Sunday Night Football: Notre Dame alums will play big roles in crucial game

Some former Notre Dame stars will be front and center in a Sunday Night Football game with playoff implications tonight.

The Dallas Cowboys will host the Minnesota Vikings tonight in what looks like a crucial matchup in terms of NFL Playoff implications. A couple of former Notre Dame stars will have key roles in the game.

The Cowboys are in a heated battle for first place in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles. The home game against the Vikings is one that Dallas must have to not only stay at the top of the division, but to keep pace in the Wild Card race in the event that they finish second to the Eagles.

The same can be said for Minnesota. There’s a bit of a log jam in the NFC’s Wild Card standings. The Vikings need a win to stay near the top of that race.

For Dallas, Jaylon Smith will be leading the way for the Cowboys defense. He’s having a terrific 2019 after signing a huge deal this past offseason. There may be several times during the game tonight when he’ll be asked to cover tight end Kyle Rudolph.

Rudolph continues to play an instrumental role in Minnesota’s passing attack, and is going to be a guy the Cowboys need to focus on stopping in the red zone.

When Dallas has the ball, guard Zack Martin will lead the Cowboy offensive line. That o-line continues to be the catalyst for one of the NFL’s top rushing attacks. Martin will be key to helping Dallas control the tempo on the ground.

Minnesota safety Harrison Smith will have the tall order of helping defend that rushing attack while also keeping his eyes on the talented Cowboy receiving corps. The matchup between Smith — the quarterback of the Viking defense — and Dak Prescott could be what decides the game.

Any way you see it shaking out, Sunday Night Football is a must-watch for Notre Dame fans who love seeing Irish alums shine at the next level.