Expectations were high for the Dallas Cowboys ahead of Week 15 following back-to-back wins over Washington Commanders and New York Giants. A win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football would've given the Cowboys their first three-game win streak of the season, potentially putting them on track for an unlikely playoff appearance.
But instead of emerging victorious from a winnable MNF clash, the Cowboys fell 27-20 to the Bengals at AT&T Stadium. A blocked field goal with less than two minutes to go would've put Dallas in a position to win the game, however, special teamer Amani Oruwariye touched the ball, allowing Cincinnati to recover and eventually leave with the victory.
As a result of the blunder, Oruwariye's time with the Cowboys could be nearing its end.
An all-time blunder by Amani Oruwariye on the blocked punt😬 pic.twitter.com/9C1jH7IuQP
— All-22 (@All22_PFF) December 10, 2024
Following the disappointing MNF loss, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones was asked about Oruwariye's critical mistake. Although the 82-year-old billionaire often has his players' backs, his reaction to the 28-year-old's error isn't hiding how he feels about the latter.
"I don't know if we say anything to (Oruwariye)," Jones told reporters after the game, per Cowboys insider Josh Tolentino. "We made the mistakes out there. That mistake at the end was really– it was very impactful, is all I can say."
Q: What do you say to Amani Oruwariye, who's just been activated, lost the punt with two minutes to go. I know he's got to be having a tough post game.#Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: "I don't know if we say anything to him. We made the mistakes out there. That mistake at the end… pic.twitter.com/uTo47tSAKf
— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) December 10, 2024
Had not messed up, the Cowboys would've gotten the ball back around the Bengals' 43-yard line. It looked like the ex-Penn State product cost Dallas the game because he either thought the ball was already live or believed that he could've given his team better field positioning.
But instead of kicker Brandon Aubrey having a chance to send the AT&T Stadium crowd home happy, the Bengals got the ball back and quickly marched down the field. With Dallas' on its heels, Cincinnati wideout Ja'Marr Chase scored a 40-yard touchdown to give his team a lead that it wouldn't squander.
BURROW. CHASE. 40-YARD TD!
📺: #CINvsDAL on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus & ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/fOGLjslBwO
— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2024
Oruwariye's boneheaded play has likely given flashbacks to another 31-year-old blunder. Former Dallas defensive tackle Leon Lett made a similar mistake during Thanksgiving 1993 when he accidentally bobbled a blocked field goal, allowing the Miami Dolphins a second chance to win the game.
Whether Oruwariye's blooper is still remembered three decades from now is anyone's guess.
Leon Lett! pic.twitter.com/hgUlWwuzKp
— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) December 10, 2024
It'll be interesting to see what happens with Oruwariye going forward. The Cowboys are the third team that the veteran cornerback has played with in the last three seasons and they likely won't be too keen to re-sign him in the offseason if he keeps doing more harm than good like he did on Monday.
The ex-2019 fifth-rounder has 17 solo tackles, three defended passes, and an interception across five games this season.
Even though everyone is piling on Oruwariye for his latest performance, fellow Cowboys CB Jourdain Lewis plans to stand in his teammate's corner.
"We have to stay with him and keep encouraging (Oruwariye)," Lewis told Cowboys writer Nick Eatman. "We don't want that moment to define him. We have to stay behind him. That's just football."
Oruwariye and the Cowboys will look to get back on track when they visit the Carolina Panthers in Week 16. Mike McCarthy's team can't afford to take the NFC South's basement-dwellers lightly, though, as FanDuel Sportsbook is currently listing the Panthers as Sunday's 2.5-point favorite.
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