The Cincinnati Bengals finally secured a much-needed victory, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 27-20 on Monday night and breaking a three-game losing streak.
This season, seven of the Bengals’ eight losses had come by a single score, leading to growing frustration within the team. However, the win against the Cowboys brought a welcome relief. Quarterback Joe Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase for a decisive 40-yard touchdown pass with just over a minute remaining in the game. The touchdown came after a botched punt block gave Cincinnati possession with less than two minutes on the clock.
“Luck went our way on this one,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor acknowledged after the game.
Burrow had an impressive performance, completing 33 of 44 passes for 369 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Chase was a standout, catching 14 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
“This feeling is important for us because the last three locker rooms haven’t felt like this,” Taylor said. “It’s great to experience the joy of hard work paying off, and it boosts our confidence as we move forward.”
The Bengals outgained the Cowboys 433 to 322 in total yards. “This win is an opportunity for the world to see what we can do, and we’re going to keep fighting,” Taylor added. “When the Bengals walk on the field, you’re going to get our best shot.”
The connection between Burrow and Chase remains strong. “I was determined to get Ja’Marr the ball tonight,” Burrow said. “He had some missed opportunities last week against the Steelers, and I wanted to make sure we capitalized this time.”
Both players are enjoying standout seasons, with Burrow leading the league in passing yards (3,706) and touchdowns (33), while Chase leads in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,319), and touchdowns (15).
Defensively, Trey Hendrickson’s critical sack of Cooper Rush late in the game brought his league-leading total to 12.5 sacks.
However, the Bengals’ secondary showed inconsistencies, and the offensive line struggled to protect Burrow, who often had to scramble under pressure.
Chase Brown continues to grow into his role as the team’s starting running back following Zack Moss’s season-ending injury. Brown rushed for 58 yards on 14 carries and caught six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. Kicker Cade York, filling in for the injured Evan McPherson, successfully made two field goals and converted all three extra-point attempts.
On the downside, the Bengals’ defense allowed Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle to rush for 131 yards at an average of 7.3 yards per carry, while wide receiver CeeDee Lamb caught six passes for 93 yards, including a touchdown.
Injury concerns arose when Burrow limped off the field after being dragged down by his facemask in the fourth quarter. He returned to the game after applying a compression sleeve to his left knee and later assured reporters he was fine. “It’s nothing serious. I just landed on it a couple of times. It’ll be sore for a while, but I’ll be alright,” he said.
Key stat: Burrow has now passed for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in four consecutive games, with Monday’s win marking the first victory in that stretch.
Looking ahead, the Bengals face a short week as they prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans (3-10) on Sunday.
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