Leon Lett’s franchise still doesn’t know when not to touch a blocked kick.
The Dallas Cowboys had what appeared to be a huge blocked punt just after the two-minute warning, which would have given them great field position in a 20-20 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Linebacker Nick Vigil’s block was clean. But, like Late infamously touching a blocked field goal in the snow in the 1993 Thanksgiving game, cornerback Amani Oruwarye didn’t leave the ball alone after the block. Oruwariye tried fielding, bringing the ball alive which he was bowled over. Regains Bengal.
A few plays later, Ja’Mar Chase broke off a 40-yard touchdown against a Cowboys defense that should have been off the field, giving Cincinnati a 27-20 lead with 1:01 left.
The Bengals intercepted the Cowboys’ final drive and held on for the win.
The Cowboys (5-8) had a disappointing season but had a shot at their first three-game winning streak with a win. But something like a blocked punt doesn’t add up this Dallas season, and then it’s a given because not everyone knows how to get away from a bouncing ball.
Cowboys CJ Goodwin told reporters in postgame remarks that Oruwarye would not comment: “That’s my teammate. And my brother. We’re not doing anything negative,” Goodwin said, per DLLS reporter Joseph Hoyt.
Bengal took the lead at halftime
The Cowboys had a good start. Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush (or was that Homer Simpson?) hit Cd Lamb for an 11-yard touchdown to start the scoring. But it’s cowboys, and things start to go wrong. Rush throws an interception in the red zone. Crime stopped somewhat. And the defense couldn’t stop Burrow.
Burrow had a 5-yard touchdown pass to Chase and another 16-yard score to Chase Brown. Burrow had 207 yards and two touchdowns at halftime and the Bengals led 17-10. Burrow looked sharp, as he has most of the time, often avoiding the crowd and keeping his eyes high to find receivers. Twelve led the Bengals to a Super Bowl a few years ago, but he may be playing the best football of his career this season.
Finally, Baro made a big mistake. The Cowboys tied the game early in the third quarter when Rush hit Brandin Cooks for a 3-yard touchdown. Then Burro Chase blew downfield and the safety took over to Malik Hooker. The Cowboys couldn’t convert it into a touchdown, but got a field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to take a 20-17 lead.
A field goal by the Bengals (5-8) later tied it 20-20. Both teams came in with losing records, but they put on a good showing to set up some plays in the fourth quarter for Monday night’s visitors.
A closed 4th quarter
The Bengals got lucky with what looked like a key turnover. Andrei Yosivas looked like he had snapped the ball, but a replay review showed he could never secure the catch as he had sprung it, so it was called incomplete. Barrow was sacked after that — the officials missed a clear facemask penalty on Dallas — and penalized on the next play.
The Bengals stalled and that gave Barro a chance to win the game. He was hit on the previous drive, possibly on the sack, and ESPN showed that he had a knee brace before the drive that started with 5:31 left. The drive started well, but two offensive penalties put the Bengals on second-and-26. After a short completion and a sack, Cincinnati punted at the two-minute warning. Just then the punt was blocked, leading to a comedy of errors by the Bengals to get the ball back.
Chase is having a monster season, and moments after Dallas’ gaffe he took a short pass, slipped on a tackle attempt and took it in for the go-ahead touchdown.
Micah Parsons walked off the field after the heartbreaking loss. That figure is a good representation of the Cowboys’ entire season.
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In the end, Joe Barro gets his win.
Final: Bengals 27, Cowboys 20
After a wild finish in Arlington, the Bengals are coming home with a win. Both teams are now 5-8 on the season.
Bart Lisa for Lisa
Another (better) look at the twelve-to-chase touchdown on Disney+.
Touchdown, Bengals
And just like that, the Bengals are ahead. Joe Barro hits Ja’Mar Chase for a deep 40-yard touchdown and the Bengals lead 27-20.
The Cowboys block the punt, but the Bengals recover the ball
Well, that was something. The Cowboys blocked the punt, but after the Cowboys failed to recover it, the Bengals recovered and would actually retain possession. So Joe is led out back to twelve. What a wild turn of events in Dallas.
Bring the sack of cowboys
Liufau shut down Joe Barrow on third-and-long and the Cowboys would now have the ball back after the two-minute warning. We still tied 20-20.
Bengal gets the ball back
The Cowboys picked up a first down, but then Cooper Rush threw three incomplete passes to set up a punt. Joe Burrow and the Bengals will now get the ball back at their own 14.
The Bengals are turning to the Cowboys
Missed opportunities don’t matter. The Cowboys get a stop on third down and now take over after a Bengals punt with about 6:30 left in the game.
Banegal is almost unsteady, keep the ball
The Cowboys nearly pulled off what could have been a huge turnover, but Andre Iosivas didn’t have full possession. His fumble backfired, and the Bengals would now continue to drive up midfield in the fourth quarter.
Cowboys punt after 3-and-out
The Bengals forced a 3-and-out with a third-and-11 blitz to pressure Cooper Rush. Dallas’ possession lasted just 51 seconds. The Bengals have the ball back and a chance to take the lead.
Bengals tie game with Cade York FG
The Cowboys stopped the Bengals on third-and-2 to force a field goal attempt. Cade York made it 29 yards out to tie the game at 20-20 with 10:24 left in regulation.
Cowboys rule DeMarvion Overshon out
The Cowboys quickly ruled out DeMarvion Overshon with a knee injury.
Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshon limps off
Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshon was out with an apparent injury. He needed help and was eventually able to pull away with the help of trainers. His right leg was pinned beneath him in a pile of players in the tackle. The extent of his injuries was initially unclear.
A third-round pick in 2023, Overshown missed his rookie season with an ACL tear. Overshons has had success in his first NFL season this year with five sacks, 5 quarterback hits, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and a pick 6 in 12 games.
The Cowboys converted twelve picks into FGs to go ahead
The Cowboys are back on top. After an interception by Joe Burrow, the Cowboys drove 54 yards to set up a Brandon Aubrey field goal. Aubrey went 47 yards on the first snap of the fourth quarter to give the Cowboys a 20-17 lead.
The Cowboys first forced a Joe Barro fumble
Joe Baro keeps the fire burning all night. But the Cowboys forced mistakes from the Bengals QB at the right time. Barro had a deep look at Ja’Mar Chase in Cowboys territory, but missed his target and instead found Cowboys safety Malik Hooker.
The interception is Burrow’s sixth of the season along with 32 touchdowns. The Cowboys now have a chance to break a 17-17 tie.
Brandon Cooks TD Tie Game
The Cowboys opened the third quarter with a statement. Dallas got the ball first and drove 70 yards on its first drive of the half that ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Rush to Brandin Cooks. Rush had plenty of time in the pocket while completing four passes on the drive.
The touchdown tied the game at 17-17.
The second half is underway. The Cowboys have the ball first with a chance to tie the game.
Bengals 17, Cowboys 10: Key halftime stats
Joe Barro is carving up the Cowboys and the Bengals at halftime. Dallas has done little to slow down a Bengals passing attack that has been one of the NFL’s best all season. That and a Cowboys turnover were the difference in the game so far:
Joe Barro: 19 of 26, 207 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 turnovers Cooper Rush: 8 of 15, 104 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception
Chase Brown: 5 carries for 16 yards; 4 catches for 43 yards and 1 touchdown Rico Dowdle: 10 carries for 60 yards
Ja’Mar Chase: 7 catches for 87 yards and 1 touchdown CeeDee Lamb: 4 catches for 71 yards and 1 touchdown
Bengals total offense: 240 yards at 6.9 yards per game Cowboys total offense: 157 yards at 5.8 yards per play
Bengals first down: 12 Cowboys first down: 7
Bengal turnovers: 0 Cowboys turnovers: 1
Another Cowboys 3-and-out ended the first half
The Bengals forced another Cowboys 3-and-out in the final minute of the first half and went into halftime with a 17-10 lead.
Bengals add FG before halftime
The Bengals added a field goal after a late 3-and-out to take a 17-10 lead in the second before halftime. A 36-yard drive ended in Cade York’s 37-yard kick.
