Heartbreak in Arlington: Cowboys’ Playoff Hopes Take a Crushing Blow in Loss to Bengals
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season, already riddled with challenges and setbacks, took another gut-wrenching turn on Monday night. A 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium not only stung but also pushed the Cowboys’ slim playoff hopes even closer to extinction.
Now sitting at 5-8 with just four games left in the regular season, the Cowboys’ chances of making the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year are hanging by a thread. Even before kickoff, the odds weren’t in their favor, but after this loss, the situation feels almost insurmountable.
“Just do the math,” head coach Mike McCarthy said bluntly after the game. “Obviously, we’re not even back to even. We’re still in a hole. So we need a tremendous amount of help. Just being captain obvious here. This one stings. We had to have this one. That’s the way we approached it.”
Late-Game Chaos Seals Cowboys’ Fate
For a moment, it seemed like the Cowboys might pull off their third straight win and claw their way back into the playoff conversation. With just over two minutes left in the game, linebacker Nick Vigil deflected a Bengals punt, setting up what could have been a game-changing opportunity for Dallas.
But then disaster struck. Instead of avoiding the ball, cornerback Amani Oruwariye attempted to scoop it up, only to muff the play. The Bengals recovered the ball, and three plays later, quarterback Joe Burrow connected with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for a 40-yard touchdown that sealed the game.
“AO was in a vice situation,” McCarthy explained. “And then he heard the roar of the crowd, and when he turned — he understands the rule once the ball crosses the line — his response was when he turned, when he heard the crowd, the ball was there, and he reacted to it. So obviously a big play in the game.”
Locker Room Support for Oruwariye
After the game, Oruwariye’s teammates rallied around him, shielding him from the media. The cornerback had just been activated off injured reserve earlier that day after recovering from a back injury. It’s worth noting that Oruwariye was a hero earlier this season, securing a Week 4 win against the New York Giants with a clutch interception of a Hail Mary attempt.
“We can’t judge him,” said cornerback Jourdan Lewis. “None of us played a perfect game. You can’t judge anybody by one decision. He thought he could make a play. Can’t judge him for that.”
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones also refrained from placing blame on Oruwariye but did question the decision-making in that critical moment. “I’m sure that there’s low odds of the ball bouncing into one of our players after we touch the ball on a block,” Jones said. “There’s low odds, but I don’t know if those odds are more positive than if we’d have taken the kick and gotten the ball and got within field goal range and kicked the ball.”
History Repeats Itself
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, this isn’t the first time a special teams miscue has cost them dearly. In 2021, former cornerback Nahshon Wright found himself in a similar situation during a loss to the Denver Broncos. And who could forget the infamous 1993 Thanksgiving Day game when Leon Lett touched a deflected field goal attempt, slipping on icy turf and giving the Miami Dolphins another chance to win?
While those Cowboys went on to win their second straight Super Bowl under Jimmy Johnson, this year’s team faces a much bleaker outlook. With four games left, the Cowboys are staring down an offseason that could bring significant changes to both the coaching staff and the roster. McCarthy and his staff are not under contract for 2025, and nearly 20 players are set to become unrestricted free agents.
“I don’t weigh those things as far as tough or the degree of making them,” Jones said. “I always, in my role, make those decisions. They all have a lot of gravity to them. Any of those kinds of decisions regarding coach coaching, staff players, all of those things, I don’t want to call them tough. They’re just very serious, impactful decisions.”
What’s Next for Dallas?
Despite the loss, McCarthy praised the team’s preparation leading up to the game, calling it the best of the season. The defense held its own against the Bengals’ high-powered offense, even after losing linebacker DeMarvion Overshown to a serious knee injury. On offense, the Cowboys racked up 183 rushing yards, with Rico Dowdle delivering his second consecutive 100-yard game. But when it mattered most, the opportunity slipped away.
“I’m hurt. I won’t wish this on anybody,” said edge rusher Micah Parsons. “Man, can’t put that in words, to be honest. … Between the [injured] players, some of these situations, it’s just, I don’t want to say snowballing, but I feel like we’re paying a due that’s not fair. I don’t know if it’s bad luck, karma.”
With the clock ticking on their season, the Cowboys will need to regroup quickly. But after a loss like this, the road ahead feels steeper than ever.
Originally Written by: Todd Archer
