Vikings-Cowboys game balls

The Cooper-to-Cooper connection thrives, and a rookie linebacker thwarts the Vikings run game.

November 1, 2021 at 5:35AM
Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) threw the ball in the third quarter, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minn. The Minnesota Vikings hosted the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium. Q ] liz.flores • @startribune.com
Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush had a memorable first NFL start. (Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

COOPER RUSH

Cowboys quarterback

The 27-year-old had completed one NFL pass for 2 yards before Sunday. He threw the ball 40 times in his first NFL start, completing 24 passes for 325 yards and leading a game-winning, last-minute TD drive. According to NFL research, Rush became the first player to pass for 300-plus yards and win in his first career start on the road in a night game since Gary Hogeboom did it for Dallas in the 1984 season opener. Both Rush and Hogeboom hail from Central Michigan.

AMARI COOPER

Cowboys receiver

He caught eight of his 13 targets for 122 yards and the winning touchdown, which was his third reception on Dallas' final drive. According to the NFL, it was the first touchdown in which the passer's first name and the receiver's last name were the same.

MICAH PARSONS

Cowboys linebacker

The rookie from Penn State had 10 solo tackles and four tackles for a loss, a one-man stop sign for the Vikings' running game.

This is a 2021 photo of Cooper Rush of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team. This image reflects the Dallas Cowboys active roster as of June 7, 2021 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Cooper Rush (AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
This is a photo of Amari Cooper of the Dallas Cowboys NFL football team. This image reflects the Dallas Cowboys active roster as of Thursday, June 17, 2021. (AP Photo)
Amari Cooper (AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
This is a 2021 photo of Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team. This image reflects the Dallas Cowboys active roster as of May 13, 2021 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Micah Parsons (AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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