- Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase Deliver Game-Winning Heroics
- Dallas Relives ’93 Thanksgiving Nightmare in Costly Loss
- Cincinnati Ends Losing Streak, Cowboys’ Playoff Hopes Dim Further
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals snapped their three-game losing streak in dramatic fashion Monday night, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 27-20. A late blunder by Dallas evoked memories of one of the franchise’s most infamous moments.
With the game tied and just over two minutes remaining, the Cowboys appeared poised for a game-changing play when Nick Vigil blocked a punt by Cincinnati’s Ryan Rehkow. However, Amani Oruwariye, in his first game back from injury, mishandled the bouncing ball instead of letting it go. The Bengals’ Maema Njongmeta recovered at their own 43-yard line.
Three plays later, Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase on a 40-yard touchdown pass. Chase dodged defender DaRon Bland and sprinted into the end zone with 1:01 left, sealing the victory for the Bengals (5-8).
“We needed a break,” Burrow said after throwing for 369 yards and three touchdowns. “It was nice to come out of this with a win.”
Chase, who had 14 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns, said of the decisive play, “Me and Joe were on the same page. He threw to my inside shoulder so I could turn upfield after the catch.”
For Dallas (5-8), the loss recalled the infamous Thanksgiving Day blunder in 1993, when Leon Lett attempted to recover a blocked field goal, allowing Miami to kick a game-winning field goal on the next play. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy called Oruwariye’s decision a “tough learning opportunity.”
Despite strong performances from Cooper Rush, who threw two touchdown passes, and Rico Dowdle, who ran for a career-high 131 yards, the Cowboys’ playoff hopes now seem almost extinguished.
“This is a very disappointing loss,” McCarthy said. “We had to have this one tonight.”
The game also took a toll on both teams. The Cowboys lost linebacker DeMarvion Overshown to a knee injury, which McCarthy described as “serious.” Rookie center Cooper Beebe was ruled out with a concussion. For the Bengals, linebacker Joe Bachie exited in the fourth quarter with a groin injury.
Burrow was seen limping after the game but downplayed the issue. “It’s nothing crazy,” he said. “It’ll be sore, but we’ll see.”
With this win, Cincinnati claimed its first victory over Dallas since 2004, while the Cowboys were left grappling with déjà vu and a steep climb in the playoff race.
