Minnesota Vikings Vs Dallas Cowboys: Keys To The Game

The Dallas Cowboys (1-3) match-up against the Minnesota Vikings (1-3) is as hyped a game as you will ever see between two teams with losing records.  

Last time the Cowboys visited Minnesota, Jared Allen and company destroyed the Cowboys 34-3. That game also featured a late touchdown pass by Brett Favre, which could easily be construed as running up the score.  

The loser of the game will likely be kissing their season goodbye, as making the playoffs after a 1-4 start is not a common occurrence (only five teams have done so in the modern era).  If none of that gets you pumped up for this game, remember that Dallas quarterback Tony Romo grew up in Wisconsin idolizing Brett Favre, and this could be their last head-to-head match-up.  Then again, never count on Favre retiring. Here are the keys to the game for the Cowboys to get their season back on track:

1. Consistency

The Cowboys have been consistent at two things this season, penalties and playing maddeningly inconsistent football.  Although many Cowboy faithful will blame Wade Phillips' being "soft" as the main culprit for the numerous penalties, the lack of discipline goes back to the Bill "disciplinarian" Parcells years.  

Penalties sometimes are a result of players being aggressive, and Parcells used to talk about how you have to be careful about limiting the aggressiveness of your players. That said, dumb penalties, especially those that extend drives or those that put you on long yardage situations, will kill you.  The Cowboys rank second in the NFL, averaging 9.5 penalties per game, trailing the 1-3 Detroit Lions.  Luckily for the Cowboys, the Vikings are not that far behind, being the fourth-most penalized team in the league with 8.2 per game.

Beyond reducing the number of penalties, the Cowboys need to play consistent football to win games. Sounds easy right?  It is hard to win games at this level when you:

• Score a touchdown and immediately give up a 73-yard kickoff return.
• Score a game-tying touchdown only to have it taken away by a holding call.
• Put together a nice drive just to miss a field goal that would put you ahead.
• Throw an interception when deep in enemy territory.
• Force a third-and-long and give up a long touchdown pass.

That is just five examples of situations the Cowboys have botched that contributed to losses this season.  You could easily make a list five times longer than that.  In the end, it it comes down to executing in a consistent basis. And that goes for the offense, defense, special teams and coaching staff.

2. Turnovers

I have been preaching the lack of turnovers by the Cowboys defense in this space since the season started.  Let me put it another way, the only game the Cowboys have won this season, against the Texans, has been the only game the Cowboys caused a defensive turnover.  

The last couple of seasons one reason behind the low number of turnovers by a very good Cowboys defense was attributed to the very good pass rush.  The thinking being that if you sack the quarterback consistently, you don't just don't get as many interceptions/fumbles.  

The theory being thrown around this week has been the Cowboys playing lots of man-to-man defense, which puts the defensive backs in a bad position to get interceptions as they have their backs to the line of scrimmage during the play.  Other pundits have said the main reason is a lack of speed for the Cowboys defense.  Last time they faced a turnover-prone quarterback, Jay Cutler, the Cowboys failed to pick off a pass.  This time around the Cowboys should press Favre into throwing those Favre-esque, game-changing turnovers.

3. Keeping Adrian Peterson contained

For the second week in a row, the Cowboys face one of the league's best running backs in Adrian Peterson.  Chris Johnson rushed for 31 yards, but he collected 42 of those in one run and you could easily argue that Chris Johnson did not win the game for the Titans.  Peterson has 480 yards in four games, while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.  The Cowboys defense will need to keep Peterson contained, and press him into fumbling the ball to give themselves a chance to win.

4. Cowboys offensive line

From day one the biggest question mark around this team has been the aging offensive line.  Sure looks like all those questioning voices were correct.  

The offensive line has indeed looked old, slow and has been injury prone.  Right guard Leonard Davis was so awful last week that he was pulled during the game in favor of backup Montrae Holland, and didn't come back into the game until Holland got an eye contusion.  After only five games, the line only two offensive line members to play every snap have been left tackle Doug Free and center Andre Gurode.  During the week, Gurode missed practice due to an injured knee.  If Jared Allen and company run wild on the Cowboys, like they did in last year's playoffs, the Cowboys will have no chance at winning this game.

5. Randy Moss

If you have been a Cowboys fan for any length of time, the mere mention of playing against Randy Moss should give you goosebumps.  No, not goosebumps of excitement, but goosebumps of getting burned for big gains by Moss.  Moss has 35 grabs for 734 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven games against the Cowboys.  Contain Moss, and you may have a shot at winning.