A blocked punt made the difference for the Cincinnati Bengals in their 27-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night – a punt blocked by the Cowboys.
On fourth-and-27 at their 29-yard line and the score tied in the fourth quarter, Dallas linebacker Nick Vigil partially blocked Ryan Rehkow’s punt. Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye tried to pick up the bouncing football, but he couldn’t corral it. Cincinnati linebacker Maema Njongmeta fell on the football at the Bengals 43 with 1:53 to play.
From there, Cincinnati needed three plays to break the 20-20 tie, with quarterback Joe Burrow throwing a 40-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with 1:01 remaining. That gave Chase 14 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns on Monday night.
Dallas’ final possession ended on downs, and the Bengals had stopped a three-game losing streak.
Seven players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field in the Cincinnati-Dallas game:
Jordan Battle (Alabama) started at safety for the Bengals. Battle made five tackles.
Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton (Alabama) did not record any stats.
Trevon Diggs (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Cowboys. Diggs made five tackles and broke up three passes. His three passes defensed are tied for the most in an NFL game this season by a player who did not also have an interception.
Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (Davidson) did not record any stats.
Bengals guard Tashawn Manning (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cowboys defensive end Carl Lawson (Auburn) did not record any stats.
Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Bengals defensive tackle Justin Rogers (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) started at quarterback for the Bengals. Taylor-Britt made one tackle and broke up one pass. Taylor-Britt deflected a pass on the first play of the second quarter that Cincinnati safety Geno Stone intercepted at the Bengals 4-yard line to keep the score at 7-7.
Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (McGill-Toolen, South Alabama) was thrown to three times but did not have a reception.
Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams (Lee-Montgomery) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Cowboys wide receiver Seth Williams (Paul Bryant, Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
The outcome left each team with a 5-8 record.
Dallas plays the Carolina Panthers at noon CST Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, in its next game.
Cincinnati plays the Tennessee Titans at noon Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone intercepts a pass deflected by cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt
Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone intercepts a pass deflected by cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) during an NFL game on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at@AMarkG1.