Not many football prognosticators gave the Vikings a chance Thursday against the heavily favored Cowboys, but Minnesota's defense did.
The Vikings held the Cowboys to a season-low in points in the 17-15 loss, severely limiting an offense that entered the game near the top in most major offensive categories. The defense did so even in the absence of Head Coach Mike Zimmer.
Here are three stats that stood out about the game with teams that were never more than one score apart.
1-of-9 third-down conversions allowed
One of the best ways to mitigate damage against an explosive offense is to limit time of possession. The best way to do that is to get off the field on third downs.
Dallas entered the game ranked second in the NFL in third-down efficiency, having converted 64 of 132 (48.5 percent) of the time.
The Vikings allowed the Cowboys to go just 1-for-9 on third downs (11 percent), but the one that Dallas got loomed large. Dak Prescott scrambled for a gain of 14 when he needed 13 in the second quarter. Rather than punting from inside the Dallas 26, the Cowboys got a fresh set of downs. Prescott found Dez Bryant on a 56-yard pass four plays later to set up their first touchdown of the night.
The effectiveness on third downs, along with recovering two of the three forced fumbles, helped the Vikings limit the Cowboys to a time of possession of 26:43. They entered the game averaging 32:50.
Although Minnesota's offense didn't produce an outpouring of points, it should get some credit for helping the Vikings win the time of possession by two-plus minutes in the first quarter and more than four minutes of the third quarter.
13 first downs allowed
The Cowboys only had three drives that yielded more than one first down, and Minnesota allowed just one first down in the final 6:37 to continue to buy time for the offense's comeback attempt.
Dallas entered the matchup having earned no fewer than 20 first downs in any game this season and averaging 24.5 per outing (second in the NFL).
The longest possession for the Cowboys in the second half was 3:43, and they had just one of more than five minutes in the entire game.
264 net yards allowed
Dallas entered the game ranked fourth in net yards per game, averaging 407.6 per outing, but was limited to 264. That total included 140 rushing and 124 net passing.
The problem for the Vikings, however, was that two explosive plays led directly to 10 points. In addition to the 56-yard catch by Bryant that accounted for 45.2 percent of Dallas' net passing yards, Ezekiel Elliott sprung loose for a 30-yard run that set up a field goal in the fourth quarter.
Elliott's dash accounted for 21.4 percent of the Cowboys rushing attack.
All told, the long pass and extended dash were 32.6 percent of Dallas' total yards gained.
