Following post-bye week grind of four games in 17 days, the final month of the regular season is now here and it marks the final push to the finish line. For some teams, the playoff are just a long dream that can be chased in 2026. For others, they're a near certainty and just a matter of time.
For teams like the Dallas Cowboys, the playoffs remain a possibility, but are a long shot. Dallas faces the fifth-easiest remaining schedule in the NFL (.365), while the team they need to slip up twice, the Eagles, face the third-easiest remaining schedule (.327).
Either way, as the Cowboys (6-6-1) face the Minnesota Vikings (5-8) this week, they're playing to keep that sliver a hope alive into Week 16.
Here are 10 notable 'big facts' to remember ahead of Sunday's 7:20pm CT kickoff on NBC.
Dak Leads Despite the Drops
Entering Week 15, Dak Prescott leads the NFL in passing yards (3,637) and games with at least 300 passing yards (5) this season. He leads in both categories despite being second in the NFL for expected passing yards lost to drops (299), according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Dallas has never had a quarterback lead the NFL in passing yards over an entire season.
Tale as Old as Dak's Career
Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores has loved bringing the blitz this season. The Vikings lead the league with a 49.2 blitz percentage in 2025, more than eight percentage points higher than the next highest team. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott has 1,123 passing yards against the blitz this season, the third-highest mark in the NFL. He currently holds a 106.2 passer rating against the blitz, with a 97.6 passer rating without one.
Dak-to-Dak-to-Dak
Dak Prescott also finished Week 14 with 376 passing yards, despite the loss. It was his third-straight 300-yard passing performance, which ties the longest streak of his career (2020 and 2023). No player has ever extended a streak of four-straight 300-yard passing games in franchise history, something he'll have an opportunity to do on Sunday.
Not the Right 40-Burgers
For the third time this season, the Cowboys have allowed 40-points in a single game. They did so in Week 4 against Green Bay, Week 8 against Denver, and last Thursday against Detroit. It ties the most 40-point-games allowed by Dallas in franchise history (1960, 1962, 2013, 2024).
Will Williams Keep it Going?
Four games into his Dallas Cowboys career, Quinnen Williams has tallied at least five pressures in every game with the team. This comes on the heels of not tallying a single game with five pressures or more while with the Jets. He currently sits fourth in the NFL for pressures since Week 11 (24), trailing only Micah Parsons (30), Aidan Hutchinson (27), and Josh Hines-Allen (26).
Javonte Williams' Reaches 1,000 yards
First-year Cowboys running back Javonte Williams became the fourth different player over the last five seasons to rush for 1,000 yards or more. Dallas is the first team to see this happen with a revolving door at running back since the Giants did it from 2006-2010. The four different Cowboys running backs to contribute to the feat are Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle, and now Williams.
Elite Duo Keeps on Rolling
The wide receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens is the first duo since 2020 to average over 85 yards per game each over at least 10 games. They join the combo of Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill who made a trip to the Super Bowl that season. Both Pickens (3rd) and Lamb (5th) rank inside the top five in receiving yards per game this season.
Outlaws of the Land and Sea
Dallas currently holds a three-game winning streak against the Vikings, their second-longest active streak against a particular opponent, dating back to November of 2020. Dallas has outscored the Vikings 91-47 over those three games, and a win on Sunday would match their longest winning streak against Minnesota in series history (1961-68).
Jefferson's Career (Low) Year
For the first time in his record-breaking career, Justin Jefferson is struggling to put up production. He currently holds career-low averages in receptions per game (4.9), receiving yards per game (62.3), yards per reception (12.7), and receiving touchdowns (2). He still leads Minnesota in receptions (64) and yards (810).
J.J. to J.J. Just Isn't Working
Out of quarterback to receiver duos this season with at least 40 targets, the combo of J.J. McCarthy and Justin Jefferson rank dead-last in passer rating (45.0), according to NFL Next Gen Stats. This is the lowest out of 98 total duos this season, with the next-lowest rating being 54.1 from Geno Smith to Jakobi Meyers on the Raiders.
