Getty Image / Sam Hodde
The Dallas Cowboys have been a major disappointment this year. After three straight 12-5 seasons, they’ve played themselves out of the playoff picture, as they were off to a 5-7 start heading into a Week 14 Monday Night Football matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
There was a slim path for the Cowboys to get back into the playoff race with a win over the Bengals. But, that evaporated in humiliating fashion as Dallas truly found a unique way to lose, falling to the Bengals, 27-20.
All things considered, the Dallas Cowboys played a pretty good football game against a dominant Bengals offense. In fact, they were set to get the ball back with the score tied 20-20 with just a few minutes remaining. And then, disaster struck.
The Cowboys blocks the punt… but it was then touched by a Dallas player… and then recovered by the Bengals 🤯
Chaos. @Bengals ball pic.twitter.com/Uw0l4ebH3v
— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2024
So to recap the rule here. Had that punt been blocked and stayed behind the line of scrimmage and touched a Cowboy before being recovered by the Bengals, it would be Dallas ball still, as possession wouldn’t have changed yet. But, since the punt crossed the line of scrimmage and was touched by Amani Oruwariye. At that point, it’s no different than a muffed punt.
A few plays later, the Bengals cashed in.
.@joeyb to @Real10jayy__ AGAIN!#ProBowlVote + #JoeBurrow#ProBowlVote + #JaMarrChase
Watch on ESPN/Disney+ pic.twitter.com/uoxTKtUCsZ
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 10, 2024
Dallas was unable to score on the ensuing drive.
First off, the Bengals have been on the receiving end of some terrible luck this year, so this was a nice change for them. But, from a Cowboys perspective, this was a brutal way to lose. This was a team that, before last week’s win against the Giants, had not played well at home at all this calendar year. If they simply leave that ball alone, they are in pole position to win the football game. Instead, they’re now 5-9, and franchise player Micah Parsons is furious.
Micah Parsons left the field before time expired at the end of Bengals-Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/UoIOsHTz46
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 10, 2024
All in all, just a terrible way to lose if you’re the Dallas Cowboys.