[Mav Addict]

GAME SET
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (1-3) at Minnesota Vikings (1-3)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:15 p.m. (CT)
WHERE: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TELEVISION: FOX (Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver)

BIG ISSUE: The Cowboys have seen this situation before. Three weeks ago, they were staring down the big, bad Texans and an 0-3 start. But with their backs against the wall, they came out victorious. Now, they're facing another must-win situation. This time the Cowboys have to beat the struggling Vikings and their loud stadium to avoid a disastrous 1-4 beginning.

The Vikings need this one just as bad as the Cowboys. They're a team that had Super Bowl dreams and started out 1-3 as well. Their only victory this season came against the 1-4 Detroit Lions, but in their three losses, their average margin of defeat is six points. So Sunday's game should be one of the most competitive of the season - the loser's year could be over before the calendar changes to November.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: The Cowboys and Vikings have more similarities than just their 1-3 records. For one, both teams really struggle with turnover ratio. In the Cowboys' three losses this season, they are a minus-7 turnover team. In the Vikings' three losses this season, they are a minus-6 turnover team. Both squads struggle to intercept opposing quarterbacks, too - the Cowboys and Vikings only have two interceptions each in four games played.

The biggest reason for the Vikings' turnover ratio is Brett Favre. He had a monster season last year. He completed 68.4 percent of his passes, threw for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns and only had seven picks. This year, however, he has fallen back to earth. The Vikings quarterback has already thrown seven interceptions, is completing only 56.5 percent of his passes and has a 67.0 quarterback rating. He's also lost three fumbles, averaging nearly 2 1/2 turnovers per game on his own.

ONE-ON-ONE: The Vikings defense has only posted six sacks in four games this year. Against the Cowboys in last season's playoff game, the Vikings had six sacks by the fourth quarter. The Cowboys offensive line will have to block Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Ray Edwards much better this weekend if they even want to have a chance at turning their season around.

For the second straight week, the Cowboys are going to see a running back who can claim he is the league's best. Adrian Peterson has quietly had a dominant year, rushing for 480 yards and three scores on 5.5 yards per carry. The Cowboys defense has struggled to stop elite running backs this season, letting the Texans' Arian Foster rip off 106 yards on 17 carries and Tennessee's Chris Johnson pile up 131 rushing yards on 19 carries. The rush defense has to be more stout this weekend against the bruising Peterson.

SUPPORTING ROLE: The Cowboys' defense wasn't consistently effective on Sunday, but one play by rookie linebacker Sean Lee in the fourth quarter really stood out. He knifed into the backfield and brought down the slippery Johnson for a 3-yard loss in an important drive. If that play was a sign of things to come, he might have a breakout game against the Vikings, and could finally become that linebacker the Cowboys are looking for to spell starters Keith Brooking and Bradie James.

Favre will likely play this weekend. He's listed as questionable with an elbow injury, but the future Hall of Famer has started 289 consecutive games and has played with injuries a lot worse than elbow tendinitis. Still, if he somehow can't start, or needs to leave the game early, the Vikings will turn to Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson hasn't been the most consistent quarterback in the NFL, and he's certainly not Favre. The last time the Cowboys and Vikings met in the regular season in 2007, Jackson was just 6-for-19 for 72 yards.

HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys defense should have one goal on Sunday: Get to Favre. In last season's playoff game, they couldn't do that consistently, and he made them pay to the tune of 234 yards and four touchdowns. This year, in games he's been sacked more than once (three), he's turned over the ball nine times. Do that, and they won't have to worry about receivers Randy Moss or Percy Harvin in the secondary.

The Vikings will likely try to do the same thing against the Cowboys. Even though running back Felix Jones posted 109 rushing yards on 15 carries last weekend, the Cowboys season average of 95.2 rushing yards per game ranks 24th. The Cowboys are third in the league with 326.2 passing yards per game - but if the Vikings can somehow stop quarterback Tony Romo, they can load up against a running game that featured primarily Jones last weekend.

HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys
Questionable: WR Dez Bryant (ribs)
Probable: FB Chris Gronkowski (groin), S Alan Ball (shoulder), TE Martellus Bennett (ankle), LB Bradie James (knee), DE Igor Olshansky (knee), C Andre Gurode (knee)

Vikings
Out: T Chris Degeare (ankle)
Questionable: CB Chris Cook (knee), QB Brett Favre (elbow, ankle), C John Sullivan (calf)
Probable: DE Brian Robison (ankle), S Jamarca Sanford (back), TE Vinsanthe Shiancoe (hamstring), S Madieu Williams (shoulder)