Angry Brian Robison blasts officials for not calling penalty after touchdown

Officiating once again took center stage following a Vikings loss.

Sam Bradford threw his palms to the sky after a potential tying two-point conversion was thwarted when the quarterback was seemingly hit in the facemask on an incomplete pass. The Vikings' late push fell short in a 17-15 loss to the Cowboys on Thursday night.

Afterward, Bradford said an official told him he wasn't hit in the facemask by Dallas defensive lineman Cedric Thornton. Defensive end Brian Robison, who declined to comment on officiating after last week's loss in Detroit, was not so reserved after this loss.

"You've got to make the calls," Robison said. "I mean, at the end of the game, Bradford gets hit in the face. That's an opportunity for us to score and tie the ballgame, but it doesn't get called."

Dallas was flagged 10 times, including three for offensive holding, but Robison said he believed the Cowboys got away with more. Eight flags were thrown on the Vikings, including a false start by right tackle Jeremiah Sirles to push back the fateful two-point conversion.

"This has just been building up over the last few weeks," Robison said. "It gets to a point where it's too frustrating. I don't know. I'm probably going to get fined for this. I understand that, but somebody's got to step up and say something."

Early Friday morning, Robison went on Twitter to respond to people who criticized him on social media.

The Vikings had to try the two-point conversation from the 7 yardline because Jeremiah Sirles was called for an illegal procedure penalty during the initial attempt.

Defense the lone bright spot

Without coach Mike Zimmer calling plays, the Vikings defense still made life hard for two star Cowboys rookies.

Ezekiel Elliott was contained for his first 16 carries, but the running back took his 17th for a huge 30-yard scamper that led to a Dan Bailey field goal and a 17-9 Dallas lead.

"For the most part," Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson said, "we did what we wanted to do defensively."

They held the NFL's leading rusher, Elliott, to 86 rushing yards on 20 attempts. The 4.3-yards-per-carry average is skewed by Elliott's late-game success, still critical to the Vikings' sixth loss in their past seven games.

Elliott scored his league-high 12th rushing touchdown of the season in a first half in which he gained just 39 yards. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, who entered with the fourth-highest passer rating among NFL quarterbacks, threw for a season-low 139 passing yards and took three sacks.

Special teams woes

As special teams coordinator Mike Priefer took over Vikings head coaching duties, his groups started to slip.

Punter Jeff Locke, enjoying an otherwise strong season, had a terrible outing that included punts of 16, 25 and 33 yards.

"I don't think our punter punted very well," Priefer said. "He's been having a great year; very disappointing performance, and he knows that."

Receiver Adam Thielen then fumbled a punt return at the Vikings 8-yard line. Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant scored the go-ahead touchdown on the next snap after Thielen's fumble. Punt returner Marcus Sherels did not play in the game because of a rib injury.

"I didn't do a good enough job preparing the two returners back there," Priefer said. "If we don't have those mistakes, I really believe we have an opportunity to win that game."

Challenge almost saves it

Nowhere to throw, Prescott evaded defenders and darted down the sideline before sliding near the first-down marker. Officials gave the Cowboys a new set of downs with the two-minute warning approaching.

Then Priefer threw the challenge flag, a first for him and a critical move for his team. A review overturned the initial spot, moving Prescott back a yard. Dallas botched the ensuing third-down snap, which led to a punt and gave the Vikings a chance at tying the score.

"I got help from upstairs," Priefer said. "They said I should challenge it because he started to slide before the first-down marker. I got a lot of help upstairs. It was a good call by them."

Etc.

• Teddy Bridgewater was in the building to observe his first Vikings game in person since he underwent season-ending knee surgery in early September. Adrian Peterson, who recently resumed running at practice in his recovery from September knee surgery, also joined teammates on the sideline.

• Out of the Wildcat, Jerick McKinnon nearly saw his first NFL pass picked off. The running back faked a handoff to Cordarrelle Patterson, ran right and heaved an underthrown pass to Kyle Rudolph. Safety Byron Jones dropped the would-be interception.

• Vikings Hall of Famers were honored at halftime with the official Canton busts and rings on hand for former players such as Ron Yary, who sounded the Gjallarhorn before kickoff, Cris Carter, Alan Page, Mick Tingelhoff, John Randle and others.