involved eight picks going to Dallas and only three picks plus a player going to Minnesota.