close
close

Bengals-Cowboys: Ja’Marr Chase and Cincinnati take advantage of a Leon Lett-type error in a superb victory against Dallas

Posted on by Sweet
Bengals-Cowboys: Ja’Marr Chase and Cincinnati take advantage of a Leon Lett-type error in a superb victory against Dallas

Leon Lett’s franchise still doesn’t know when not to touch a blocked kick.

The Dallas Cowboys appeared to have a huge punt blocked right after the two-minute warning, which would have given them excellent field position in a 20-20 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Linebacker Nick Vigil’s block was clean. But, like Lett infamously touching a blocked field goal in the snow during a 1993 Thanksgiving game, cornerback Amani Oruwariye didn’t leave the live ball alone after the block. Oruwariye tried to field it, bringing the ball alive which he dropped. The Bengals have recovered.

A few plays later, Ja’Marr Chase scored 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 stifled the Cowboys’ final drive and held on to win.

The Cowboys (5-8) had a disappointing season, but had a chance to snap their first three-game winning streak with a victory. But nothing sums up this season in Dallas better than having a punt blocked, then giving it away because everyone didn’t know how to get away from the bouncing ball.

Cowboys’ CJ Goodwin told reporters after the game that Oruwariye would not comment: “He’s my teammate. He’s my brother. We don’t do any negativity,” Goodwin said, according to DLLS reporter Joseph Hoyt .

The Cowboys are off to a good start. Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush (or was it Homer Simpson?) hit CeeDee Lamb for an 11-yard touchdown to start the scoring. But it was the Cowboys and the mistakes started to happen. Rush threw an interception in the red zone. The offensive has stopped a little. And the defense couldn’t stop Burrow.

Burrow completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Chase and another 16-yard score to Chase Brown. Burrow had 207 yards and two touchdowns by halftime and the Bengals led 17-10. Burrow looked very sharp, as he has for most of the season, often avoiding the rush and keeping his eyes downfield to find receivers. Burrow led the Bengals to the Super Bowl a few years ago, but he may be playing the best football of his career this season.

Ultimately, Burrow 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 Burrow ran Chase downfield and was taken out by safety Malik Hooker. The Cowboys couldn’t convert it into a touchdown, but kicked a field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to take a 20-17 lead.

The Bengals (5-8) then equalized 20-20 thanks to a basket. Both teams had losing records, but they put on a good show to create some fourth-quarter drama for the Monday night crowd.

The Bengals got lucky on what looked like a key turnover. Andrei Iosivas looked like he had been stripped of the ball, but a review of the replay showed he never made the catch as he juggled it, so it was ruled incomplete. Burrow was sacked after that — the officials missed a clear penalty on Dallas — and punted on the next play.

The Bengals were stopped and that gave Burrow a chance to win the game. He was hit on the previous drive, possibly on the bag, and ESPN showed him receiving a knee brace before the drive that began with 5:31 to play. The drive started well, but two offensive penalties put the Bengals on second and 26. After a short completion and 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 Dallas’ gaffe, he completed a short pass, slipped a tackle attempt and recovered it for the go-ahead touchdown.

Micah Parsons stormed off the field after the heartbreaking loss. This image is a good representation of the Cowboys entire season.

LIVE COVERAGE IS COMPLETED35 updates

  • Joe Burrow finally gets his victory.

  • Final: Bengals 27, Cowboys 20

    After a wild finish in Arlington, the Bengals return home with victory. Both teams are now 5-8 this season.

  • Bart to Lisa for the main role

    Here’s another (better) look at how Burrow-to-Chase lands on Disney+.

  • Touche, Bengals

    And just like that, the Bengals are ahead. Joe Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase for a deep 40-yard touchdown, and the Bengals led 27-20.

  • Cowboys block punt, but Bengals recover ball

    Well, that was something. The Cowboys blocked the punt, but the Bengals recovered and would maintain possession after the Cowboys failed to recover it. So Joe Burrow leaves again. What a crazy turn of events in Dallas.

  • Cowboys fire Burrow

    Liufau stopped Joe Burrow on third-and-long, and the Cowboys will get the ball back now after the two-minute warning. We’re still tied 20-20.

  • The Bengals get the ball

    The Cowboys picked up a first down, but Cooper Rush then threw three straight incomplete passes to set up a punt. Joe Burrow and the Bengals will now get the ball back at their 14.

  • Bengals return 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.

  • The Bnegals almost fumbled, kept the ball

    The Cowboys almost pulled off what would have been a huge turnover, but Andre Iosivas never had full possession. His fumble was overturned and the Bengals would continue to drive at midfield in the fourth quarter.

  • Cowboys punt after 3-and-out

    The Bengals forced a 3-and-out after putting pressure on Cooper Rush with a blitz on 3rd and 11. Dallas’ possession lasted just 51 seconds. The Bengals got the ball back and a chance to take the lead.

  • Bengals tie the game with Cade York FG

    The Cowboys stopped the Bengals on third-and-2 to force a field goal attempt. Cade York makes a 29-yard run to tie the game at 20-20 with 10:24 left in regulation.

  • Cowboys dominate DeMarvion overcome

    The Cowboys quickly ruled out DeMarvion Overshown with a knee injury.

  • Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown limps

    Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown fell to the field with an apparent injury. He needed help and eventually managed to limp with the help of trainers. His right leg became trapped beneath him in a pile of tackling players. The extent of his injury is initially unclear.

    A third-round pick in 2023, Overshown missed his rookie season due to a torn ACL. Overshown 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 to 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 runs for 47 yards on the first snap of the fourth quarter to give the Cowboys a 20-17 lead.

  • Cowboys force Joe Burrow’s first error

    Joe Burrow was on fire all night. But the Cowboys forced the Bengals QB into a timely error. Burrow looked deep at Ja’Marr Chase in Cowboys territory, but knocked down his target and instead found Cowboys safety Malik Hooker.

    The interception was just Burrow’s sixth of the season with 32 touchdowns. The Cowboys now have a chance to break a 17-17 tie.

  • Brandon Cooks TD ties the 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 on his hands 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 carves up the Cowboys and puts the Bengals ahead at halftime. Dallas has done little to slow down a Bengals passing attack that has been one of the best in the NFL 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 turnover: 0
    Cowboys turnover: 1

  • Another Cowboys 3-and-out ends the first half

    The Bengals forced another Cowboys 3-and-out in the final minute of the first half and entered the half with a 17-10 lead.

  • Bengals add FG before halftime

    The Bengals added a field goal after forcing a late 3-and-out and took a 17-10 lead seconds before halftime. A 36-yard drive ends with a 37-yard kick from Cade York.