Ben Child
Todd Archer
Todd Archer
ESPN Workers Author
Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has coated the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter at @toddarcher.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The playoffs is likely to be a far-fetched dream for the Cincinnati Bengals, however a minimum of their shedding streak is over after a 27-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys, whose particular groups mistake late within the fourth quarter sealed it.
The Cowboys deflected a punt however then touched the ball, which was recovered by the Bengals at their very own 43 with 1:53 left. Three performs later, Joe Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase for a game-winning 40-yard TD.
Cincinnati’s win in opposition to the Cowboys snapped a three-game skid for a squad that mathematically stays in playoff competition, even when the probability of reaching the postseason could be very slim.
It ought to have by no means been this troublesome in opposition to a Cowboys workforce that did not have beginning QB Dak Prescott, who’s on injured reserve. However by means of 13 video games, Cincinnati has proved it may well’t take something with no consideration.
The protection has been shaky too typically this season and struggled in opposition to the run on Monday night time. Dallas pressured Burrow all night time because the hits piled up and compelled him to place a compression sleeve on his left leg.
Given the circumstances amid a disappointing season, a win is good. However the efficiency was a reminder that Cincinnati wants numerous work to be able to play significant video games in December and January once more.
QB breakdown: Cincinnati has reached the purpose of the season the place Burrow must be nearly good to be able to beat sub-.500 groups. Burrow evaded stress and made performs all through the sport. He put a sleeve on his left leg halfway by means of the fourth quarter. He was 33-of-44 for 369 yards and three touchdowns, and he additionally threw an interception.
Troubling pattern: The Bengals’ tackling this season has left a lot to be desired. That was obvious when CeeDee Lamb had 42.8 yards after catch over expectation on a fast throw that was a 43-yard acquire. Coming into this week, Cincinnati allowed the third-most yards after contact within the league, in keeping with ESPN Analysis. Regardless of swapping out starters and adjusting the rotation, that challenge hasn’t been solved.
Eye-popping stat: Chase loves the nationwide highlight. He now has 4 straight 100-yard receiving video games on “Monday Night time Soccer,” turning into the primary participant to have 100 receiving yards in every of his first 4 profession MNF video games. Total, Chase tied Randy Moss, Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp for essentially the most 100-yard video games in MNF historical past. The Bengals fed Chase all through the sport and helped him bolster an All-Professional case that’s trying fairly sturdy. He completed with 177 yards on 14 catches and two TDs. Chase can also be eyeing a Triple Crown — main the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Not too shabby for a man trying to break the financial institution on his subsequent contract.
Greatest gap within the recreation plan: Stopping Rico Dowdle. The fourth-year participant hasn’t precisely torched defenses all through his profession. However the Bengals struggled to comprise him. He averaged 7.3 yards per carry, which was a profession excessive. It continued a pattern of a shaky run protection for the Bengals this season. Coming into Monday night time, Cincinnati ranked thirtieth within the league in defensive rush success charge, per ESPN Analysis. — Ben Child
Subsequent recreation: at Titans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Cowboys is likely to be all the way down to a miracle if they’ll make the playoffs for a fourth straight season after a loss that defied believability.
With momentum on their facet, the Cowboys have been in place to place collectively a late game-winning drive till their particular groups price them once more. Initially, the particular groups nearly gave the Cowboys a brief discipline when Nick Vigil deflected a Ryan Rehkow punt, however Amani Oruwariye, who was referred to as off injured reserve earlier within the day, tried to discipline the ball and fumbled.
Three performs later, Burrow and Chase related for a 40-yard landing with 1:01 to play.
At 5-8, the Cowboys nearly assuredly need to win their final 4 video games and can need assistance from groups that already personal the head-to-head tiebreaker within the wild-card chase, such because the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons.
Of their losses this season, nevertheless, this is likely to be most troublesome to fathom.
Along with the particular groups mistake, the Cowboys can ponder pink zone woes which have been a difficulty all season, together with a second-quarter Cooper Rush interception on the Bengals’ 7 that saved Dallas from scoring factors. And the Cowboys have been unable to constantly put drives collectively in opposition to a protection that had been permitting 28.3 factors per recreation.
Defensively, the Cowboys lastly relented after doing a stable job of protecting the high-powered Burrow-led offense out of the tip zone till 1:01 remained.
Eye-popping stat: Lamb has made numerous massive catches in his profession, however solely two this season have coated extra distance than his 43-yard reception within the first quarter. In line with Subsequent Gen Stats, Lamb traveled 73.5 yards, operating throughout the sector after the Bengals initially snuffed out a bubble display screen. Working again towards the Cowboys’ sideline, Lamb was capable of get to the Cincinnati 24. Sadly for the Cowboys, the drive ended with a Rush interception.
Promising pattern: The Cowboys didn’t have to attend lengthy for his or her second 100-yard speeding efficiency of the season. Dowdle grew to become the Cowboys’ first operating again with consecutive 100-yard video games since Tony Pollard in 2022, ending with a career-high 131 yards on 18 carries. On Thanksgiving in opposition to the New York Giants, Dowdle had 112 yards and a landing on 22 carries, ending a franchise-long 25-game drought. Within the third quarter Monday, Dowdle had a 27-yard run, the longest by the Cowboys this season. It was simply the third carry of a minimum of 20 yards by Dallas this season.
Troubling pattern: The offensive line simply cannot catch a break. Earlier Monday, Professional Bowl proper guard Zack Martin was positioned on injured reserve with pending season-ending ankle surgical procedure on Thursday. Within the second quarter, rookie middle Cooper Beebe suffered a concussion. He got here into Monday’s recreation having performed all however one snap this season. The one offensive lineman to not miss time as a consequence of harm is true sort out Terence Steele. Rookie left sort out Tyler Guyton was lively Monday however didn’t begin due to ankle and knee accidents. — Todd Archer
Subsequent recreation: at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
