Cowboys rally for 31-28 victory, stop Vikings' winning streak

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) catches a second quarter touchdown pass over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Jeff Gladney (20) on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Jerry Holt/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

MINNEAPOLIS — Andy Dalton hit Dalton Schultz for a three-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute 37 seconds left for the Dallas Cowboys beat the Vikings 31-28 on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Vikings came into the game on a three-game winning streak, having dug out of a 1-5 hole and facing a three-game home stand against teams with losing records.

But the Cowboys, with Dalton at quarterback after he missed two games because of a concussion and COVID-19, did not look like a 2-7 teams on a four-game skid.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz (86) celebrates after he scored what would be the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Anthony Souffle/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

They had a 16-7 lead at halftime as the Vikings' offense was plagued by penalties and could not get Dalvin Cook going.

Cook even looked shaken up at the end of the first half after a hard hit. But he was back on the field for the second half, and went to work. He had 12 touches on the Vikings' first two drives of the second half, which both ended with touchdown passes from Cousins to Adam Thielen and gave the Vikings a 21-16 lead.

But as has been the case for most of the season, the game came down to a back-and-forth fourth quarter.

Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson (18) catches a pass in the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

The Cowboys took a 24-21 lead on a 42-yard run by Tony Pollard before Cousins and Justin Jefferson connected for a 39-yard touchdown with less than 10 minutes left.

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) spikes the ball after scoring on a 2-yard run in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Jerry Holt/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) has the ball stripped away by Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson (37), resulting in a turnover in the first quarter on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Anthony Souffle/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) has his helmet knocked off after a collision with Minnesota Vikings' Jaleel Johnson (94) in the second quarter on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown (30) could not watch on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Jerry Holt/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

Minnesota Vikings receiver Adam Thielen (19) is pushed out of bounds by Dallas Cowboys' Anthony Brown (30) after a gain of 51 yards on a catch and run in the third quarter on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)