The Dallas Cowboys entered their Week 14 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals seeking a third consecutive win to remain in the playoff race. Despite a promising start in the second half, costly errors and missed opportunities derailed Dallas in a 27-20 defeat at AT&T Stadium. … leaving defensive leader Micah Parsons in disbelief - and in tears.
After opening the third quarter with a touchdown and a field goal to take a 20-17 lead, Dallas seemed poised to build momentum. However, critical mistakes proved their undoing. With under two minutes remaining, the Cowboys forced a Bengals punt.
Cowboys backup Amani Oruwariye attempted to recover the blocked punt - a I'll-advised move - but failed to secure possession, allowing Cincinnati to retain the ball at their 43-yard line. Three plays later, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase for a 40-yard touchdown, giving Cincinnati a decisive 27-20 lead.
Said an emotional Parsons: "I wasn't really grasping what was going on. It was definitely a huge momentum shift … That hurts."
Dallas had one final chance to respond but faltered under pressure. Backup quarterback Cooper Rush, filling in for Dak Prescott, managed a 15-yard completion to CeeDee Lamb but was sacked two plays later. Facing fourth-and-7, the Cowboys failed to convert, sealing the Bengals' victory.
The Cowboys' offense finished with 322 total yards, including 183 passing yards from Rush, who threw two touchdowns and one interception. On the other side, Burrow torched Dallas' secondary with 369 passing yards and three touchdowns, including two to Chase. A bright spot is the Cowboys defenses ability to keep them in the game holding the Bengals run game to just 74 rushing yards and forcing key stops.
Related: Cowboys Concerned About DeMarvion Overshown Injury
Now sitting at 5-8, Dallas faces an steep uphill battle to keep its playoff hopes alive. The team turns its attention to Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers, where they'll need to overcome recent mistakes and nothing short of a miracle to stay in the postseason conversation.
Related: Cowboys Halftime Report: Can Dallas Keep Up with Bengals Joe Burrow?
Copyright 2024 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published December 9, 2024, 9:02 PM.