ARLINGTON, Texas — There wasn’t anything for the Vikings to play for against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night at AT&T Stadium. Any hopes of making the playoffs went out the window a few hours before kickoff when the Chicago Bears beat the Cleveland Browns.

That didn’t stop quarterback J.J. McCarthy from putting together the best game of his career while leading the Vikings to a 34-26 victory. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air while adding another touchdown on the ground.

It was exactly the type of performance the Vikings needed to see from their young signal caller.

It had gone so far off the rails for McCarthy at different points this season that it was fair to wonder if he was going to be able to get the train back on the tracks.

The fact that he showed improvement last weekend in a win over the Washington Commanders was notable. The fact that he followed it up with an even better showing this weekend in a win over the Cowboys was proof of progress.

Maybe the most impressive part of McCarthy’s outing was how he responded after throwing an interception on his first pass of the game.

The ability to bounce back in the immediate aftermath is a microcosm of the mental toughness McCarthy has displayed amid his recent turnaround. It’s also a reason to believe he could be the face of the franchise the Vikings so desperately want him to be.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Vikings ran the ball once, then opted to have McCarthy let it rip. With star receiver Justin Jefferson open near the sticks for what would’ve been a first down, McCarthy’s pass got tipped near the line of scrimmage, then intercepted by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

It looked like the Cowboys had stalled out on the ensuing possession until they dialed up a fake field goal, with holder Bryan Anger blindly flipping a ball over his shoulder to kicker Brandon Aubrey, who picked up the first down with his legs.

That earned the Cowboys a new set of downs and paved the way for running back Javonte Williams to plunge into the end zone to make it 7-0.

You couldn’t have scripted a worse start for the Vikings and it looked like the game might get out of hand after they stalled out on the next drive.

The tide turned when punter Ryan Wright flipped the field on special teams, paving the way for the defense to force a punt before the offense finally got itself going with a couple of chunk plays.

The drive ended with McCarty rolling to his left and delivering a strike to Jalen Nailor to help the Vikings pull even at 7-7.

On the heels of the Cowboys getting a touchdown from running back Malik Davis to make it 14-7, the Vikings then showed the type of response that they have lacked for much of this season.

It started with McCarthy finding Jordan Addison over the top for a 58-yard gain. It continued when McCarthy fooled everybody, kept the ball on a naked bootleg and showboated into the end zone to tie the game at 14-14.

After both teams traded field goal, the Vikings and the Cowboys went into halftime tied 17-17.

Though the Vikings struggled to move the ball coming out of the locker room, the Cowboys couldn’t find the end zone themselves, settling for a couple of field goals to make it 23-17.

That left the door open for McCarthy, and he finally led a sustained drive to put the Vikings in front. He rode the roller coaster along the way with a mixture of perfectly placed passes and bafflingly errant misses.

There was a particular stretch in which McCarthy missed Jefferson running wide open over the middle, then followed it up by dropping a dime to Nailor. It culminated with fullback C.J. Ham finding pay dirt to put the Vikings in front 24-23.

After a missed field goal by the Cowboys on the other end, the Vikings made a statement, taking complete control when McCarthy found Nailor for another touchdown to stretch the lead to 31-23.

In the final minutes of the game, Will Reichard nailed a clutch field goal to put the Vikings in front 34-23.

A desperation field goal from the Cowboys finalized the score at 34-26. After the Vikings recovered the onside kick, McCarthy trotted back onto the field, and rightfully got to take a knee and run out the clock.

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Which 5G phone is best?

Technology marches ever onward, with the latest and greatest phones of today rocking 5G connectivity. It offers less latency and interference — meaning it’s more efficient — and it’s faster. There’s been a noticeable increase in the amount of 5G phones available since its launch in 2019, which has thankfully driven prices down. Now there’s a 5G phone for everyone on anyone’s budget.

That said, if you want the best, take a look at the Apple iPhone 17 Pro. It has an excellent camera and comes in a mix of colors and data storage options.

What to know before you buy a 5G phone

What is 5G?

5G is, to use appropriate jargon, the fifth generation of a technology standard for broadband cellular networks. Think of it like the upgrade from high definition to 4K TVs — it’s essentially the same but incrementally better. 5G phones have to be built with a special chipset and modem to access it.

Operating system

5G phones use either an Android OS or iOS.

Android OSs are developed by Google and used by most phone manufacturers outside of Apple. Google and Samsung are the biggest names in 5G Android phones, but plenty of other brands have been making 5G phones since it became available.
iOS is Apple’s proprietary operating system and is only found on Apple’s line of iPhones. Current Apple phones that are 5G capable are the 12 and 13 product lines and the latest version of their budget SE line.

What to look for in a quality 5G phone

Camera

Many 5G phones are similar in most ways that count, except for one area that manufacturers still try to one-up the others in: the camera. Today, the best 5G phone cameras use three lenses on the back and one on the front, with better camera lenses having higher megapixel counts.

Screen

Screen quality is broken down by size and resolution.

Size: 5G phones have screen sizes roughly 4 1/2-7 inches long, measured diagonally. What’s quality comes down to intended usage and personal preference. For example, if you plan on streaming movies and TV shows, you should consider a larger screen. However, others may think a half-foot-long phone is too big to be comfortable.
Resolution: 5G phone resolutions are a little more complex than your TV, as the pixel counts aren’t as standardized and many use confusing brand-specific resolution names. The simplest way to gauge resolution is what quality video can it record, which does use standardized resolution names: high definition (720p), full HD (1080p) and 4K (1440p).

Data storage

Most phones have a set amount of data they can store and don’t have the ability to add more later using secure digital cards. Cloud storage can mitigate how much storage you need, but it’s still a good idea to have more than you expect you need. Most 5G phones offer at least 100 gigabytes of storage, with 250GB and 500GB being equally common. A handful offer 1 terabyte, which is 1000GB, or 2TB.

Battery

5G taxes a phone’s battery more than previous generations of connection, so despite most 5G phones having better batteries the average battery life has stayed relatively constant — roughly 8-12 hours on a full charge.

How much you can expect to spend on a 5G phone

5G phones typically cost $400-$1,200. Budget phones can be found for $400-$600, but they won’t have much in the way of features. Better phones cost $600-$800 while the most advanced models start around $800.

5G phone FAQ

Do I need to upgrade to a 5G phone right away?

A. No. The previous generation — 4G LTE — is more than enough for many users. In fact, as more users migrate over to 5G networks, the 4G LTE network will slightly improve due to the reduced traffic. However, you won’t see improvements as great as upgrading to 5G.

Do I need a special phone plan to take advantage of a 5G network?

A. That depends on your carrier. For example, most carriers include a standard 5G connection with your data plan. But, Verizon offers a special ultra-wideband tier of service only accessible with costlier data plans.

Are 5G phones safe?

A. Yes, 5G phones and 5G connections are just as safe as previous generations of both phones and services. It does not spread anything but improved performance.

What’s the best 5G phone to buy?

Top 5G phone

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

What you need to know: If you’re a fan of Apple, this is their latest feature-packed iPhone.

What you’ll love:It has a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display and 48-megapixel fusion telephoto, main (wide) and fusion ultrawide camera lenses. Its battery can last for up to 22 hours, and the body uses a durable ceramic shield.

What you should consider: Apple phones are among the most expensive. You can’t upgrade your data storage after the fact. Apple products require specially made accessories.

Top 5G phone for the money

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

What you need to know: While it’s a quality phone overall, its camera is where it really shines.

What you’ll love: It has an 8-megapixel telephoto lens, a 12-megapixel wide and ultrawide lens and a 32-megapixel front-facing lens. It has a 30x zoom that doesn’t lose resolution and an EngageZoom Lock to reduce camera shake while zoomed. It can recharge up to half its battery in only 30 minutes.

What you should consider: It doesn’t offer upgradable storage after purchase. Some customers had issues with the speakerphone function being too quiet. It doesn’t include a wall adapter for charging.

Worth checking out

Google Pixel 10

What you need to know: The popular Pixel 10 is the latest generation of Google’s flagship phone, with AI integration.

What you’ll love: It’s twice as durable as the Pixel 8. It has a 48-megapixel wide lens, plus a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, 10.8-megapixel Dual PD telephoto camera and a 10.5-megapixel front lens. It also has built-in Gemini integration.

What you should consider: This phone is known to get hot on the back.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Minnesota got vengeance for one of its worst losses of the season on Sunday.

Three weeks after kicking away a late lead in Sacramento, the Timberwolves closed the door on the Kings at Target Center for a 117-103 victory.

Minnesota has now won seven of its last eight games. The last two have come short-handed. Anthony Edwards (foot soreness) and Mike Conley (Achilles tendinopathy) each missed both Sunday’s tilt and Friday’s win over the Warriors).

The Wolves (18-9) played most of the second half against Sacramento without Rudy Gobert. The center logged seven points and 12 rebounds in 20 minutes before exiting early in the third quarter due to what the team said were personal reasons.

Minnesota was unimpressive early and trailed the Kings (6-20) at the break. And the lead was just one early in the final frame before the Wolves finally hit their closing gear with a 26-10 run that quickly moved the game out of reach.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch lauded the improvement his team has shown down the stretch of games of late. The Sacramento collapse from three weeks prior was one of a few of that sort in a short span.

The Kings threatened a rally again late Sunday, as a pair of triples trimmed a 12-point Wolves lead to six with 2 minutes, 22 seconds to play. But Minnesota responded in short order. Naz Reid hit a triple on the other end, then Donte DiVincenzo got a steal he turned into a layup on the other end to quickly boost the lead back to 11 and effectively play the game on ice.

“Just playing with intensity, playing with a little bit more effort and desire,” Naz Reid said in his on-court, postgame television interview.

Bones Hyland, who got his second straight start, scored nine of his 18 points in the final frame. Reid scored eight in the quarter, while Julius Randle had seven and Donte DiVincenzo had five.

That’s the balance Minnesota has flashed over each of its last two wins. The Wolves have five guys drop 17-plus points on Friday. Five players scored 18 or more on Sunday. That included double-doubles for Randle (24 points and 10 rebounds) and Reid (20 points and 11 rebounds), while Jaden McDaniels had 21 points and DiVincenzo and Hyland scored 18 apiece.

Hyland played only four minutes in Friday’s win over Golden State before a knee bruise ended his starting opportunity in the first quarter. He recovered in time to start again Sunday and logged 36 minutes in the win.

“Last game, it was such a bummer. … That one, I couldn’t walk. It was hurting bad,” Hyland said in his postgame television interview. “I wanted to be out there.”

Yes, the balance is part of Minnesota’s way of compensating for the absence of Edwards’ scoring, but Reid seemed to indicate it’s the type of egalitarian offense the Wolves can produce even when their best player returns.

“Even when he is in the game, we’ve got a bunch of guys who can go,” Reid said. “I think it just speaks to the talent that we have. … We have talent all across the board.”

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It’s only a coincidence that on the night the Minnesota Wild paid tribute to the movie “Star Wars,” on the ice there was “A New Hope” on display for all to see.

By the time their 6-2 blowout of previously high-flying Boston was complete on Sunday, the high price that Wild general manager Bill Guerin paid to bring defenseman Quinn Hughes to Minnesota was looking like a savvy investment.

Hughes — widely regarded as one of the top defensemen in the NHL — scored a third-period goal, ran the team’s top power-play unit and had fans buzzing all night in his first game in a Wild uniform.

“The crowd was electric from, I would say, warmups to the introductions and throughout the game,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “It was great to see the building like that, and the guys performed the way they did, so it was a great combo.”

Brock Faber is used to trading hockey-related texts with his Wild teammates. But when he was cooking on Friday evening and his phone started to light up with messages from his high school friends, he knew something big was up.

“I don’t have Twitter, really, and I don’t follow any hockey accounts on my only other social media, Instagram, so all my buddies were texting me,” Faber recalled. “They were like ‘Quinn Hughes is coming!’ I obviously was shocked. It was something you never saw coming. Obviously, my buddies were joking that they’re mad because I’m not going to be on the first power play anymore.”

Indeed, when the Wild got their initial man advantage of the night versus Boston, it was Hughes taking the first shift on the blue line. Although, it was the second power-play unit that gave the home team the lead, with Faber setting up Jared Spurgeon for the game’s first goal.

Faber started Sunday’s game alongside Hughes, who early on appeared perhaps a bit jittery, with an uncharacteristic giveaway in the neutral zone and a puck that hopped Hughes’ stick at the offensive blue line.

If there were first-period adjustments to be made, it would be understandable following a span of roughly 50 hours that saw Hughes fly from Vancouver to Newark, learn of the trade that would send him to Minnesota, spend a night with his two brothers that play for the Devils, then head to the “State of Hockey” via Wild owner Craig Leipold’s private jet, with general manager Bill Guerin accompanying him.

“My body was a little fatigued. I didn’t really have my legs today,” Hughes admitted, adding that he came to Minnesota on a below-zero night owning almost nothing in the way of warm winter clothing.

“I definitely have some shopping to do,” he said, after logging nearly 27 minutes on the ice with three shots on goal.

Faber was traded to Minnesota in the offseason without ever playing a game for Los Angeles, the team that drafted him. He was immediately empathic to what his new defensive partner was facing, and equally impressed with what Hughes brought in Game 1.

“For his personal life, he’s just had to up and leave, and 48 hours later, he’s playing for a new team,” Faber said. “That’s hard and he made it look pretty dang easy.”

In his postgame press conference, Hughes had the look of someone who had seen and done a lot in 48 hours, including instilling belief that this could be a special season in the minds of Wild fans. He admitted still getting to know his new team and their system, and promised that there is definitely hope on the horizon in Minnesota.

“A little nerves there in the first, and you could see them on my first power play,” Hughes admitted. “It might take a couple games, but I think as we get to Christmas and after Christmas, we’ll be rolling.”

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