Cooper Rush’s first NFL start was an outstanding victory for the Dallas Cowboys, as starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, sat on the sidelines.
After the Minnesota Vikings took a late 16-13 lead, Rush led an impressive drive downfield. Ezekiel Elliott then had a remarkable effort on a third down, breaking tackles to get a first down to the 5-yard line. And a fantastic pass from Rush to Amari Cooper was the much-needed touchdown with 51 seconds left. The Cowboys defense got a final stop and Dallas held on to a remarkable 20-16 win.
Rush threw for more than 300 yards and had a huge game-saving throw that kept the Cowboys in the game. Rush then noticed that the safeties had vacated the middle of the field, hitting Cedrick Wilson over the middle for a 73-yard touchdown tieing the game 10-10. Dallas played well on defense, rarely allowing any Viking’s ballcarrier any space; however, the Cowboys’ offensive issues early in the game were predictable.
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.
Penalties did not help either as there was a bad roughing-the-passer penalty and then two more penalties on the Cowboys’ defensive end Randy Gregory. The penalties helped the Vikings’ stagnant offense get a field goal and a 16-13 lead. There was still time for the Vikings, however, they couldn’t get much going and the game ended on an incompletion from Kirk Cousins as time ran out.
For the Vikings it was a horrible loss at home; however, for the Cowboys, they’re 6-1 and should feel like they stole a win, thanks to a backup who’d never done anything in the NFL before his moment in the prime-time spotlight as, before Sunday, Rush had only three career passing attempts. After Sunday, he’ll have a place in Cowboys’ history forever.
“It was just as good as the dream,” Rush said.
