Bengals-Cowboys: Ja’Marr Chase and Cincinnati capitalize on Leon Lett’s mistake in stunning win over Dallas
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Bengals-Cowboys: Ja’Marr Chase and Cincinnati capitalize on Leon Lett’s mistake in stunning win over Dallas

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

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

The Dallas Cowboys appeared to have a huge blocked punt right after the two-minute warning that 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 just as Lett touched 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 bring the ball upfield, giving life to the ball, but he deflected it. The Bengals recovered.

A few plays later, Ja’Marr Chase broke for 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’ last attempt to win.

The Cowboys (5-8) had a disappointing season, but had a chance to snap their first three-game winning streak with a win. But nothing sums up this Dallas season better than a blocked punt that was then wasted because not everyone knew how to escape the bouncing ball.

The Cowboys got off to a good start. Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush (or was that Homer Simpson?) hit CeeDee Lamb for an 11-yard touchdown to set up the scoring. But it’s the Cowboys, and the mistakes started to happen. Rush threw an interception in the red zone. The offensive stalled 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, like most of the season, looked very sharp, often avoiding the rush and looking upfield to find receivers. Burrow led the Bengals to the Super Bowl a few years ago, but he could be playing the best football of his career this season.

Finally, 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. Burrow then threw Chase down the field and was blocked by safety Malik Hooker. The Cowboys couldn’t convert it into a touchdown, but scored 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 with a field goal. Both teams came into the game with losing records, but put on a good show to provide the crowd with some drama in the fourth quarter on Monday night.

The Bengals got lucky on what seemed like a crucial turnover. Andrei Iosivas appeared to have lost the ball, but a replay of the play showed he never secured the catch while juggling, so the play was ruled incomplete. Burrow was then sacked – the officials missed a clear facemask penalty against Dallas – and fumbled on the next play.

The Bengals got a stop and that gave Burrow a chance to win the game. He was hit on the previous drive, possibly in the sack, and ESPN showed he received a brace on his knee before the drive, which began 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 stumbled after the two-minute warning. Then the punt was blocked, which led to the Bengals’ comedy of errors, who got the ball right back.

Chase is having a monster season, and shortly after Dallas’ faux pas, he took a short pass, slipped on a tackle attempt, and scored the touchdown.

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

The live broadcast has ended35 updates

  • Joe Burrow finally wins.

  • Final: Bengals 27, Cowboys 20

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

  • Bart to Lisa for the leadership

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

  • touchdown, bengals

    And the Bengals are already ahead. Joe Burrow hits Ja’Marr Chase for a deep 40-yard touchdown and the Bengals lead 27-20.

  • The Cowboys block the punt, but the Bengals get the ball back

    Well, that was something. The Cowboys blocked the punt, but the Bengals recovered and will actually keep the ball after the Cowboys failed to recover it. So Joe Burrow heads back. What a wild turn of events in Dallas.

  • Cowboys release Burrow

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

  • The Bengals get the ball back

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

  • The Bengals punt back to the Cowboys

    The missed fumble opportunity didn’t matter. The Cowboys got the stop on third down and will now take the lead after a Bengals punt with about 6:30 left in the game.

  • Bnegals almost fumble, keep the ball

    The Cowboys almost managed a huge turnover, but Andre Iosivas never had full possession of the ball. His fumble was recovered and the Bengals will now continue to operate at midfield in the fourth quarter.

  • The Cowboys punt after the 3-and-out

    The Bengals forced a 3-and-out after pressuring Cooper Rush on 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 draw against 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 left in regulation.

  • Cowboys rule DeMarvion Overshown

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

  • Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown limps off

    Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown fell to the field, apparently injured. He needed help getting up and was eventually able to limp away with the help of trainers. His right leg was caught underneath him in a pile of players during a tackle. The extent of his injury is initially unclear.

    Overshown, a third-round pick in 2023, missed his rookie season with a torn ACL. Overshown has had great 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.

  • Cowboys turn Burrow pick into green 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 made it well on the first snap of the fourth quarter from 47 yards to give the Cowboys a 20-17 lead.

  • Cowboys force Joe Burrow’s first error

    Joe Burrow was on fire all night long. But the Cowboys forced a mistake from the Bengals’ QB at an opportune time. Burrow took a deep look at Ja’Marr Chase in Cowboys territory, but overthrew his target and found Cowboys safety Malik Hooker instead.

    The interception is only Burrow’s sixth of the season, along with 32 touchdowns. The Cowboys now have a chance to break a 17-17 tie.

  • Brandon Cook’s TD draw

    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, which 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 makes it 17:17.

  • The second half is underway. The Cowboys have the ball first and have the chance to decide the game.

  • Bengals 17, Cowboys 10: Key halftime stats

    Joe Burrow carves up the Cowboys and has the Bengals on top at halftime. Dallas did little to slow the Bengals’ passing attack, which has been one of the NFL’s best all season. That and a turnover by the Cowboys have made 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 runs 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 at 6.9 yards per play
    Cowboys total offense: 157 yards at 5.8 yards per play

    Bengals first downs: 12
    Cowboys first downs: 7

    Bengals turnovers: 0
    Cowboys turnovers: 1

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

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

  • The Bengals add FG before halftime

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

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