Cowboys hold off Minnesota, 17-15
MINNEAPOLIS — Kyle Wilber came to his locker to start getting dressed when a hoard of media gathered around him.
“They must think I’m Dak,” Wilber said, referring to rookie quarterback Dak Prescott.
This time, a third-string linebacker that has bounced from position to position during five years in Dallas took center stage over any of the Cowboys’ numerous playmakers.
Wilber stripped Vikings punt returner Adam Thielen and recovered the ball at the Minnesota 8-yard line in the fourth quarter, setting up a touchdown in a 17-15 victory over the Vikings for the Cowboys’ 11th straight win.
“That’s what coach (Jason Garrett) emphasizes to us. Make a play on the ball, make a difference on special teams,” Wilber said. “I’m just trying to do my job.”
On a night when the powerful Cowboys running game had a hard time getting going against a determined Vikings defense, Wilber’s big play made all the difference. The Cowboys were held to season lows in points, yards (264) and first downs (13) and trailed 9-7 when Wilber punched the ball out.
“Just didn’t do my job well enough,” Thielen said. “Just bad ball security and the ball got out on me.”
Dez Bryant caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Prescott on the next play to help the Cowboys (11-1) squeak it out. Bryant finished with four catches for 84 yards, including a 56-yarder that set up a 1-yard TD by Ezekiel Elliott in the first half.
Sam Bradford threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jerick McKinnon with 25 seconds to play, but his 2-point conversion throw sailed over Thielen’s head, leading to the sixth loss in seven games for the Vikings (6-6).