The Vikings have lost five of six to fall out of playoff position and may not have their coach after he was scheduled to have emergency eye surgery Wednesday night.. The Cowboys have won 10 straight to establish themselves as the top team in the NFC. The Vikings, tough to beat at home, will put up a prime-time fight. But the Cowboys have too many horses. Prediction: Cowboys 27, Vikings 20.
Three big storylines
NEXT LINEMAN UP
With steady C Joe Berger out because of a concussion, second-year lineman Nick Easton will make his first NFL start. Easton went to Harvard, so get ready for the Matt Birk comparisons on NBC's telecast.
DEFENSE HURTING
The Vikings defense is banged up heading into this showdown with one of the NFL's top offenses, but S Harrison Smith, MLB Eric Kendricks and CB Terence Newman are expected to suit up.
ALREADY STARS
Playing behind an offensive line that Mike Zimmer called one of the best he's seen in a long time, a pair of Cowboys rookies, QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott, continue to play at a Pro Bowl level.