EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The third-ranked Vikings defense will try to corral the fourth-ranked Cowboys offense on Thursday Night Football.

Minnesota (6-5) has allowed 307.0 yards per game, and Dallas (10-1) has gained an average of 407.6 yards per game.

The Vikings defense also ranks second in points allowed (19.8 per game), and will be challenged by the Cowboys, who rank third in scoring (28.7 points per game).

The tall task might be further complicated because Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer **underwent emergency eye surgery** Wednesday night.

The 30th meeting all-time between the franchises that helped the NFL expand in the early 1960s will be distinguished when both teams were "Color Rush" uniforms. 

The Vikings will wear purple from head to toe, except for players opting to wear "My Cause My Cleats" shoes, and with yellow numbers and letters. The Cowboys will have white jerseys with dark blue numbers and letters.

On the airwaves: The game will be broadcast nationally by NBC. Al Michaels will handle play-by-play duties, and Cris Collinsworth will provide analysis. Heather Cox will report from the sidelines. 

The game also will be broadcast on KFAN 100.3-FM and across the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network by the team of Paul Allen, Pete Bercich, Greg Coleman and Ben Leber. There is also a national radio broadcast on Westwood One Sports with Ian Eagle and Tony Boselli.

Online: The game will be streamed online at **tnf.twitter.com**.

Three things to watch:

Defending Dak— Eric Smith

Dak Prescott's passing numbers have been pretty impressive in the quarterback's rookie season in Dallas.

Prescott has completed 231 of 340 passes (67.9 percent) for 2,835 yards with 18 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Prescott has the second-fewest interceptions among quarterbacks with at least 250 pass attempts.

But it's his mobility that the Vikings might need to watch out for tonight.

Prescott has 41 carries for 180 yards and five scores, and his elusiveness helps Dallas extends drives and get in the end zone.

Minnesota has faced a number of mobile quarterbacks this season, but keeping Prescott in the pocket could go a long way to getting a win against Dallas.

"If you go back and look at some of the run stats, we've had some quarterback runs on us that have hurt us," Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said this week. "We've had a couple big runs so we'll just see."

Damage control — Lindsey Young

Dallas' offense, led by the rookie duo of Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott, has made headlines all season, and Minnesota's defense could have its hands full.

While it's safe to assume the Cowboys will come up with some explosive plays against the Vikings, the important thing will be how the Vikings respond. Will they be able to control the damage? 

Elliott has proven to be a dynamic runner that finds ways to make plays on the outside or between the tackles, but Minnesota will need to focus on limiting yards after catch and the number of big gains he's able to get on the ground. The same pressure will be on for cornerback Xavier Rhodes and the rest of the Vikings secondary in matching up against Cowboys receiving weapons Dez Bryant, Cole Beasley and Jason Witten.

"Anytime you've got a team that runs the ball as efficiently as they do, that's the number one thing, we've got to go out and stop the run," Defensive Coordinator George Edwards said. "To help on a receiver like Dez Bryant and even with [Cole] Beasley in there. Those are tough matchups. We've got to do a good job with the balance. We've got to stop the run and play good in situational defense.

"If you have to take away a specific receiver and then also being able to have enough eyes in there playing the run and being able to do that," Edwards added. "We put a lot on the front and the linebackers, being able to get on and off blocks to make plays. We've got to do good on first down to make it a decent third-down opportunity when we get to that. So, that's our emphasis. Is to go out and try to stop the run and then be able to contain the pass in the passing situations.  

Red zone results— Craig Peters* *

Dallas' defense is allowing 362.2 yards per game, and opponents have had 39 possessions inside the Cowboys 20-yard line this season. Foes have been able to reach the end zone 22 times for a touchdown-allowed percentage of 56.4 that ranks 20th in the NFL in the red zone.

The Vikings offense has scored touchdowns on 15 of 32 red zone possessions (46.9 percent) for a rate that ranks 28th in the NFL. Minnesota has particularly struggled since the bye week. After going 5-for-6 in Weeks 4 and 5 to improve to 5-0, the Vikings were a combined 1-for-5 in losses at Philadelphia and Chicago and just 2-for-5 in an overtime loss against Detroit. Minnesota has scored eight touchdowns on 19 possessions inside an opponent's 20-yard line since the bye.

Points could be a premium against a Cowboys squad that scores touchdowns 64.4 percent of the time it reaches the red zone (29 of 45 trips) and has posted no fewer than 24 points in its 10 straight victories.

Dallas also hasn't made many critical errors. The Cowboys have thrown just two interceptions, lost just five of 13 fumbles and haven't allowed a return touchdown of any kind (kickoff, punt, interception or fumble).

The Vikings lead the league with six return touchdowns this season: two punt returns by Marcus Sherels, a kickoff return by Cordarrelle Patterson, interception returns by Xavier Rhodes and Eric Kendricks and a fumble return by Danielle Hunter.

While Minnesota has consistently turned in significant momentum-swinging plays, it could help itself a little more in the red zone.

Substantial Stats

— The Vikings are the only team in the NFL with three defensive ends to have 5.0 or more sacks this season. Danielle Hunter (7.5), Everson Griffen (6.0) and Brian Robison (5.0) have accounted for 18.5 of Minnesota's 28 sacks this season.

— Minnesota has an interception rate of just 0.89 percent (three on 381 attempts) this season, the third-lowest amount in the NFL behind New England (0.27 percent — one on 371 attempts) and Dallas (0.58 percent — two on 342 attempts). The Vikings defense has an interception rate of 3.0 percent, and the Cowboys defense has an interception rate of 0.92 percent.

— When opponents have tried passes of 21 or more yards, the Vikings defense has allowed passers a rating of 27.4, which is the stingiest in the NFL. Minnesota's opponents are 11-of-43 passing (25.6 percent complete) for 332 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions.

— Tonight's game will feature two of the four most-prolific undrafted receivers this season. Dallas' Cole Beasley leads all players who entered the league as an undrafted free agent with 58 receptions. Minnesota's Adam Thielen ranks fourth with 45.

Quotable

"You look at this locker room and look at the mindset that each and every player has, and it's a reflection of our head coach and the way he leads us. The toughness that he brings filters into our locker room. We have a bunch of fighters in here that, no matter what our situation is, we're going to get up. We may have a bloody nose, but we're going to wipe our nose and keep going."

— Tight end Kyle Rudolph on the Vikings determination to fight through adversity

Worth a watch

Stefon Diggs ranks fourth in the NFL with 67 receptions and is trying to return to the lineup after missing the Vikings game at Detroit on Thanksgiving. Check out this **VEN Prime video** of the second-year pro's journey to the NFL and his intense drive.