NFL game summary for 10/07/1979:
Tony Dorsett picked up 145 yards on 21 carries and scored a career-high three touchdowns to lead Dallas. Dorsett had scoring runs of three and five yards and cornerback Benny Barnes scored on a 33-yard fumble recovery return as the Cowboys built a 23-10 halftime advantage. Minnesota closed the gap to 23-20 in the third period on Rick Danmeier's 35-yard field goal and Sammy White's 28-yard scoring reception.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 158.0 (6) | 239.2 (3) | 397.2 (2) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 137.2 (17) | 172.8 (16) | 310.0 (14) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 126.6 (20) | 165.8 (16) | 292.4 (19) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 141.4 (20) | 147.0 (8) | 288.4 (8) | 10 |
Line: Cowboys by 7½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys (5-1-0) | 3 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 36 |
| Minnesota Vikings (3-3-0) | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
( 3- 0) DAL Rafael Septien 34 yard field goal
( 3- 7) MIN Bob Tucker 2 yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)
(10- 7) DAL Tony Dorsett 5 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(17- 7) DAL Tony Dorsett 3 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(23- 7) DAL Benny Barnes 33 yard fumble return (kick failed)
(23-10) MIN Rick Danmeier 37 yard field goal
(23-13) MIN Rick Danmeier 35 yard field goal
(23-20) MIN Sammy White 28 yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)
(30-20) DAL Tony Dorsett 30 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(36-20) DAL Preston Pearson 6 yard rush (kick failed)
DAL MIN
First Downs: 25 14
Rushes-yards: 46-279 22-61
Yards/rush: 6.1 2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-23-174-0 18-34-206-0
Sacked-yards: 1-7 3-27
Net pass yards: 167 179
Net yards/pass: 7.0 4.8
Total net yards: 446 240
Total plays: 70 (65% run) 59 (37% run)
Yards/play: 6.4 4.1
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 2-2
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 4-53 2-25
Attendance: 45,572
Passing:
DAL: Roger Staubach, 15 of 23 for 174 yards MIN: Tommy Kramer, 18 of 34 for 206 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 21 for 145 yards and 3 TDs; Scott Laidlaw, 8 for 15 yards; Larry Brinson, 4 for 22 yards; Robert Newhouse, 4 for 14 yards; Roger Staubach, 3 for 2 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 19 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Danny White, 1 for 25 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 20 yards MIN: Chuck Foreman, 10 for 19 yards; Rickey Young, 9 for 29 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 12 yards; Tommy Kramer, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 5 for 47 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 34 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 27 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 4 yards; Tony Hill, 1 for 20 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 18 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 13 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 11 yards MIN: Sammy White, 7 for 131 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 4 for 42 yards; Rickey Young, 4 for 19 yards; Bob Tucker, 2 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Foreman, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Steve Wilson, 5 for 69 yards MIN: Jimmy Edwards, 3 for 91 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 27 yards; Robert Steele, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Steve Wilson, 2 for 19 yards MIN: Jimmy Edwards, 2 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 4 for 155 yards MIN: Greg Coleman, 5 for 190 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/1 MIN: Rick Danmeier, 2/2
DAL: Roger Staubach, 15 of 23 for 174 yards MIN: Tommy Kramer, 18 of 34 for 206 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 21 for 145 yards and 3 TDs; Scott Laidlaw, 8 for 15 yards; Larry Brinson, 4 for 22 yards; Robert Newhouse, 4 for 14 yards; Roger Staubach, 3 for 2 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 19 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Danny White, 1 for 25 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 20 yards MIN: Chuck Foreman, 10 for 19 yards; Rickey Young, 9 for 29 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 12 yards; Tommy Kramer, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 5 for 47 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 34 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 27 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 4 yards; Tony Hill, 1 for 20 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 18 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 13 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 11 yards MIN: Sammy White, 7 for 131 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 4 for 42 yards; Rickey Young, 4 for 19 yards; Bob Tucker, 2 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Foreman, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Steve Wilson, 5 for 69 yards MIN: Jimmy Edwards, 3 for 91 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 27 yards; Robert Steele, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Steve Wilson, 2 for 19 yards MIN: Jimmy Edwards, 2 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 4 for 155 yards MIN: Greg Coleman, 5 for 190 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/1 MIN: Rick Danmeier, 2/2