Week 13 of the NFL season is underway with two contenders matching up on TNF after a full week’s rest. The Dallas Cowboys (10-1) travel to the great white north to take on the Minnesota Vikings (6-5) on Thursday Night Football. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer’s hospitalization adds another wrinkle to this match up that, spoiler alert, didn’t really favor Minnesota to begin with.
The Game: Dallas at Minnesota (+3)
The Cowboys on Offense
Dallas’ offense is led by the two most dynamic rookies in the league; Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. My man crush on Prescott is well known at this point, but something about being proven so right, time and time again, can endear a person to you. Regardless, what I saw from Prescott last season in the NCAA and leading up to the draft process everyone can see now. He’s taken over the Cowboys and made the entire team better. Now, after saying all that, Elliott might still win rookie of the year. Every rookie rushing record is in danger at this point and when Elliott comes off the field to rest, Alfred Morris comes in. Terrence Williams has become a sold No. 2 receiver, Cole Beasley might be the best slot guy in the game right now and Dez Bryant is still Dez Bryant.
The Vikings on Offense
The holes on the Vikings offense grow bigger every week. Luckily for Minnesota, Adrian Peterson seems set to return soon. Unluckily for Minnesota, it’s not this week. After a solid start to the season, Sam Bradford has plateaued into a mediocre quarterback. Last week he ended the Lions game with an interception a rookie would have thrown. There are still weapons here. Stefon Diggs is in the top tier of NFL wide receivers and Charles Johnson is a solid No. 2. Kyle Rudolph is probably one of the five best tight ends in the game. Still, the mistakes, the horrible play calling from Pat Shurmer and the offensive line will cause problems for the rest of the season.
The Cowboys on Defense
Don’t let the No. 21 ranking in the league fool you. There are some playmakers on this Cowboys’ defense and if marijuana was legalized in Texas and by the NFL, they’d have even more. As it is, Sean Lee leads a solid back seven, especially the defensive backfield. Morris Claiborne is still out and safety Barry Church is listed as questionable on the final injury report, but Brandon Carr, Orlando Scandrick and Byron Jones will all be suited up.
The Vikings on Defense
Minnesota’s defense is the No. 3-ranked unit in the league and conclusive proof that the old adage of “defense wins championships” is no longer true. The Vikings have lost five of their last six games, all while the defense continues to dominate. Like the Cowboys, the Vikings’ strength is in the defensive backfield except this one is significantly stronger. Xavier Rhodes is one of he top three cornerbacks in the league right now and should be matched up against Dez Bryant all game. The Thursday night crew will be abusing the spot-shadow on that one.
The Coaches
Jason Garrett has gone from a guy perpetually on the coaching bubble to one of the most respected coaches in the league. His staff is full of disaster retreads that have somehow come together to form a coherent staff under his leadership. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer went in for emergency eye surgery Wednesday night and won’t coach in tonight’s game. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will take over for tonight and likely as long as Zimmer is out. Advantage = Cowboys and by a lot.
The Pick
Both teams come into the game with a full week’s rest and preparation. The absence of Zimmer will be monstrous as will the offensive totals put up by Dak, Zeke and the Boys. Cowboys 37, Vikings 17
Last Week
Straight up: 13-3
Against the spread: 10-6
Season
Straight up: 108-67-2
Against the spread: 96-81
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