Ja’Marr Chase, particular groups gasoline Bengals’ win over Cowboys

ARLINGTON, Texas — The playoffs is perhaps a far-fetched dream for the Cincinnati Bengals, however at the very least their dropping 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 crew that did not have beginning QB Dak Prescott, who’s on injured reserve. But by 13 video games, Cincinnati has proved it could possibly’t take something without any 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. But the efficiency was a reminder that Cincinnati wants a number of work as a way 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 virtually good as a way to beat sub-.500 groups. Burrow evaded strain and made performs all through the sport. He put a sleeve on his left leg halfway by 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 changed into a 43-yard acquire. Coming into this week, Cincinnati allowed the third-most yards after contact within the league, in accordance with ESPN Research. Despite swapping out starters and adjusting the rotation, that problem 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 Football,” turning into the primary participant to have 100 receiving yards in every of his first 4 profession MNF video games. Overall, 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-Pro case that’s wanting fairly robust. He completed with 177 yards on 14 catches and two TDs. Chase can 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.

Biggest gap within the recreation plan: Stopping Rico Dowdle. The fourth-year participant hasn’t precisely torched defenses all through his profession. But the Bengals struggled to include 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 Research. — Ben Baby

Next recreation: at Titans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Cowboys is perhaps right down to a miracle if they will make the playoffs for a fourth straight season after a loss that defied believability.

With momentum on their facet, the Cowboys had been in place to place collectively a late game-winning drive till their particular groups value them once more. Initially, the particular groups virtually gave the Cowboys a brief discipline when Nick Vigil deflected a Ryan Rehkow punt, however Amani Oruwariye, who was known as off injured reserve earlier within the day, tried to discipline the ball and fumbled.

Three performs later, Burrow and Chase linked for a 40-yard landing with 1:01 to play.

At 5-8, the Cowboys virtually assuredly must 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 perhaps most troublesome to fathom.

In addition to the particular groups mistake, the Cowboys can ponder purple zone woes which have been a difficulty all season, together with a second-quarter Cooper Rush interception on the Bengals’ 7 that stored Dallas from scoring factors. And the Cowboys had 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 retaining the high-powered Burrow-led offense out of the tip zone till 1:01 remained.

Eye-popping stat: Lamb has made plenty of large catches in his profession, however solely two this season have lined extra distance than his 43-yard reception within the first quarter. According to Next Gen Stats, Lamb traveled 73.5 yards, operating throughout the sphere after the Bengals initially snuffed out a bubble display screen. Running again towards the Cowboys’ sideline, Lamb was capable of get to the Cincinnati 24. Unfortunately 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 dashing efficiency of the season. Dowdle turned 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. In the third quarter Monday, Dowdle had a 27-yard run, the longest by the Cowboys this season. It was simply the third carry of at the very least 20 yards by Dallas this season.

Troubling pattern: The offensive line simply cannot catch a break. Earlier Monday, Pro Bowl proper guard Zack Martin was positioned on injured reserve with pending season-ending ankle surgical procedure on Thursday. In the second quarter, rookie heart Cooper Beebe suffered a concussion. He got here into Monday’s recreation having performed all however one snap this season. The solely offensive lineman to not miss time attributable to damage is correct deal with Terence Steele. Rookie left deal with Tyler Guyton was energetic Monday however didn’t begin due to ankle and knee accidents. — Todd Archer

Next recreation: at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)