EAGAN, Minn.— Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings delivered a clutch performance in the type of setting, coincidental or not, that has dogged them for years.

With a victory on the road in a nationally televised night game against a winning team, they’ve set themselves up quite well for the rest of the season.

“I think I’ve played well in prime time. Have we won them all? No, but to get this one was a great step in the right direction,” Cousins said after the Vikings defeated Dallas 28-24 on Sunday. “Hopefully we can get a few more here.”

The Vikings (7-3) stayed one step behind Green Bay (8-2) in the NFC North. They have four of the final six games on the schedule at home, and the Packers play four of their last six games on the road.

After going 0-9-1 in their last 10 games on the road against teams that had a winning record at the time of the game, the Vikings put those pesky questions to rest for the time being. They did so by again relying on what they were determined to make their strength this year, an efficient, powerful rushing attack spearheaded by Dalvin Cook. The only deficit the Vikings faced against the Cowboys was 21-20 midway through the third quarter, when after getting the ball back they drove 75 yards in 13 plays for the go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-and-goal run off right tackle by Cook.