Minnesota Vikings predictions: Week 11 vs. Cowboys

Remember last week when we mentioned if Minnesota got past Chicago there’s an easy schedule lying ahead, which could lead to a playoff push?

Well, here were are.

Up first in the cavalcade of inferior teams is Dallas this Sunday at home. The Cowboys are reeling at 2-7 but have Andy Dalton back in the saddle at quarterback and are rested, having come off a bye week, while the Vikings played Monday night.

Minnesota, winners of three straight, are big favorites to win. Thus, what you read below might not be a big surprise – however you will find that not everyone picked the Vikings to emerge with a W.

Here’s this week’s Vikings predictions from around the web:

Barry Wilner of the Associated Press: Vikings 24, Cowboys 20.

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times: Vikings 28, Cowboys 24. “Although Vikings are playing better, and likely get the job done at home, Dallas should make it interesting coming out of week off with Andy Dalton at QB and coach’s history against Minnesota.”

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com: Vikings 23, Cowboys 14. “The Vikings have won three straight to get back into playoff contention. The Cowboys are coming off a bye, while the Vikings played Monday night. The Dallas defense has continued to be a problem and the offense is limited without Dak Prescott. The Vikings defense has played much better in the past three games, and they will play well here again. Minnesota will win a fourth straight game.”

NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal: Vikings 26, Cowboys 20. “The Cowboys’ defense played its best two games of the season before the Week 10 bye, with Peak DeMarcus Lawrence joined by 2018 Randy Gregory, 2018 Leighton Vander Esch and surging rookie Neville Gallimore. All that and the return of Andy Dalton should help the Cowboys lose close games against quality teams, rather than being blown out. The Vikings are a quality team!”

Will Brinson of CBSSports.com: Vikings 27, Cowboys 14. “I keep saying this on the podcast every week but it’s imperative: over the next three weeks the Dalvin Cook rush yards over is free money. Assuming he is healthy they need to make it 125 yards to get me off it. Dallas, Jacksonville and Carolina? They are going to FEED Dalvin over the next three weeks. If they do, they’ll win. If they win, they’ll be 7-5. If they’re 7-5, they’re back in playoff contention. If they’re back in playoff contention, they can upset someone in the wild-card round. If they upset someone in the wild-card round, the Bucs can beat them by 25 in the divisional round. It’s set in stone. They’re slaughtering Dallas and Dalvin is going ham wild. Take the over on Alexander Mattison rushing yards too if you want. They’re all hitting. In all seriousness, the Vikings know how they’re getting back in this and it involves Dalvin getting 30 touches per game over the next month. They don’t feel bad because he got paid. It’s happening so just indulge yourself.”

John Breech of CBSSports.com: Vikings 31, Cowboys 23.

The Miami Herald’s Greg Cote: Vikings 24, Cowboys 20. “Minnesota played last Sunday night and Dallas is coming off a bye and has QB Andy Dalton back. So the idea of an upset is not preposterous, and the notion of at least a Boys cover tempts like your favorite dessert. Vikes have won three in a row and super hot Dalvin Cook has a good matchup in Dallas’ weak run D. A rout would hardly surprise; still, Cowboys played unbeaten Pittsburgh tough last week and I’d fancy them plus-7 to keep this one close, too.”

Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News: Vikings 24, Cowboys 27. “The Cowboys showed life on offense and defense in their close loss to the Steelers before the bye. They should be healthier and more effective in both the run and pass games with Ezekiel Elliott and Andy Dalton in the backfield. The Vikings will be coming off a short week, and while Dalvin Cook should have another big game, their secondary is made to be exploited by the Cowboys’ big playmaking wide receivers.”

Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com: Vikings.

Bill Bender of the Sporting News: Vikings 29, Cowboys 20. “The Cowboys had a bye week to figure out the latest quarterback plan, but the bigger issue will be slowing down Dalvin Cook on the road. Minnesota continues to push back into the NFC playoff picture with yet another victory.”

Jordan Dajani of CBSSports.com: Vikings 30, Cowboys 24.

Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski: Vikings.

Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Bay Area: Vikings 31, Cowboys 20. “The Vikings were thoroughly unimpressive on Monday night in a win over the Bears. Chicago’s defense is legit and they were able to bottle up Dalvin Cook for most of the night. The Cowboys won’t be able to do that. Andy Dalton is expected to be back under center for Dallas. I’m not sure that matters.”

Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman: Vikings 30, Cowboys 13.

Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith and Mike Florio: MDS –Vikings 30, Cowboys 14; Florio – Vikings 31, Cowboys 20.

Oliver Hodgkinson of Pro Football Network: Vikings 30, Cowboys 18.

Sportsnaut’s Vincent Frank: Vikings 31, Cowboys 17. “Following a 1-5 start to the season, Minnesota has won three consecutive games. It’s no coincidence that embattled quarterback Kirk Cousins has played largely mistake-free football (five touchdowns, one interception) during this span. There’s no reason to believe this will change NFL Week 11 against a Cowboys defense that’s yielding 32.2 points per game and has given up 21 passing touchdowns compared to three interceptions.”

All six analysts at SI.com are picking the Vikings.

All three writers at Athlon Sports pick the Vikings to win.

Nine of 10 SB Nation writers predict a Vikings victory – David Fucillo of DraftKings Nation is, quite literally in this week’s roll call of predictors, the lone dissenter.

All seven PennLive.com writers pick the Vikings to win.