The Cowboys posted a 36-15 record in Micah Parsons’ first three NFL seasons. After an incredible 27-20 loss to the Bengals on Monday night, they are 5-8.

“That loss hurt me more than any other loss this year, probably even worse than a playoff loss to be honest because of the direction we were going, how we were playing and playing good football,” the said All-Pro linebacker. “I’ll sit on it, but I’ve got to find a way to keep these guys alive. There is still football to be played. There are still open positions. As we move forward, we must take advantage of every opportunity. We can’t miss out on games like this like we did today.”

On the first play after the two-minute warning in a tied game, Cowboys linebacker Nick Vigil blocked Ryan Rehkow’s punt. Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel waved his hands frantically, jumping up and down the other sideline and begging the Cowboys to leave the ball alone.

Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye, who came off injured reserve on Monday, didn’t get the message. He tried to pick up the ball and run with it, and instead Maema Njongmeta recovered for the Bengals at the Cincinnati 43.

Three plays later, the Cowboys gave up a 40-yard touchdown reception to Ja’Marr Chase with 1:01 left.

ESPN cameras caught Parsons rocking back and forth on the bench after the touchdown and loudly saying “No!” Oh my God!” He put his head in his hands in disbelief.

Parsons was so distraught that he left the field before the clock reached zero, and he struggled to find his words in the locker room afterward.

“Oh, it hurt me,” Parsons said, pausing. “Um, um, um. I won’t wish that on anyone. To be honest, it’s hard to put into words, bro.”

Parsons said the defensive players had no idea what was happening when they were asked to return to the field.

“I didn’t even understand what was going on. “Nick played a great game,” Parsons said. “I asked the referee, ‘Explain what happened’ and he told me we touched the ball. It was definitely a big dynamic change. We just made a big stopover. We do the two-minute exercise. It’s just very difficult. You would like to think that you can get the game out of this situation. That hurts.”

The Cowboys have had no luck this season and now have little chance of reaching the postseason.

“I don’t want to say there’s a snowball effect, but I don’t know,” Parsons said. “It seems like we are paying a debt that is not fair. I don’t know if it’s bad luck, karma, what.”