Game Summary
In the team’s first divisional playoff game since 2004, the Minnesota Vikings (12-4) will take on the Dallas Cowboys (12- 5) this Sunday, January 17. Kickoff at Mall of America Field is at noon.
This will be the 7th postseason matchup between the two teams, the most of any Vikings opponent in the playoffs. The Cowboys currently hold a 4-2 edge in the previous 6 games.
The Vikings finished the 2009 regular season with the NFL’s 5th-ranked offense and 6thranked defense, notching the first back-to-back top 10 defenses since 1993-94. The Vikings pass offense (8th) moved up 17 spots from 2008, the highest increase among all teams.
Key Links
Cowboys at Vikings Press Release (PDF)
Latest Vikings Depth Chart
Broadcast Info
TV: FOX Channel 9 in the Twin Cities
Play-By-Play: Joe Buck Analysts: Troy Aikman
Sideline Reporters: Pam Oliver / Chris Myers
RADIO: KFAN-AM 1130/KTLK 100.3-FM
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline Reporter: Greg Coleman
Pre-Game Show: 10 a.m. CST
KFAN and KTLK serve as the flagship stations for the 74-station, 6-state Minnesota Vikings Radio Network. Click here to view all stations on the Vikings Radio Network.
Vikings Make 26th Postseason Appearence
Sunday’s game will mark the Vikings 26th playoff appearance and the team’s 44th playoff game in franchise history. The Vikings have a combined 18-25 (.419) postseason record, and their 43 playoff games are tied for the 4th-most among all NFL teams. Only Dallas (57), Pittsburgh (50), and the N.Y. Giants (44) have played in more. The Vikings are tied with Oakland and St. Louis for 4th place. With Sunday’s game, the Vikings will be tied for the 3rd most postseason games in league history.
The Vikings last trip to the postseason came in 2008, when the team lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 26-14 in the Wild Card round. The team has now made 4 postseason appearances since the 2000 season. Head Coach Brad Childress has led his teams to 2 playoff berths.
Seventeen Vikings will be making their first playoff appearance, while 36 have either played or been active in at least one playoff game. Twenty-five players on the roster have started at least one postseason game. QB Brett Favre has the most playoff starts (22) and the most postseason games played (22) among all current Vikings.
Stats of the Week
- The Vikings had 9 players selected to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl: DE Jared Allen, LB Heath Farwell (Special Teams), QB Brett Favre, KR Percy Harvin, G Steve Hutchinson, T Bryant McKinnie, RB Adrian Peterson, WR Sidney Rice and DT Kevin Williams. The Vikings 9 selections were the most of any team.
- Minnesota had 6 receivers with at least 40 receptions on the season. According to Elias, it is only the 2nd time in NFL history a team has accomplished the feat (1983-Dallas Cowboys).
- The Vikings were 4-1 this season against the 2009 playoff teams, defeating Green Bay twice, Baltimore and Cincinnati and losing to Arizona.
- Minnesota finished undefeated at home in the regular season for only the 3rd time in team history (1989, 1998), going 8-0-0 at Mall of America Field in 2009. The team is 14-2 at home in the regular season over the last 2 years.
Vikings Big Days vs. Cowboys
- DE Jared Allen posted 2.0 sacks to go along with 5 tackles against the Cowboys as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs on 12/11/05.
- QB Brett Favre has posted passer ratings over 100.0 in 3 of his 8 career regular season games vs. the Cowboys, all coming when he played for the Green Bay Packers. On 11/24/94, Favre completed 27- of-40 passes for 257 yards and 4 TDs for a passer rating of 118.4. On 11/23/97, Favre completed 22-of-35 passes for 203 yards and 4 TDs and a rating of 104.8. Most recently in 2004, Favre completed 23-of- 29 passes for 258 yards and 2 TDs for a rating of 126.7.
- Favre also recorded a career-high 2 rushing TDs when the Packers and Cowboys met on 10/8/95.
- In the 1995 Divisional Playoff game vs. the Cowboys, Favre threw for 307 yards and 3 TDs, including a 73-yard strike.
- CB Cedric Griffin returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown when the teams met in the regular season on 10/21/07.
- LB Ben Leber recorded 8 tackles and recovered a fumble that he lateraled to Griffin for a 50-yard score when the teams last met in Dallas during the regular season on 10/21/07.
- RB Adrian Peterson gained 63 yards on the ground on 12 carries and had a 20-yard TD run when the Vikings last met Dallas in the regular season on 10/21/07.
- DT Kevin Williams had a sack on Tony Romo and recovered a fumble when the teams last met in the regular season on 10/21/07.
Vikings vs. Cowboys Series Notes
- The Vikings are 12-14-0 against the Cowboys all-time, including a 10-10 mark in the regular season and a 2-4 record in postseason play. The Vikings are 5-9 against the Cowboys all-time at home, but are 4-3 since moving to the Metrodome. Minnesota and Dallas have not squared off since 2007, and this is the Cowboys’ 1st visit to Mall of America Field since 2004 (a 35-17 Vikings win).
- This will be the 7th postseason meeting between the Vikings and the Cowboys, as the teams have played 6 prior playoff games – twice in NFC Wild Card games, twice in NFC Divisional Playoff games and twice in NFC Championship games. The Vikings are 2-4 against the Cowboys in the postseason but won the last matchup in the 1999 NFC Wild Card round, beating Dallas 27-10 in the Metrodome. The Vikings 6 games against Dallas are the most for a postseason opponent.
- The Vikings have won 5 of the last 6 games between the 2 teams. The Cowboys won the last reg. season meeting 24-14 (10/21/07) after the Vikings had won 5 straight–the longest streak in series history.
- The Vikings first preseason game in the history of the franchise was against Dallas at Sioux Falls, SD, a game the Vikings lost 38-13.
- The Vikings have finished the last 4 preseasons (2006-2009) with games against Dallas.
A Win Would...
- Give the Vikings their 19th postseason win in the team’s 44 playoff games and improve the team’s all-time postseason record to 19-25.
- Give the Vikings their first playoff win since 2004, when they defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-17 in the Wild Card game, and only their 2nd win since 2000.
- Give the Vikings their 8th trip to the NFC Championship.
- Give the Vikings a 9-0 record (regular season and postseason) at home in 2009.
- Improve the Vikings record against the NFC to 10-3 (regular season and postseason) in 2009.
- Give Brad Childress his first playoff victory as a head coach.
From The Locker Room
Cedric Griffin - “We’ve got to play well, this is the time of the year when every play counts. It’s going to be a big challenge, another challenge, for the season. It’s important for me, being from Texas, to have a good showing for myself. Lots of friends, family and teammates are going to be watching this game. We have a chance to take the next step to our team goals and Dallas is going to be a tough test. As a defense, we pride ourselves on stepping up.”
Adrian Peterson - “This will be the biggest game I’ve played in to this date. It is more special because it’s against Dallas, the team I grew up rooting for. There’s something special about playing that team for me. The playoffs are on a totally different scale from regular season games. Everyone steps their games up and the intensity is at a much higher level- on the field and in the stadium. The urgency with the players is much higher, everyone’s playing harder, everything you’ve worked for is on the line. I love it.”
Jamarca Sanford - “I just talked to Jared Allen about how different a playoff game is. I’m excited to experience it. He said it’s a totally different ball game. The crowd is into it like the beginning of a regular season game and they never get out of it. They stay into it for all four quarters. I’m excited to play in an atmosphere like that with the tempo jacked up a notch.”
Antoine Winfield - “This is the best time of the year. You know you win or go home; there’s no tomorrow anymore. It’s very important to get this game at home. I love how we play at home. We’re 8-0 in front of our crowd and they play a huge part in these games. The energy around a playoff game makes it so much more intense. We’re facing a good Dallas team that’s among the hottest teams in football right now. Having them at our place will be huge, the noise is going to be a big factor in this game.”
Vikings-Cowboys Have Playoff History
The Vikings and Cowboys have carved out their places in NFL lore by fielding some of the most dominant teams of the past decades. In the 10-year span of 1969-78 the Vikings or Cowboys represented the NFC in the Super Bowl 9 times. The Vikings played in Super Bowl IV, VIII, IX and XI while Dallas was in Super Bowls V, VI, X, XII and XIII.
Super Bowl IV (1/11/70) // Kansas City 23, Minnesota 7
Super Bowl V (1/17/71) // Baltimore 16, Dallas 13
Super Bowl VI (1/16/72) // Dallas 24, Miami 3
Super Bowl VIII (1/13/74) // Miami 24, Minnesota 7
Super Bowl IX (1/12/75) // Pittsburgh 16, Minnesota 6
Super Bowl X (1/18/76) // Pittsburgh 21, Dallas 7
Super Bowl XI (1/8/77) // Oakland 32, Minnesota 14
Super Bowl XII (1/15/78) // Dallas 27, Denver 10
Super Bowl XIII (1/21/79) // Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31
Post Season Notes
- This is the Vikings 2nd-consecutive postseason appearance and the team’s 4th since 2000.
- This will mark the Vikings 26th playoff appearance and 44th playoff game in team history.
- The Vikings have an all-time postseason record of 18-25 (.419) in their previous 43 games played.
- The 43 games are tied for the 4th-most among all NFL teams, with only Dallas (57), Pittsburgh (50) and N.Y. Giants (44) having more. The Vikings are tied with Oakland and St. Louis for 4th place.
- Seventeen Vikings will be making their first playoff appearance, while 36 have either played or been active in at least one playoff game.
- Twenty-five Vikings have started at least one playoff game.
- Among current Vikings players, there have been 112 postseason games played with 66 starts.
- QB Brett Favre has the most playoff starts (22) among current Vikings.
- Favre also has the most games played (22) among current Vikings.
