Dallas Cowboys backup Cooper Rush led the red-hot NFL franchise to a late 20-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings in his first career start.

Cowboys star Dak Prescott sat out on Sunday due to a calf sprain, paving the way for unheralded quarterback Rush to start under centre for the first time in his career.

Rush did not disappoint under the Minnesota lights, the 27-year-old throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to star team-mate Amari Cooper with less than a minute remaining to seal a sixth consecutive win for the Cowboys (6-1).

Dallas' Rush – who finished 24-of-40 passing for 325 yards, two TDs and an interception – became the first quarterback to throw 300-plus passing yards and win in his first NFL start in a primetime road game since 1984.

The Vikings (3-4) led 10-3 at half-time thanks to Kirk Cousins' 20-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen and Greg Joseph's field goal.

Dallas hit back on the road as Rush and Cedrick Wilson connected on a 73-yard pass early in the third quarter to level the contest, with Joseph and Greg Zuerlein trading field goals.

Joseph's third field goal of the game had the Vikings 16-13 ahead and on track for victory heading into the final minute before Cooper and Rush teamed up.

The Cooper Rush-Amari Cooper touchdown became the first in NFL history where the passer's first name and receiver's last name were an exact match.