EAGAN, Minn. — Xavier Rhodes got something of a break on Sunday when the Cowboys chose to pick on second-year cornerback Mike Hughes in the Vikings’ 28-24 victory in Arlington, Texas.

The Vikings bottled up the Cowboys’ running game, holding Ezekiel Elliott to 47 yards on 20 carries, but had trouble containing quarterback Dak Prescott, who torched the Vikings for 397 yards and three touchdowns before Jayron Kearse intercepted his Hail Mary throw in the end zone as time expired.

Rhodes was fairly unbothered by Prescott, and generally inconspicuous — good for an NFL cornerback.

“Xavier played pretty good,” coach Mike Zimmer said Monday, Nov. 11. “Yeah, he played pretty good (Sunday) night. Had one catch on the sideline he gave up and he missed a tackle on a tight end … but for the most part he covered his guys pretty good. One of his, I think, better games.”

Hughes, starting in place of injured Trae Waynes (ankle) on the right side, was busy. He finished with a team-high seven tackles, all solo, and two passes defended in the Vikings’ biggest victory of the season. Prescott targeted receivers on Hughes’ side of the field 12 times, and as the Cowboys drove into Minnesota’s red zone on the game’s final series completed four passes for 49 yards to receivers covered by Hughes.

Amari Cooper caught 11 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown; eight of those passes were caught near Hughes, for 102 yards.

In some ways, Hughes is still a rookie. He blew out his knee in Week 6 last season and missed the rest of the season. Sunday was his 14th career game.

“There were times he wasn’t tight enough,” Zimmer said. “There’s some times technique-wise that he could have been better. He opened up a little bit too much and let the receiver run. But he was in position most of the night. Honestly, (Cooper) made a bunch of great catches and they made some really good throws.

“So, when I looked at the pass defense things, there were a couple of things that weren’t very good, but for the most part, we were in the right place. They made the plays, and we didn’t.”

Three of Cooper’s receptions were toe-grabbers on the sidelines, including a 12-yard touchdown pass that was confirmed by replay.

“He caught some that may have been outside the white a couple times, good throws, being in position,” Zimmer said. “Mike probably could have been a little bit more physical with the receiver, and the one touchdown that he had thrown on him, so there’s some things he can do better. There’s some things he did good.”

Zimmer said Monday that Waynes has a good chance of returning for Sunday’s game against Denver at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Coulda, shoulda

The Vikings sealed their victory on Kearse’s interception but had good chances at a few others, including a second-quarter pass that Hughes might have taken for a touchdown.

Mackensie Alexander had a chance at one on the Cowboys’ last drive, as well. Afterward, Zimmer and his coaches determined the Vikings defenders “could have, should have, would have had” three other interceptions against the Cowboys.

“You like for him to get them,” Zimmer said, adding that he’s not inclined to scold a player who was in good position to make a play.

The Vikings’ nine interceptions in 10 games this season are tied with Green Bay and Tennessee for fifth among 32 NFL teams. New England leads the league with 19 in nine games.

Briefly

The Vikings waived WR Davion Davis on Tuesday, and indication that WR Josh Doctson (hamstring) is ready to come off injured reserve.

The last time the Vikings played Denver, receiver Stefon Diggs made his NFL debut, catching six passes for 87 yards in a 23-20 loss at Denver on Oct. 4, 2015.

Former Vikings quarterback Rich Gannon will be the CBS (WCCO-Channel 4) color analyst for Sunday’s game.