The 2024 Dallas Cowboys experienced a crushing defeat on Monday night, falling 27-20 to the Cincinnati Bengals. The game turned on a crucial play, as a Cowboys blocked punt was successfully recovered by the Bengals, giving them possession in the end zone with mere minutes remaining.
The play resembled a similar mistake by the Cowboys in 2021, when they lost to the Denver Broncos despite a muffed punt. Per Opta Stats, a partially blocked punt less than 20 yards that is touched by the receiving team and recovered by the punting team has happened only twice in the last 10 NFL seasons, both times against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Following the game, players expressed disappointment and frustration with the turn of events. Micah Parsons, an All-Pro pass rusher, was perplexed by the play and stated that it shifted momentum in favor of the Bengals. Jourdan Lewis, a teammate of the player who made the mistake, Amani Oruwariye, defended Oruwariye and emphasized the importance of supporting his teammate through the tough moments.
The loss dropped the Cowboys to 5-8 on the season, ending their chances of winning the NFC East and leaving them with a less than 1% chance of making the playoffs, according to Next Gen Stats. The team will continue to fight to stay in the hunt, but Monday’s game will be remembered as a crucial missed opportunity.
