The franchise of Leon Lett still doesn’t know when to not touch a blocked kick.
The Dallas Cowboys seemed to have a huge blocked punt right 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. The block by linebacker Nick Vigil was clean. But, like Lett infamously touching a blocked field goal in the snow in a 1993 Thanksgiving game, cornerback Amani Oruwariye didn’t leave the live ball alone after the block. Oruwariye tried to field it, making the ball live which he fumbled. The Bengals recovered.
A few plays later, Ja’Marr Chase broke 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’ would snuff out the Cowboys’ final drive hold on to win.
The Cowboys (5-8) have had a disappointing season but had a shot at their first three-game winning streak with a win. But nothing sums up this Dallas season like having a blocked punt, and then giving it away because not everyone knew to get away from the bouncing ball.
Bengals take halftime lead
The Cowboys had a good start. Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush (or was that Homer Simpson?) hit CeeDee Lamb for an 11-yard touchdown to start the scoring. But it’s the Cowboys, and the mistakes started coming. Rush threw an interception in the red zone. The offense stalled a bit. 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 very sharp, as he has most of the season, often avoiding the rush and keeping his eyes upfield to find receivers. Burrow led the Bengals to a Super Bowl a few years ago, but he might be playing the best football of his career this season.
Finally, Burrow made one big mistake. The Cowboys tied the game early in the third quarter when Rush hit Brandin Cooks for a 3-yard touchdown. Then Burrow overthrew Chase downfield and was picked off by safety 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.
The Bengals (5-8) tied it 20-20 on a field goal after that. Both teams came in with losing records, but they put on a good show to set up some drama in the fourth quarter for the Monday night audience.
A close 4th quarter
The Bengals got lucky on what looked like a key turnover. Andrei Iosivas looked like he was stripped of the ball, but a replay review showed he never secured the catch as he was juggling it, so it was ruled incomplete. Burrow was sacked after that — officials missed a clear facemask penalty on Dallas — and punted on the next play.
The Bengals got a stop and that gave Burrow a chance to win the game. He was banged up on the previous drive, possibly on the sack, and ESPN showed him getting a brace on his knee before the drive that started with 5:31 left. The drive started well, but two offensive penalties put the Bengals into a second-and-26. After a short completion and a sack, Cincinnati punted at the two-minute warning. That’s when the punt was blocked, leading to the comedy of errors of the Bengals getting the ball right back.
Chase is having a monster season, and shortly after the gaffe by Dallas he took a short pass, slipped by one tackle attempt and took it in for the go-ahead touchdown.
Micah Parsons stormed off the field after the heartbreaking loss. That image is a good representation of the Cowboys’ entire season.
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At long last, Joe Burrow gets his win.
Final: Bengals 27, Cowboys 20
After a wild finish in Arlington, the Bengals are heading home with the win. Both teams are now 5-8 on the season.
Bart to Lisa for the lead
Here’s another (better) look at the Burrow-to-Chase touchdown over on Disney+.
Touchdown, Bengals
And just like that, the Bengals are out in front. Joe Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase for a deep 40-yard touchdown, and the Bengals are up 27-20.
Cowboys block the punt, but Bengals recover the ball
Well, that was something. The Cowboys blocked the punt, but the Bengals recovered and will actually retain possession after the Cowboys failed to recover it. So Joe Burrow is headed back out. What a wild turn of events in Dallas.
Cowboys sack Burrow
Liufau shut down Joe Burrow on third-and-long, and the Cowboys will get the ball back now after the two minute warning. We’re still tied up 20-20.
Bengals get the ball back
The Cowboys picked up a first down, but then Cooper Rush threw three straight incomplete passes to set up a punt. Joe Burrow and the Bengals will get the ball back now at their own 14.
Bengals punting back to Cowboys
The missed fumble opportunity didn’t matter. The Cowboys got the stop on third down and will now take over after a Bengals punt with about 6:30 left in the game.
Bnegals nearly fumble, keep the ball
The Cowboys nearly pulled off what would’ve been a huge turnover, but Andre Iosivas never had full possession. His fumble was overturned, and the Bengals will keep driving at midfield now in the fourth quarter.
Cowboys punt after 3-and-out
The Bengals forced a 3-and-out after getting pressure on Cooper Rush with a 3rd-and-11 blitz. 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 is good from 29 yards to tie the game at 20-20 with 10:24 remaining in regulation.
Cowboys rule DeMarvion Overshown out
The Cowboys quickly ruled DeMarvion Overshown out with a knee injury.
Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown limps off
Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown went down on the field with an apparent injury. He needed help up and was eventually able to limp off with the aid of trainers. His right leg got pinned beneath him in a pile of players on a tackle. The extent of his injury isn’t initially clear.
A third-round pick in 2023, Overshown missed his rookie season with an ACL tear. Overshown’s thrived 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.
Cowboys convert Burrow pick into go-ahead FG
The Cowboys are back on top. After intercepting Joe Burrow, the Cowboys drove 54 yards to set up a Brandon Aubrey field goal. Aubrey’s good from 47 yards on the first snap of the fourth quarter to give the Cowboys a 20-17 lead.
Cowboys force first Joe Burrow miscue
Joe Burrow has been on fire all night. But the Cowboys forced a mistake from the Bengals QB at an opportune time. Burrow looked deep to Ja’Marr Chase in Cowboys territory, but overthrew his target and instead found Cowboys safety Malik Hooker.
The interception is just Burrow’s sixth of the season alongside 32 touchdowns. The Cowboys have the chance now to break a 17-17 tie.
Brandon Cooks TD ties game
The Cowboys opened the third quarter with a statement. Dallas got the ball first and drove 70 yards on the 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 ties 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 Burrow is carving up the Cowboys and has the Bengals on top at halftime. Dallas has done little to slow a Bengals passing attack that’s been one of the NFL’s best all season. That and a Cowboys turnover have been the difference in the game so far:
Joe Burrow: 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’Marr Chase: 7 catches for 87 yards and 1 touchdown CeeDee Lamb: 4 catches for 71 yards and 1 touchdown
Bengals total offense: 240 yards on 6.9 yards per play Cowboys total offense: 157 yards on 5.8 yards per play
Bengals first downs: 12 Cowboys first downs: 7
Bengals turnovers: 0 Cowboys turnovers: 1
Another Cowboys 3-and-out ends first half
The Bengals forced another Cowboys 3-and-out in the final minute of the first half and go into halftime with a 17-10 lead.
Bengals add FG before halftime
The Bengals added a field goal after forcing a late 3-and-out and take a 17-10 lead with seconds before halftime. A 36-yard drive ends in a 37-yard kick by Cade York.
