>IRVING, Texas (AP) – Scoring a first-quarter touchdown wasn’t the spark the Dallas Cowboys thought it would be.
Returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown for the first time since 1983? Yeah, that did the trick.
Chris Canty swatted a potential go-ahead kick by Minnesota and Pat Watkins returned it 68 yards for a go-ahead touchdown for Dallas, sending the Cowboys past the Vikings 24-14 Sunday in a game they dominated but nearly gave away.
Dallas bounced back from a lopsided home loss to New England and guaranteed itself at least two more weeks atop the NFC because of an upcoming bye. During the time off, the Cowboys can savor being 6-1 for the first time since 1995 (their last Super Bowl season) and having beaten the Vikings for the first time since 1996.
Minnesota (2-4) lost for the third time in four games. Rookie Adrian Peterson followed his record-setting, 224-yard performance last week with only 63 this time.
Vikings coach Brad Childress might have done the most to slow the NFL rushing leader, giving him only eight carries after the opening drive, during which Peterson ran four times for 27 yards, including a nifty 20-yarder for a touchdown.
His final carry was a fumble near his end zone early in the fourth quarter. Dallas recovered at the 22 and wound up kicking a field goal for a 10-point lead that stood up.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was 31 of 39 for 277 yards, with a touchdown and a fumble. He had 231 passing yards at halftime, but was slowed by what appeared to be a hamstring injury sustained while chasing a Minnesota fumble return for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
