Cowboys Down a Key Defender as Vikings Fight to Stay Alive on Sunday Night Football
The lights will be bright and the stakes even brighter when the Minnesota Vikings take the field against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. For Dallas, the playoff hunt is still very much alive. For Minnesota, it’s now or never-one more loss, and the postseason door slams shut.
The Vikings are coming off a dominant shutout win over Washington, a rare moment of clarity in what’s been a murky season. But they’ll need more than just one convincing performance to keep their playoff hopes breathing. And this week, they might just catch a break.
Cowboys Without Trevon Diggs in Crucial Matchup
Dallas got a boost earlier in the week when star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb cleared concussion protocol, making him available for Sunday night. But on the other side of the ball, the Cowboys will be missing a big piece of their secondary-All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs.
Diggs has been sidelined for the last six games due to a combination of concussion symptoms and a lingering knee issue. Although he was activated from injured reserve and reportedly had a strong week of practice, he won’t suit up against Minnesota.
That’s a significant absence, both on the field and in the locker room. Diggs hasn’t played since Week 6 against the Panthers and has struggled to make an impact in 2025, tallying just 18 tackles without a single interception or pass defended. For a player of his caliber, that’s a steep drop-off-though it’s largely been a matter of availability, not ability.
Sources have indicated some tension between Diggs and the organization, describing the relationship as “soured” and even “severed.” While that’s something to monitor long-term, the immediate concern for Dallas is how to adjust without one of their top playmakers in the secondary.
A Window Opens for Minnesota’s Offense
For Minnesota, Diggs’ absence is more than just a roster note-it’s an opportunity. The Vikings’ offense has been inconsistent at best this year, and rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy is still trying to find his footing.
Last week, McCarthy completed nearly 70% of his passes, but he managed just 163 yards on 23 attempts. The efficiency was there, but the explosiveness wasn’t. That’s where wide receiver Justin Jefferson comes in.
Jefferson, one of the league’s elite talents, has had a surprisingly quiet stretch. He’s sitting at 810 receiving yards on the season-a respectable number, but not what we’ve come to expect from him. Even more telling: he’s totaled just 15 yards over his last two games combined.
With Diggs out, the Cowboys’ secondary becomes more vulnerable, and that could open the door for McCarthy and Jefferson to finally click. If the Vikings are going to extend their season, they’ll need that connection to show up early and often.
What’s at Stake
This game means everything for Minnesota. A loss eliminates them from playoff contention, and with that kind of pressure, every snap matters. For Dallas, the postseason picture is still in play, and a win here keeps them firmly in the hunt.
Without Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys’ defense will be tested. For the Vikings, it’s a chance to exploit a weakened secondary and keep their season alive. Under the primetime lights, with playoff hopes on the line, expect both teams to come out swinging.