Cowboys open roof for ‘Monday Night Football’… without incident this time Todd Brock With a two-game win streak under the Cowboys’ belt, the sky is no longer falling in Dallas. And now as the team gears up for a Week 14 primetime bout with the Bengals, neither is the roof over their heads. The retractable roof at AT&T Stadium has been opened for the Monday night matchup, just three weeks after a large piece of sheet metal crashed to the playing surface hours before the team’s Nov. 18 game against the Texans. No one was hurt in that incident, and the roof was closed in plenty of time for the evening’s game, which Dallas lost by a 34-10 score. The piece of metal turned out to be a covering lid to a cable tray located within the inner workings of the roof. High winds in the area that day had loosened the lid, and a heavy gust sent it flying only a couple hours prior to kickoff. Crews later determined that there were no structural issues with the stadium. The venue stayed open and then hosted another game Thanksgiving Day, although the roof remained closed. The Monday forecast in Arlington called for temperatures around 56 degrees at kickoff after a sunny and wday in the area. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] The roof at the 15-year-old stadium has been open for less than 25% of all Cowboys home games since its grand opening. Monday night will mark the first time it’s been left open for a Cowboys game since Oct. 30, 2022. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys fall to Bengals 27-20 in heartbreaking fashion
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys lost in heartbreaking fashion on Monday night On a night where The Simpsons took over an alternative broadcast of the game, the Cowboys lost to the Bengals in a manner that can only be summed up by Homer’s signature catchphrase: D’oh! Things started out great for the Cowboys. Their defense forced a swift three-and-out from the Bengals and a high-powered offense that’s scored 34 or more points in four of their last five games. The Cowboys responded by moving down the field with ease against a Bengals defense that’s struggled all year long. Cooper Rush found CeeDee Lamb in the corner of the endzone to go up 7-0 early. Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense woke up on the next drive, and before long he found Ja’Marr Chase in the endzone to tie things up. But Rush and the Cowboys had the defense’s number, and they moved into scoring position quickly after a highlight play from Lamb. CeeDee Lamb is unreal (via @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/o1BJOL6CEi — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) December 10, 2024 The drive would end soon afterwards, though. Rush tried to hit Lamb on a quick slant, but the receiver was blown up by a defender and never got to his spot, allowing for the pass to be picked off. As Troy Aikman explained, the hit was legal because it occurred within the first five yards from the line of scrimmage. Cincinnati didn’t do anything with the takeaway, though, as they turned it over on downs near midfield. A big run from Rico Dowdle – who had his second 100 yard rushing performance in as many games – moved things into field goal range, but the drive stalled out and Brandon Aubrey gave Dallas a 10-7 lead. The Bengals came out on the next drive airing it out, with Burrow completing four of his five passes on the six play drive. The final pass was a screen to Chase Brown, who tiptoed the sideline and scored a touchdown to put Cincinnati up 14-10. The Cowboys would go three-and-out on their final two drives of the first half, with a Bengals field goal sandwiched in between, and they trailed 17-10 at the break. Still, the Cowboys got the ball to start the second half and felt good about where they were. They had done better against Burrow and that offense than most defenses this year, and the running game was working well. That continued on their first drive of the third quarter, as Dowdle led the way with 30 yards on three carries before Rush hit Brandin Cooks for a game-tying touchdown. The defense managed to tighten up on the next drive, too, picking off Burrow after giving up some yardage. It was just the third interception Burrow had thrown in his last seven games. The Cowboys responded with a long, methodical drive that featured plenty of Dowdle. The running back put together 28 yards on four carries, and KaVontae Turpin got a carry in an exciting wildcat formation that picked up 10 yards. An unnecessary roughness penalty killed the drive, but Aubrey drilled a field goal to put Dallas up 20-17 on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Bengals responded with a field goal of their own to tie things back up, and the two teams proceeded to string together three straight punts. When the Bengals got the ball back with five and a half minutes left, time was slowly ticking away. Consecutive holding penalties backed the Bengals up to second and 26, and then Burrow was sacked on third down. That’s when this game got crazy: Bro. pic.twitter.com/guErISs6BL — Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 10, 2024 Nick Vigil broke through the line and blocked the punt, making a massive play just after the two-minute warning. But as the ball rolled forward, Amani Oruwariye tried to catch it on the bounce and make a return. The ball slipped right out of his grasp and was subsequently recovered by Maema Njongmeta. Since the Cowboys touched the ball beyond the line of scrimmage but did not recover it, the play was treated as a muffed punt, thus giving Cincinnati a fresh set of downs. It was a classic Leon Lett moment, as Peyton Manning remarked on the Manningcast. Welcome to the history books, Mr. Oruwariye! Three plays later, Burrow hit Chase for a 40-yard touchdown, which sent the ball back to Rush and the offense with 61 seconds and all three timeouts. However, Rush took a sack on second down and then missed Jake Ferguson on fourth down, staring down the tight end right as Lamb came wide open for what would’ve been an easy first down. Man, CeeDee Lamb looks to be wide open on the final play of the game. If Cooper Rush just looks to his left, it’s first down and then some.#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/I0NlSW9s4h — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) December 10, 2024 The Bengals took one knee and closed out the game with a wild conclusion to a 27-20 nail-biter. The Cowboys did everything right in this game, especially a defense that held Cincinnati to just 27 points, but in the end they found a whole new way to lose the game. Only the Cowboys can turn a blocked punt into a negative. In many ways, this ending was a microcosm of the way this season has gone, and a harsh return to the reality of things after a nice distraction the past two weeks. Now, the Cowboys fall to 5-8, and they’ll need to run the table if they want to avoid their first losing season since Mike McCarthy’s first year in Dallas back in 2020.
DeMarvion Overshown injury update: Dallas Cowboys say they are ‘devastated’
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly devastated in the aftermath of DeMarvion Overshown’s injury. The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, but the 27-20 final score may be the least of their problems. As the fourth quarter began in earnest linebacker DeMarvion Overshown suffered a right knee injury and needed help to leave the field and game. He was just about immediately ruled out from the rest of the contest. While the team’s loss to Cincinnati stung, attention quickly turned to Overshown and what the significance of the injury was/is. At the time of this writing it is still not fully known, but some details have begun to trickle out. For starters, Overshown took to social media and expressed confidence from a faith-based perspective. He did ask for prayers from his followers/fans. Wouldn’t want this for anyone else! One of God’s Toughest Soldiers Keep me in your prayers… — DeMarvion Overshown (@AGENT0__) December 10, 2024 That could be read to meaning different things and is a bit open to interpretation, but Mike McCarthy also spoke on the situation. McCarthy noted that the team is devastated and that the injury did not look good. For what it is worth, Jerry Jones left it at saying that the team was “very concerned.” Mike McCarthy describes the DeMarvion Overshown knee injury as being “of a serious nature” and said the initial reports were not encouraging. pic.twitter.com/Q3wbY6H5KK — Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) December 10, 2024 Jerry Jones said they were “very concerned” about DeMarvion Overshown’s injury. https://t.co/g19khEFidl — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) December 10, 2024 The Cowboys likely want to get official tests and what not done before making any final and official determinations on Overshown, but clearly there is cause for some true concern. Overshown has been having a remarkable season for the Cowboys in 2024, his first year playing. You will recall that Overshown tore his ACL (in his left knee, not the one he injured on Monday night) prior to his rookie season. We will update things around here when more is known.
Infuriating, unbelievably dumb mistake costs Cowboys late in 27-20 loss to Bengals
Infuriating, unbelievably dumb mistake costs Cowboys late in 27-20 loss to Bengals K.D. Drummond In front of Troy Aikman, no less. The Dallas Cowboys had one of those once-in-a-lifetime bad decisions haunt them in a winnable game. Harkening back to nightmarish memories from Leon Lett in Thanksgiving snow in 1993, a beautiful special teams play turned into a disastrous losing moment. Late in the fourth quarter of a game tied at 20, Dallas’ defense pushed Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense way back to a 4th and 27 from their own side of the field. The punt, at the two-minute warning, would give the Cowboys a chance for a third win in a row and near them to .500. A block! But they touched it. Unbelievable. Bengals ball. Madness. In a wildly disappointing 2024 season, this is the first gut punch loss for the Cowboys. Every other loss had been a blowout, even the ones they made look close. And despite all of that, Dallas didn’t give up on the season. But this loss? This one might have broken everyone’s spirit. Cornerback Amani Oruwariye, just activated from IR before kickoff, attempted to corral a bouncing ball after linebacker Nick Vigil blocked the punt, but instead saw the ball bounce off his arm and past him. The Bengals recovered and a dejected Cowboys defense that had held the dynamic Cincy offense to just 20 points, came back out on the field. Well, their bodies came back out, but their souls didn’t. A few plays later, Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase on the right sideline, and he spun away from an over-pursuing DaRon Bland and raced 40 yards for the score. Bengals win, 27-20. Dallas drops to 5-8. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Dallas Cowboys trail Cincinnati Bengals 17-10 at halftime on Monday night, get ball to start second half
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The Cowboys trail Cincinnati after the first half on Monday night. 2nd Quarter Unfortunately disaster struck right as the second quarter began for the Dallas Cowboys. Cooper Rush was looking for CeeDee Lamb on a slant route and the wideout got caught in traffic. A tipped ball is never a good thing for the offense and in this case it was the worst possible one as Geno Stone came away with an interception for Cincinnati. Tip drill INT! @Bengals ball. : #CINvsDAL on ESPN/ABC : Stream on #NFLPlus & ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/7rPLTs0a9R — NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2024 It was looking as if the Bengals were going to be able to fully capitalize on the turnover as their offense got to midfield with no real issue. To this point in the game the Cowboys defense was generating consistent pressure, but the Bengals offense was thriving as they have in recent games. As noted Cincinnati got to midfield and was short on a third down attempt. Instead of letting them decide on fourth down the Cowboys accepted a penalty against Cincinnati, only for the Bengals to pick up enough yardage to basically get back to where they were going to go from on fourth down had Dallas declined. However it happened the Bengals went for it on fourth and short and were ultimately denied! Micah Parsons had the pressure, but DeMarvion Overshown was the one who made the full on stop. DeMarvion Overshown is relentless (via @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/VKnNCssQyS — Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 10, 2024 A turnover on downs is not quite the same thing as an actual turnover, but capitalizing on them and turning them into points is essential if you want to win football games. The challenge was set for Dallas. Rico Dowdle carried the ball 3 times on the drive in question for 34 yards. Ezekiel Elliott got his first touch of the game for a yard. Ultimately things stalled a bit as the Cowboys got close and they had to settle for a Brandon Aubrey 35-yard field goal. Points are points. The Bengals offense took over once more and showed absolutely zero signs of slowing down. Despite the Cowboys generating a pretty consistent pass rush, Joe Burrow was continuing to find ways to evade it long enough to connect with his players for big gains, even on third downs. At long last the dam broke and the Bengals took their first lead of the game after a Chase Brown touchdown that took a bit to be fully confirmed. This was reviewed and it’s now a @Bengals TD for Chase Brown! : #CINvsDAL on ESPN/ABC : Stream on #NFLPlus & ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/RsIIJ9EumD — NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2024 The next Cowboys drive went nowhere fast. After an incompletion to Jonathan Mingo on first down the Cowboys picked up a little bit of yardage on second. Unfortunately Jake Ferguson false started before third down and Cooper Rush was ultimately sacked before Dallas punted it away. It marked their first 3 and out of the game offensively. The Bengals continued to live up to their reputation on offense and move the ball with relative ease. Thankfully the Cowboys were able to generate enough pressure on a 3rd and 7 on their side of the field and forced Cincy to settle for 3. The Cowboys took over at their own 30-yard line with 30 seconds on the block and all 3 timeouts in their pocket. Given that they deferred to start the game the opportunity for the double dip was right in front of them. Unfortunately that did not happen as the Cowboys went 3 and out for a second time in a row. They punted and the Bengals sent the game to intermission. 1st Quarter The Dallas Cowboys won the toss on this particular night and what do you know, they deferred! To be clear this is the ideal way to approach football, but it worked out in the best possible way as the Cowboys defense forced a three and out. What’s more is that things got even better for the Cowboys after that. All told the good guys traveled 60 yards in 9 plays on their first possession of the game and cashed in on a CeeDee Lamb touchdown pass from Cooper Rush. It even came on 4th and 1 to make it all the more incredible. CEEDEE TD (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/SqZJ1gCOAJ — Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 10, 2024 As we discussed all week though… the Bengals are a good football team despite their record. Cincinnati buckled down and traveled 75 yards across 11 total plays for their own score. It was Joe Burrow finding Ja’Marr Chase for the game-tying touchdown on a play that you simply can’t defend. Burrow to Chase for SIX. : #CINvsDAL on ESPN/ABC : Stream on #NFLPlus & ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/R32IM7eQzY — NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2024 It seemed like the quarter was going to end with all square and it ultimately did, but with Dallas in position to take the lead once more thanks to this huge gain from CeeDee Lamb. (via @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/UY7Xh3JQCB — Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 10, 2024 Through the first quarter… a lot of fun was had! Follow Blogging The Boys Everywhere Follow Blogging The Boys on X (formerly Twitter) Follow Blogging The Boys on Instagram Follow Blogging The Boys on Facebook Subscribe to the Blogging The Boys YouTube Channel Notable Recent News Prior to the Thursday night game this past week between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, it was reported that the former’s offensive coordinator in Ben Johnson has a list of demands (so to speak) with regards to teams who might want him as their head coach. Namely, Johnson would like alignment between himself (as the presumptive head coach) and the team’s general manager on matters pertaining to the football team. You can see how this would effectively remove the Cowboys from consideration. Injury Updates Last week brought with it
Cowboys vs Bengals inactives: Trevon Diggs is good to go
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images Trevon Diggs is officially ACTIVE for the Dallas Cowboys! The Dallas Cowboys are all ready to go against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. As they look to make it three straight wins for the first time all year, Dallas now has a better idea of who they’ll be doing battle with tonight. The headline, of course, is the absence of Trevon Diggs from the inactives list. The star cornerback has missed the last two games and was listed as questionable coming into tonight, but it looks like he’ll play. That means the Cowboys will finally see Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Jourdan Lewis on the field together for the first time all year. Among the players on the inactives list, the only that’s on there for injury-related reasons is Juanyeh Thomas, who was ruled out with a knee injury earlier this week. The healthy scratches are Deuce Vaughn, Damone Clark, Jalen Brooks, Tyrus Wheat, and Andrew Booth Jr. That means Tyler Guyton, who was questionable coming into tonight with ankle and knee injuries, is active and available. The rookie left tackle had been rotating in recent weeks with Asim Richards, who is now on the injured reserve, but veteran tackle Chuma Edoga is now back after being activated from the injured reserve. It’s unclear if Guyton will start or potentially rotate with Edoga tonight. As for the Bengals, they’ll be without starting left tackle Orlando Brown, who was ruled out earlier this week. That’s bad news for the Bengals, as the Dallas pass rush has come alive in recent weeks since Micah Parsons returned.
54-man Cowboys Roster for Week 14: Send All-Pro to IR, adding 3 CBs, will Trevon Diggs play?
The Dallas Cowboys return to the field on Monday night, but their roster is going to look a little different when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals. The club hasn’t taken the field since Thanksgiving, meaning their minibye is close to being a second by for the season. They deserve it, after having back-to-back short weeks that really took a toll on their injury statuses. Dallas played Monday night in Houston in Week 11, then played Sunday at home in Week 12, just to turn around and play Thursday afternoon. Three games in 10 days is asking a lot, especially late in the season. As a result, there’s been some roster shuffling since facing off against the Giants. The recent revelation that nine-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin is done for the season has resulted in him being moved to IR. Also out for the year is cornerback Josh Butler. The two open roster spots are both being taken up by cornerbacks. Amani Oruwariye is being activated from IR and Kemon Hall is being permantently promoted from the practice squad. Dallas is using just one of their elevations this week, also bringing Andrew Booth up from the practice squad. Adding three cornerbacks while losing only one is interesting, as many expected Trevon Diggs to return after missing the last several games. Perhaps the club is going to shift Isreal Mukuamu back to a safety role as the only active players at that position currently are starters Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker. Here’s a look at the 54-man roster. Quarterbacks (2) Nov 10, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Cooper Rush Trey Lance Running Backs (4) ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 12: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Rico Dowdle Ezekiel Elliott Hunter Luepke Deuce Vaughn Tight Ends (4) Dec 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) runs with the football against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Jake Ferguson Luke Schoonmaker Brevyn Spann-Ford Princeton Fant Wide Receivers (7) Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) walks the field before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images CeeDee Lamb Brandin Cooks Jalen Tolbert Kavontae Turpin Jalen Brooks Ryan Flournoy Jonathan Mingo Offensive Tackles (4) OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 30: Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton #60 of the Dallas Cowboys stretches during training camp on July 30, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Tyler Guyton Terence Steele Chuma Edoga Matt Waletzko Offensive Guards (3) October 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyler Smith (73) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Tyler Smith Brock Hoffman TJ Bass Centers (1) OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 8: Defensive tackle Kobie Turner #91 of the Los Angeles Rams locks up with center Brock Hoffman #67 of the Dallas Cowboys during a skirmish between the two teams during joint practice at training camp on August 8, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Cooper Beebe Defensive Ends (5) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 17: Micah Parsons #11 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) Micah Parsons Marshawn Kneeland Chauncey Golston Tyrus Wheat Carl Lawson Defensive Tackles (4) OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 30: Linebacker Micah Parsons #11 and defensive tackle Mazi Smith #58 of the Dallas Cowboys throw punches aa they jokingly spar prior to a training session on July 30, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Osa Odighizuwa Mazi Smith Linval Joseph Carlos Watkins Linebackers (6) Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (35) wears a Guardian helmet cap during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Eric Kendricks DeMarvion Overshown Damone Clark Marist Liufau Buddy Johnson Nick Vigil Cornerbacks (6) Oct 2, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) celebrate after Diggs intercepts a pass against the Washington Commanders during the game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Trevon Diggs DaRon Bland Jourdan Lewis Amani Oruwariye Kemon Hall Andrew Booth (elevation) Safeties (4) OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 8: Running back Kyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams rushes against safety Malik Hooker #28 and Donovan Wilson #6 of the Dallas Cowboys during joint practice at training camp on August 8, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Malik Hooker Donovan Wilson Israel Mukuamu Juanyeh Thomas (out) Special Teams (4) INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 11: Brandon Aubrey #17 of the Dallas Cowboys watches his field goal with Bryan Anger #5, to take a 12-6 lead over the Los Angeles Rams, in a 13-12 Rams win during a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on August 11, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Brandon Aubrey Bryan Anger Trent Sieg CJ Goodwin
Buy/sell Cowboys players in Week 14 versus Bengals
Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Which Cowboys players do you think have a chance to have great games against Cincinnati? The Dallas Cowboys host the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, and the key factor in the game might be Cincinnati’s defense. It’s given up at least 34 points in their three straight losses coming into Week 14. If that pattern holds, some Dallas players will enjoy a big night on primetime television. Who will most likely benefit, and who else may see low production in this matchup? BUY TE Jake Ferguson Missing the last two games and most of another with a concussion, the starter is set to return and could do it in style. For one, the Bengals have consistently allowed opposing tight ends to have strong games. Pittsburgh’s Pat Freiermuth had season highs with six catches and 68 yards, plus a touchdown, last week. Baltimore’s Mark Andrews posted the exact same stats a few weeks ago, and the Chargers’ Will Dissly posted 80 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Not only should the opportunities be there, but Dallas’ recent play under Cooper Rush has favored the TE position. We’ve seen more out of Luke Schoonmaker than ever before and even some solid work out of undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford. While Rush may be familiar with his fellow backups, there’s little reason to think he won’t lean on an even more QB-friendly target in Ferguson. QB Cooper Rush If Ferguson doesn’t have a big night, it probably means CeeDee Lamb or someone else did. No matter who gets hot among the receivers, Cooper Rush will be the one racking up passing yards. Having already put up some significant numbers in recent weeks, Rush stands to have another high-volume night against the Bengals. No, Rush is not Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, or Russell Wilson. But these upper-tier QBs have put up huge numbers against Cincinnati, with Wilson just hanging 414 passing yards on them a week ago. With Ferguson and Lamb expected to play, Rush will have sufficient firepower to keep the ball moving against this opponent. And assuming the Bengals are similarly effective with their own offense, a shootout is very possible. EDGE Micah Parsons Joe Burrow’s been sacked 3-4 times in each of the Bengals’ last three games, so it feels like ripe territory for Dallas’ resident sack artist. Parsons has returned from injury with a vengeance, getting 5.5 sacks over the last four games. These two trends speak to a clear and present danger for Burrow, and a key ingredient to the Cowboys’ potential success. SELL Cowboys secondary You won’t hear this often about a 4-8 team but the Bengals have one of the NFL’s elite offenses, especially in recent weeks. They can hit you in multiple ways and Joe Burrow is on fire right now, posting at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in the three recent losses. Dallas’ secondary has been susceptible to big plays from far lesser quarterbacks and receiving options, so expect some pain on Monday night. Chuma Edoga & Terence Steele The Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson has 11.5 sacks this year and will be a problem for Dallas’ offensive tackles. Steele has struggled all season and now Edoga, who only just returned from injury last week, likely gets his first start of 2024. At the very least, it probably wouldn’t make a big difference if Tyler Guyton was out there. But that won’t offer much consolation if Cooper Rush spends the game on his back.
Monday Night Football schedule: Is there a ‘ManningCast’ for Cowboys-Bengals?
Monday Night Football schedule: Is there a ‘ManningCast’ for Cowboys-Bengals? K.D. Drummond When the game isn’t going to be very interesting, it’s a good thing when broadcast partners have gimmicks in their back pockets. Peyton and Eli Manning have returned for a fourth season of the ManningCast with the two former quarterbacks set to provide commentary for 11 weeks of Monday Night Football games this fall. The brothers released a funny 10-minute musical to promote the upcoming ManningCast season in September. The 2024 slate includes tonight’s Cowboys-Bengals game that will be televised on main ESPN, which is available to stream on fuboTV (try it free). The game is also being broadcast in a different way. Over on ESPN+, Disney+ and NFL+, the game will be shown in the world of Springfield; an animated version of things that will be in the world of the Simpsons. “Each Bengals and Cowboys player will appear as a motion-enabled, animated player for the special primetime matchup,” the release stated. In addition to 10 games during the regular-season action, the Manning brothers will also provide commentary for a Wild Card game in January. Check out the full schedule below. ManningCast 2024 Schedule NFL Week Date Game TV 1 Sept. 9 Jets @ 49ers ESPN2, ESPN+ 2 Sept. 16 Falcons @ Eagles ESPN2 5 Oct. 7 Saints @ Chiefs ESPN2 6 Oct. 14 Bills @ Jets ESPN2 7 Oct. 21 Ravens @ Bucs ESPN2, ESPN+ 8 Oct. 28 Giants @ Steelers ESPN2, ESPN+ 9 Nov. 4 Bucs @ Chiefs ESPN2 11 Nov. 18 Texans @ Cowboys ESPN2 12 Nov. 25 Ravens @ Chargers ESPN2 14 Dec. 9 Bengals @ Cowboys ESPN2, ESPN+ Wild Card Jan. 13 TBD ESPN2, ESPN+ The ManningCast is televised on ESPN2. The primary MNF broadcast will continue to feature Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters on ESPN. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys vs Bengals: 3 bold predictions for Monday’s matchup
Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images Here are our bold predictions for Monday night’s matchup. After a 10-day layoff, the Dallas Cowboys return to action on Monday night as they host the Cincinnati Bengals. This is basically an elimination game for both teams, so it figures to be a competitive contest. Before the two teams square off, here are three bold predictions for the matchup. Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images 1) Joe Burrow continues his dominant season, throwing 3+ touchdown passes for the fifth-consecutive game When you look at Joe Burrow’s season stats, it’s hard to believe the Bengals have a 4-8 record. The former number-one overall pick is living up the the billing, having the best season of his young career. Burrow leads the NFL with 30 touchdown passes and 3,337 passing yards with just five interceptions. The 27-year-old quarterback has recorded nine multi-touchdown games on the year, including throwing three or more in a single game six times. Burrow is top six in the NFL in EPA + CPOE (0.159), EPA/Play (0.214), CPOE (4.8), and Success Rate (52.1%). Burrow has been far from the reason why the Bengals are all but out of playoff contention. He and the Bengals’ offense have scored 30 or more points in a game six times this season, but have just a 2-4 record in those games. If Cincinnati didn’t have such a bad defense, Burrow would be a near-lock to take home this year’s MVP award. This week Burrow should continue his dominant season against a Cowboys’ defense that has struggled against top offenses. The signal-caller puts together another great performance, throwing three or more touchdown passes for the fifth consecutive game. Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images 2) CeeDee Lamb records a season-high 150 receiving yards As mentioned above, the Bengals’ defense as a whole has been atrocious this season. Cincinnati has given up the fourth-most passing touchdowns (22) and sixth-most passing yards (2,892) in the league. They also have the third-worst defensive success rate (47.35) and fourth-worst defensive Rush EPA (0.023) and Dropback EPA (0.140). When Cincinnati’s defense has struggled, the Bengals have not won games. When the Bengals have given up 26 or more points, they are 0-7. When they’ve given up 25 or fewer, they are 4-1. If the Cowboys can score three or more touchdowns in this game, they should have a good shot at walking away with a win. One of Cincinnati’s biggest problems on defense this season has been slowing down the opposing team’s top receiving threats. Below are some of the best receivers the Bengals have faced this season and how they have done against Cincinnati’s defense. Zay Flowers = 7 receptions, 111 yards Terry McLaurin = 4 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD A.J. Brown = 5 receptions, 84 yards DeVonta Smith = 6 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD Ladd McConkey = 6 receptions, 123 yards Jakobi Meyers = 8 receptions, 105 yards This bodes very well for Dallas’ top wideout CeeDee Lamb. The 25-year-old has been a bit quiet the past two weeks, but that will change Monday night. Lamb puts on display one of the best performances of his career, recording 150+ receptions yards on 11 receptions. Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images 3) Both teams combine to score 60+ total points There is going to be plenty of offense in this game. The O/U total for the matchup currently sits at 49.5, and the teams are going to soar past that total. For the first time in weeks, the Cowboys face a defense that they should be able to move the ball through the air against. CeeDee Lamb and Dallas’ receivers will consistently have favorable matchups, allowing Cooper Rush to get the ball out quickly to open receivers. We’ve seen what the Bengals’ offense has done this season, even against some of the better defenses in the NFL. Dallas’ defense is playing much better, but they still are a unit that has its fair share of issues. Burrow and company will take advantage of this, using their dynamic passing attack to hurt Dallas through the air. This game turns into one of the more entertaining Monday Night Football matchups of the season as both offenses light up the scoreboard.
