(From TWD)
We know where the conference title games will be next week. The question now is, who will be the visitors to the Superdome and Lucas Oil Field.
First, the keys to the game for both the Cowboys and Vikings.
Will the absence of E.J. Henderson caught up the Vikings today?
It helps when you have the massive tackle combination of the Williams brothers (Pat & Kevin, unrelated though) to try and stop a vaunted running game of the three headed monster that is Jones, Barber, and Choice. But will Jasper Brinkley, Chad Greenway and Ben Leber be able to make the play today if those backs get to the second level.
Also as key is who is going to match up with Jason Witten today? Will it be a hybrid of Greenway and Madieu Williams to account for the elite tight end. Those factors will be massive in this game today when the Cowboys have the ball.
The Offensive line of the Vikings today
They have been maligned in the last few weeks for not giving both Adrian Peterson and the still underrated Chester Taylor the running lanes to succeed like they received earlier in the season. Not only that, but the Steve Hutchinson lead unit will be under the microscope today against this in form Cowboys defense.
The Vikings saw that the Eagles failed in not being able to established any sort of running game. It is essential that Brad Childress have his team get the line of scrimmage today to have the likes of Ware and Spencer not thinking about going to Favre full tilt today. Tackles Bryant McKinnle and Anthony Hemera will have to be immense today.
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Before I write the game updates, I am a Jets fan, but being objective here first, I do think the Cowboys and the Chargers win today's games.
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Both defenses have gotten the better of the offense so far, although the Cowboys clearly had much better success......the pressure on both of these quarterbacks will be key, and the Vikings protection has got to be better for Favre today. Ware just walked into a sack.
The Cowboys are getting on the edge so far in this game, as Felix Jones is showing why he is the #1 back now for this team.
Cowboys wasting chances so far, and it could come back to bite them. Shaun Suisham misses from 48, and maybe on a 4th and short with how they have moved the ball the Cowboys should have went for it.
What a throw, but what a catch by Sidney Rice for the touchdown for the Vikings. They draw first blood here. Gerald Sensabaugh was right there in perfect coverage, but it was a perfect throw by Favre and a great concentration job by Rice.
How good is Jason Witten? Always is able to get yards after the tackle. And again, the Cowboys are in Vikings territory for the third time, as the first quarter ends.
The intensity has been live from both sides so far. But the Vikings one big play trumps the consistent efficiency of the Cowboys so far. 7-0 Minnesota
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Now the Cowboys are inside the 30 for the first time today. No mistakes on this drive for the Cowboys so far, as they are in Goal situation. And just after I said that, Romo takes an ill advised sack from Ray Edwards.
Suisham is true from a much shorter distance this time, but Romo's ill advised sack leads to another wasted opportunity from Dallas so far. 7-3 Vikings so far.
Favre to Rice again for the score.......is he really 40. Goodness, he has made the big plays in this game today, as the Vikings are up 14-3. Adrian Peterson has helped make that drive happen.
If the news couldn't get worse for the Cowboys, no Forzell Adams right now. Massive loss there. And the Cowboys lose the ball again, Jared Allen makes up for Adams absence, massive turnover, Cowboys in serious trouble.
If the Cowboys can keep them to a field goal, that is very huge. They have to stop here, and they do.
Ryan Longwell is true from a chip shot distance, as the Vikings get 3 points off the football to go up 17-3. But the Cowboys dodged a major bullet there.
This game is far from over, but the Cowboys will be very hampered if Adams cannot come back to this game. He is too integral to miss out on.
The Kickoff coverage today has been excellent from the Vikings side.
No question about how important it is for the Cowboys to get points here. The Vikings get the ball back first in the 2nd half. And they won't.
Big first down by Taylor there, as the Cowboys won't get the ball back. That's just a big play, as the Cowboys won't get the ball back in this half.......or maybe they will. That was a poor choice of play call by the Vikings there.
Only 13 seconds remain in this half, and the Cowboys will need something special for just a field goal.
And that's the first half everyone........a thoroughly enjoyable first half if you were a Vikings fan indeed. 17-3 at the half. And now, to have fun with the people in the comments section.
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The rest of this thread is dedicated to the life of Gaines Adams, a star in college with Clemson off the edge, who has we have all heard today has died at age 26 because of an enlarged heart. God bless to him, his family, and his friends in such a tragic time.
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The Cowboys get a big 3 and out on the Vikings to start the 3rd quarter, and Felix Jones is getting loose again.
And Suisham has missed again.....and you now see why the Redskins got rid of him.
What a closely miss again, and another, ANOTHER, wasted opportunity from the Cowboys again. And that is on Jason Garett's play calling, as he had no business having Romo throw the ball to Barber out in backfield. Foolish.
And Percy Harvin has been mentioned.....big time play by the electrifying rookie.
After the Vikings had to punt and bury the Cowboys in bad field position, Romo can't do anything back. Ball back to Minnesota as the 3rd quarter is in its winding stages.
The Cowboys defense once again is clutch, keeping them in the game with a three and out.
And Romo with a nightmare of a throw, as Leber intercepts it in the flats. That was a Tony Romo play from year's past.
As we go to the 4th quarter, it appears the Cowboys will need three big possessions to have any hope in this game, while hoping that their defense continues to stand tall to save them.
Longwell pads the lead....it's 20-3 Vikings, and the Cowboys will need to play their best quarter of the season to win this game.
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Desperate times for Dallas now. They must put it in the endzone now, and fast.
And this one is over ladies and gentlemen, Big plays made by the vikings defense and just no mistakes from Brett Favre at all. He has proven any, if ANY critic of his wrong. And Brad Childress, despite his criticism, is looking good again.
Favre to Rice for the third time today puts the exclamation point on this game. Wonderful effort today from and the rest of this Vikings team.
Insult to injury, Favre to his tight end for the touchdown, his 4th of the day, to make it 34-3, as the travel plans to New Orleans is getting made right now.