The Dallas Cowboys are still reeling from the mistake that cost them a win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, but the feeling isn’t that unfamiliar for those who were around in 2021.
Dallas was all set up to win the ‘Monday Night Football’ fixture, with everything going their way heading past the two-minute warning. But they made a grave error that handed Cincinnati the ball back with an opportunity to fashion a game-winning drive.
With scores tied at 20, the Cowboys had the Bengals right where they wanted them, pegged back at their own 29-yard line on a 4th-and-27 and ready to punt with two minutes to go. They even blocked the punt to give themselves excellent field position.
However, cornerback Amani Oruwariye decided to try scooping the ball up and failed to secure it before Maema Njongmeta came up with it. Given that the touch from the Dallas CB occurred beyond the line of scrimmage, the Bengals ended up with a fresh set of downs and went on to win.
🚨🚨INSANE PLAY🚨🚨
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 10, 2024
THE #COWBOYS BLOCK THE #BENGALS PUNT… DALLAS BUMPS INTO THE BALL, MUFFING IT, CINCINNATI RECOVERS THE BALL…
Now Cincinnati has a chance to go drive downfield and win the game.
INSANE. New set of downs.
😱😱😱
pic.twitter.com/gNHu1bwNc3
Deja Vu For The Dallas Cowboys
Rodeos are commonplace in Dallas and, where last night’s was concerned, it wasn’t their first. They actually made the very same mistake against the Denver Broncos three years ago.
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The Broncos catch a huge break.
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 7, 2021
Their punt was blocked by the Cowboys, but the Cowboys touched the ball again after it went past the line of scrimmage before the Broncos recovered.
That resulted in a first down for the Broncos- and that's how today is going for Dallas. pic.twitter.com/pIGZq0pRCL
So, while Oruwariye is mostly to blame, special teams coordinator John Fassell should also be held accountable. That he was seen celebrating in both instances without even realizing the mistake is concerning too.
According to OptaStats, this exact sequence of events has only happened twice in the past 10 seasons. The Cowboys have been the perpetrators both times.
Standard.
