It seems that most outside of the Vikings locker room have all but counted Minnesota out for its *Thursday Night Football *matchup against Dallas, a team on a 10-game winning streak.
John Holler of Viking Update reminded fans, however, that the Vikings under Head Coach Mike Zimmer have often **played up to competition over the past two seasons**. Holler listed eight games in which the Vikings were playing a highly touted team and either came out victorious or, at the very least, battled to the very end.
Two Green Bay Packers matchups were included on Holler's lineup, including last year's game at Lambeau Field for the division championship. Holler wrote:
The Vikings had won 10 of 15 games and, in most years, that should be enough to win a division. It wasn't in the NFC North. The Vikings had to go to fabled Lambeau Field to earn a division title. The Vikings won 20-13, but the real story was that they never trailed and, heading into the fourth quarter, led 20-3 and closed out the win.
Holler also highlighted the 2015 game at Arizona, in which the Vikings gave the Cardinals (who went on to finish the season 13-3) a run for their money despite fielding a defense depleted by injuries.
Arizona won 23-20, but after a field goal by Chandler Catanzaro with 1:23 to play to break a 20-20 tie, the Vikings had the ball with a chance to win at the end. What made that impressive? The Vikings defense was without Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr, Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo. Trae Waynes was forced to play safety because the Vikings didn't have enough live bodies. But, they weren't going to lay down.
Other games Holler included were 2015 matchups against Kansas City, Denver and the Wild Card playoff game against Seattle; and this year's games against Green Bay, Carolina and the New York Giants, all three of which were victories.
Holler said the Vikings shouldn't be expected to roll over against the Cowboys.
Right now, Dallas fans are looking for 11. The Vikings are looking for seven.
Something has to give. Something will.
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*Cowboys not taking Vikings defense lightly
NFL Total Access featured NFL Network reporter Jane Slater on Monday to **discuss the upcoming Vikings-Cowboys matchup**.
"They're just trying to stay focused," Slater said from Dallas via video conference. "We talked to [Cowboys receiver] Dez Bryant and said, 'Have you looked at the NFC standings?' And he told us, 'Why would I do that? We have to stay tuned in to what we're doing.' "
Slater said Bryant pointed to Thursday's road game against Minnesota as a challenging one.
"This is Mike Zimmer's defense," Slater said. "A defense they give a lot of respect to."
Slater pointed out that the Vikings defense is ranked 14th against the run and could have its hands full with rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Stephen Weatherly on being promoted to active roster
The Vikings on Nov. 21 signed defensive end Stephen Weatherly to the active roster.
Drafted in the seventh round, the rookie spent the first 10 games of the season on Minnesota's practice squad.
Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press caught up with Weatherly **to ask him about his promotion**. Weatherly said he had received a text from Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman.
"I was worried," Weatherly told Tomasson. "I didn't know what was going to happen, but then he called and it was good news."
Weatherly played outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense [and defensive end in a 4-3 during part of his time] at Vanderbilt before switching to defensive end in Minnesota's 4-3. He said he never got discouraged despite not making the active roster to begin the season.
