The Cowboys lost in a special way on Monday night.

Dallas’ slim playoff chances this miserable season may have been all but wiped out in their meeting with the Bengals when a potentially game-winning blocked punt instead bounced off a Dallas player, giving Cincinnati another possession.

The Bengals then scored a touchdown to escape AT&T Stadium with a 27-20 victory and push the Cowboys to 5-8 and three games behind in the NFC wild-card hunt with four games remaining.

“Obviously this locker room is really devastated by the turn of events surrounding the blocked kick,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “Obviously we had a blocked kick and made the play… we all said, ‘Why block the kick?’ Just take the kick and score a field goal kick. We will question this again.”

The Cowboys probably needed to win to have a chance at the playoffs, and they forced a punt deep into Cincinnati territory after the two-minute warning expired.

Dallas attempted a block and Nick Vigil rushed through the line and deflected the punt, with the ball landing around the Cincinnati 33-yard line and bouncing past the 40-yard line.

Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye then made the crucial mistake as he tried to catch the ball, but the ball went right through his hands and into the arms of Bengals linebacker Maema Njongmeta.

ESPN captured the range of emotions during the game through special teams coach John Fassell, who jumped for joy after the block and looked like a broken man after the turnover.

“AO was in a tough situation and then he heard the roar of the crowd and when he turned around – he understood the rule: cross as soon as the ball crosses the line,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “His reaction was when he turned around when he heard the crowd, the ball was there and he reacted to it.

“So obviously a big play.”

Cincinnati, revitalized, gained 57 yards in three plays and took a 27-20 lead when Ja’Marr Chase scored his second touchdown, this time from 40 yards, with 1:01 left.

Dallas failed to counter with a game-winning touchdown drive, allowing the Bengals to improve to 5-8 and at least keep the door open – if only by a tiny crack – for a possible playoff spot.

“The mistake we made at the end was very consequential, that’s all I can say,” Jones said.