When looking at the Thursday Night Football matchup between the 10-1 Cowboys and the 6-5 Vikings, NFL Network's Nate Burleson believes **Minnesota’s priority must be to stop the run**.
Burleson along with the Good Morning Football crew discussed tonight's game during Wednesday's show.
"If [the Vikings] can do what they did at the beginning of the year, where they're holding teams to just 3.7 yards per carry, then they can try to hold this offense to minimal scoring," Burleson said. "If you cannot stop this running game, then you will not stop this offense."
Burleson said that if the Vikings can stop Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, who leads the NFL with 1,199 rushing yards, then it could stifle the passing game, as well.
"For me, it's all about the Vikings defense finding their identity," Burleson said. "I'm going to watch that part of the game. If I see the Cowboys start rushing, and they get that rhythm, then the game's over.
"But if the Vikings show up, and they hit this Cowboys offense in the mouth, then we have ourselves a game," Burleson added.
Another aspect of the Vikings defense discussed was their secondary. According to Kyle Brandt, Minnesota's defensive backs make up the best secondary that Dallas has faced this season.
Brandt reminded viewers that the Vikings have four players in their secondary who were drafted in first rounds: Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Trae Waynes and Harrison Smith.
"They built their secondary like the Cowboys built their O-line," Brandt said. "I feel like you just want a cool, calm recovery week for Dez [Bryant] – that's not to be had against this secondary and against this corner [Rhodes]."
Burleson echoed Brandt on anticipation for the Bryant-Rhodes matchup.
"The reason I love that is because Rhodes is a big cornerback," Burleson said. "He's physical at the line of scrimmage. He can play just about every coverage."
View images of the Dallas Cowboys (10-1) key contributors of offense, defense and special teams heading into Thursday Night's matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Dak Prescott is having a stellar rookie season in Dallas. He has 2,835 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and a passer rating of 108.6 in his first 11 games as a pro.
Garrett holds a career 55-44 regular-season record as the Cowboys Head Coach.
Bailey is (20-for-22 on field goals) this season (90.9 percent%), including (3-for-3) on field goals from 50-plus yards.
Elliott has already eclipsed Cowboys Hall of Fame RB Emmitt Smith (937) for the most rushing yards by a Dallas rookie (1,199 yards).
Church has 45 combined tackles, one forced fumble and two interceptions for the Cowboys in seven games played this season.
Smith is the leader of the Cowboys offensive line. Earlier this week Vikings Head Coach called Smith the "best lineman in the NFL.".
Bryant has 268 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the Cowboys past three games.
Lee leads the Cowboys in tackles this season (105 combined).
Witten is second on the Cowboys all-time receiving list with 11,768 yards. He is in his 14th season in the NFL.
In his fifth season in Dallas, Beasley has a career-high of 647 receiving yards.
Cowboys preparing for U.S. Bank Stadium noise
Scott Linehan is no stranger to the decibel of a Vikings football game.
ESPN's Ben Goessling reminded readers that the Cowboys offensive coordinator spent 2002-2004 as an assistant coach in Minnesota and said Dallas will be **preparing for a raucous atmosphere**.
The Vikings played in the Metrodome then, but the new U.S. Bank Stadium, built on the same site, might be louder.
"I think there is a [point where] loud is [just] loud," said Linehan. "Heard it's very similar to the Metrodome, which if that's the case, it's going to be loud. But when you play on the road in the NFL, you always talk about 'This place is loud.' I mean, every place can really be loud. I know the fans and the people that go to the games in Minnesota, they really get that noise level up there."
According to Goessling, Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett said the music during practice this week may have been turned up a bit. Goessling wrote:
[Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott] and center Travis Frederick will be tested more than anybody because of the noise. The Cowboys have been called for 10 false starts this season. Tight ends Jason Witten and Geoff Swaim, who is on injured reserve, have two apiece, as does left guard Ronald Leary.
Charles Johnson on stepping into special teams role
The Vikings have seen a number of fresh faces on special teams this season, including recently Charles Johnson.
Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press spoke with the **wide receiver about his latest role**. Tomasson wrote:
Johnson has become a gunner on the punt-coverage team and has been named special-teams captain for Thursday's game against Dallas at U.S. Bank Stadium. Helping him get the nod was a nifty tackle last week for just a three-yard gain by Detroit's Andre Roberts, who has returned two punts this season for touchdowns.
"I'd be lying if I said it's not frustrating, because you want to go out there and you want to play on offense and help your team win," Johnson told Tomasson. "I don't know if the coaches would even want a player who would be just OK with not being out there.
"But that's not what's being called for me to do right now," Johnson added. "I know that special teams plays a huge role. I just want to go out there and affect the game in any sort of way that I can."
