Dalvin Cook has notched four games this season with more than 100 rushing yards, including his 206-yard outing against Detroit.
He barely missed the century benchmark at Chicago, recording 96 yards on the ground against a defense that currently ranks No. 8 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per play (4.01).
On Sunday, Cook and the Vikings will face a Cowboys squad that ranks 30th in rushing yards allowed per play (4.96) and 31st in rushing yards per game (157.0). Dallas in Week 4 allowed Cleveland to rack up 307 rushing yards and three rushing scores in a 49-38 loss.
NFL.com's Kevin Patra pointed out the similarities in the Vikings and Browns offensive systems. He wrote:
Talk of the Browns running laps around the 'Boys defense is resurfacing this week as Dallas prepares to take on the Minnesota Vikings. Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski came from Minnesota and runs a similar ground-first offense to the one the Vikings deploy.
Given the overlap in philosophy, it's not hard to see why Cowboys fans might fear they'll be plowed over once again.
Patra quoted Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who told media members this week that Sunday's game will "not be a repeat" of the Week 4 contest.
"I feel like our feet are underneath us, we're starting to play with more of a football IQ and understand more of what our coaches want from us, and we're going out there and playing hard."
That being said, Lawrence knows he and his teammates will have their hands full with Cook, who currently leads the league in rushing.
Lawrence sees a similar Vikings offense to the one he faced against Cleveland, but the Pro Bowler believes Dalvin Cook is even better than the Browns backs, Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb (who got injured early in the game against Dallas).
"We feel like it's pretty similar," Lawrence said. "We feel like Dalvin Cook is a more elite back just by his skills and how he can cut the ball back at any moment on you, but we feel like we're going to see mostly the same scheme."
If the Cowboys don't stop Cook early on, though, Patra is confident that he'll "dominate, and it will feel like déjà vu [for] Dallas."
View photos of Vikings players from the 2019 Primetime Purple game. The team will be wearing Primetime Purple uniforms for the Week 11 Dallas Cowboys matchup.
Coleman to be inducted into Black College Football HOF
The Black College Football Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2021 inductees, including among them Vikings Legend Greg Coleman.
Coleman, who attended Florida A&M University (1972-75), became the first African American punter in NFL history when he was drafted by the Bengals in the 14th round of the 1976 NFL Draft.
He signed with the Vikings in 1978 and played for Minnesota through 1987 before spending his final NFL season with Washington. Coleman earned the name "Coffin Corner" because of his ability to aim his punts near the corner of the field.
Coleman is one of six inductees (chosen from a list of 25 finalists) who will be honored at the 2021 Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Juneteenth Celebration, Presented by the Atlanta Falcons on June 19, 2021.
Coleman joins Coy Bacon (Jackson State University), Jimmie Giles (Alcorn State University), Winston Hill (Texas Southern University), Roynell Young (Alcorn State University) and Coach Willard Bailey (Virginia Union, Norfolk State University, St. Paul's College, Virginia-Lynchburg College).
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, congratulations to the Class of 2021," said BCFHOF Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee Doug Williams. "It is a significant achievement to be considered one of the best to ever play or coach football at a Historically Black College & University."
