NFL Week 10 Vikings vs. Cowboys: Kirk Cousins rarely beats winning teams

Were the NFL playoffs to start today – they don't – the Minnesota Vikings would be in as the second Wild-Card team and the Dallas Cowboys the No. 4 seed as the NFC East champions. Thus, Sunday's Vikings at Cowboys game could be a playoff preview with a bit of shuffling around. Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with the Cowboys as 3-point favorites on the NFL odds.

Kirk Cousins has one major monkey on his back: Beating teams with winning records. He is just 6-28 against teams that were above .500 when he played them dating to his Redskins days. Cousins also is yet to have a game-winning drive as a member of the Vikings. In addition, he is 6-13 in his career in prime-time games. Those weren't all against winning teams; in Week 8 on Thursday night, the Vikings were 26-23 winners over the terrible Washington Redskins.

Cousins is playing likely the best football of his career over the past five games (Vikings are 4-1). He has a 127.1 rating (first in NFL) over that span with 1,482 yards and 10 touchdowns (both second) and 78.4 completion percentage (fourth). Cousins will not have top receiver Adam Thielen on Sunday as he's dealing with a hamstring injury. Could mean more of Dalvin Cook, who leads the NFL with 894 rushing yards. Dallas is No. 11 against the rush (97.3 ypg).

The Vikings have lost their past six games as an underdog and have failed to cover in any of them. They also are 0-6 ATS in their past six road games vs. teams with a winning record.

Behind Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliott, the Cowboys lead the league in yards per game (436.8) and yards per play (6.69). Prescott is No. 8 in QB rating (102.5) and Elliott fourth in rushing yards per game (92.6). Minnesota is No. 4 in points allowed (17.6 ppg) and No. 7 in total defense (320.9 ypg).

Prescott is 4-0 all-time vs. Cousins, his most wins without a loss vs. any opposing QB. Prescott also has 14 career wins in prime-time games, the most by any QB in the NFL since entered it. This is the Cowboys' third straight prime-time game and they won the previous two. Dallas is just 1-9 ATS in its past 10 vs. the Vikings, however. 

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