Amari Cooper makes a huge juggling catch and scores a touchdown in the corner to help the Cowboys win the Minnesota game. (0:37).
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Dallas Cowboys won against the Minnesota Vikings 20-16 on Sunday night.
Dak Prescott was able get extra rest for his right calves strain. Cooper Rush was able show that he can still deliver as the backup quarterback and the Cowboys won their sixth consecutive game.
Coach Mike McCarthy stated, "This was certainly a gut-check victory for us."
Prescott didn't take any team snaps during practice this week. He was focusing on his rehabilitation from the calf injury that he sustained while throwing the game-winning touchdown to the New England Patriots.
He played so well considering that he had only 2 career yards on 1-of-3 passing, and hadn't thrown a pass since 2017. Rush was not on the Cowboys' roster a year ago. But, he won a huge win on Sunday.
Rush said Rush completed 24 of 40 passes for 325 yard with 2 touchdowns. Rush also had 51 seconds left to play and a 5-yard pass to Amari Cooper.
Cedrick Wilson's 73-yard touchdown pass to him was his first Cowboys start since Roger Staubach's 1969 75-yarder.
The Cowboys lost their season last year when Prescott suffered a right ankle dislocation and compound fracture in Week 5. They finished the first McCarthy year at 6-10 and went 4-7 without Prescott.
Rush stated, "I felt like a part of the community out there." It didn't feel overwhelming in the huddles, breaking them up, getting to the lines, and going through the processes. Although I haven’t played much, it was a great experience being around the NFL. They practice against us every day and our defense is very good. It was a great game. It was never too fast. It was like I was in control."
Prescott did his pregame warmup on Sunday with Britt Brown, director of rehabilitation. After almost 20 minutes of work Prescott, McCarthy, and Brown had a brief discussion. Prescott continued to play on the field, throwing a few passes before returning to the locker room. He was officially placed on the inactive roster 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
Prescott stated, "I had a plan for the week, trying progress and getting myself out there." "We reached a decision at the end to have a chance of coming out with a win, without me playing and to be able to get well and not have anything linger past this week."
Prescott, who was wearing a headset and available to give advice to Rush (a teammate since 2017), was sitting on the sidelines during the game.
"I didn't think he was too nervous, high, or rattled for a second. Prescott stated, "That's Coop." He's very calm and never seems to be too irritated. Tonight it showed. He was able to keep his cool, persevere through bad plays, and then come out to make great plays that won the game.
The Cowboys face the Denver Broncos Nov. 7. McCarthy didn't indicate Prescott would play, but the Cowboys believe that Prescott will be available for practice and rehab.
McCarthy and Prescott stated that it would be a collective decision before the Vikings game. He looked great during warmup but, despite his wishes, it was decided to keep him out.
"Can he play it a certain way, or 100%?" McCarthy stated that McCarthy had looked at all of these things. "And honestly, at the end the day, I believe this is a great chance for us as football team to grow through another adverse time. Our leader wasn't there. We didn't have our leader and went out to win a difficult game in hostile surroundings.
"So we felt it was a great opportunity and that we made the right choice."
