The Dallas Cowboys found a way to win again this week as the team extended its win streak to eleven games with a a 17-15 victory over Minnesota on Thursday Night Football.
Ezekiel Elliott failed to rush for 100 yards for a third consecutive week, Dak Prescott played well but fumbled the ball on a critical second half possession, and the offense suffered critical drive-stalling penalties.
But despite those negative factors, the Cowboys found a way to beat a tough Vikings defense on the road at US Bank Stadium, fueled by a fourth quarter strip fumble deep in Minnesota territory by special teams player Kyle Wilbur.
Wilbur stripped wide receiver Adam Thielen on a punt return in the fourth quarter, securing the ball as the two players wrestled on the ground for possession.
It was one of many controversial plays in the game, as Vikings fans took to social media to argue the Thielen was on the ground while possessing the ball before Wilbur took it away.
Another interesting aspect of the game occurred earlier in the week when Dallas head coach Jason Garrett promoted rookie CB Anthony Brown over veteran Orlando Scandrick.
Brown, a sixth-round pick from Purdue, played in all 74 defensive snaps for Dallas, while Scandrick was relegated to nickel and dime packages.
The move was surprising to both players, as Brown found out only a few days before the game.
“What day was it? A walk-through like Monday or Tuesday, and I was shocked, but then I just put my head down and kept grinding,” said Brown when asked about the move.
“I just keep doing what I’ve been doing. No need to try to be Superman. I was already getting a boatload of plays anyway. I just wanted to keep doing what I was doing, don’t try to make it bigger than it was.”
According to ESPN Dallas reporter Jean-Jaques Taylor, Scandrick was not happy about the move, telling reporters: ”Those are questions you have to ask Jason Garrett,” Scandrick said. “I just work here. I don’t determine how much I play.”
It remains to be seen which player will start week 14 when the Cowboys head to Met Life Stadium to take on the Giants.
Both players played well, with Brown logging four tackles and a pass deflection, while Scandrick had seven tackles.