J.J. McCarthy threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score, C.J. Ham had the go-ahead TD on his first carry of the season and the Minnesota Vikings severely damaged Dallas' playoff hopes with a 34-26 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday night.

Cowboys vs. Vikings final score, results: J.J. McCarthy has three touchdowns as Vikings shatter Cowboys playoff hopes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

McCarthy, Minnesota’s 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has been a revelation for the Vikings this season. In seven games played thus far, the former Michigan Wolverines star has completed 102-of-182 passes (56.0%) for 1,092 yards and nine touchdowns. He also has 29 carries for 139 yards and two rushing TDs.

J.J. McCarthy's 1-yard run on a bootleg on fourth down has tied the Vikings with the Cowboys 14-14 with 9:28 remaining until halftime.

- 11:14 left in the third: The Cowboys start off the second half with a lengthy drive that ends with Brandon Aubrey chipping in a 26-yard field goal to give Dallas back the lead. Luke Schoonmaker helped lead the way into Vikings territory with a 29-yard reception, the longest of his career. Cowboys 20, Vikings 17

"You cannot not like him," Collinsworth said when NBC showed a clip of McCarthy high-fiving first responders before the game. "The guy, when he walks in the room, it's like somebody opened the shades and the sunshine came in. And so everybody's cheering for him. We want it to work. We just have to see it work."

The Vikings faced a third-and-9 near midfield on the 10th play of their 98-yard drive against the Commanders last Sunday. They lined up with three receivers to quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s left, as Justin Jefferson ran a short motion from the slot toward left tackle Christian Darrisaw before breaking back out.

JJ McCarthy has had a whirlwind 18 months since winning the national championship with Michigan, with his high school sweetheart fiancee by his side throughout