The Bengals just revived their playoff chances! The Dallas Cowboys on the other hand, might want to focus on improving their roster for the next year. For the most part of the game, the Cowboys appeared to be that favorites. They came up with a big Joe Burrow interception after all. Though Cincy won the game, but for a second, that pick from Malik Hooker felt like the biggest and the only blunder that Bengals had the luxury to afford.

Things could have gone the other way. Bengals could have been leading if Joe Burrow didn’t throw that pick in the middle of the third quarter. Burrow and the Bengals were on the Cowboys’ 39, and it was a second-and-9 play with the game was tied to 17. Burrow faked the checkdown, stepped back and threw it far and wide. To Burrow’s dismay, the pass landed in the hands of Malik Hooker.

The Cincinnati QB was upset at his call to make the throw. The frustration on Cincinnati’s sideline became apparent when the camera switched to the QB who seemed visibly angry, taking his frustration out on the tablet he had in his hand. His frustrations are warranted, though, because the Bengals didn’t score in the third quarter and he basically gave the Cowboys a go-ahead score.

The pick came in the opening drive of the third quarter, with 6:57 remaining on the clock. It looked like the QB and his receivers were not on the same page, so it’s not hard tell that Burrow was fuming. Frustrated, the quarterback was seen talking to himself, seemingly saying, “C‘mon Joe, what are you doing!?” This was Burrow’s sixth interception of the season and his second one in the last four games, so it’s not that bad.

His anger was understandable because that interception paved the road for the Dallas Cowboys to march down and attempt a go-ahead 47-yard field goal, which was successful and the Cowboys were up by 20-17. Burrow had been getting battered from the defense throughout the game, so let’s just cut him some slack. The QB clarified what was going through his mind when the media asked him about it.

To Burrow, that pick was not what the moment had called for. “Yeah, that interception was just stupid,” Burrow said in the post game. “I tried to wait for Ja’Marr to get into the second window and Kendrick’s turn and ran and I just needed to progress on to Tee to Chase. So, that one was incredibly disappointing and I was still just disappointed about that play.”

Despite the challenges with the defense, the Cincinnati QB was able to complete 75% of his throws (33 of 44) and also threw three touchdowns, two of which were the courtesy of Ja’Marr Chase. Chase, who had a hell of a game, receiving for 177 yards over 14 receptions. The wideout also happened to cross 5k career receiving yards as of this 27-20 win against the Cowboys.

Here’s a quick run down of the game.

A quick rundown of Joe Burrow’s triumph over the Bengals

CeeDee Lamb started the show early in the first quarter and the Bengals soon followed with Ja’Marr Chase’s TD to tie the game. Then, Brandon Aubrey helped the Cowboys with 3 more in the next quarter and the Cowboys were up by 10-7. The Bengals replied with Chase Brown’s 19-yard TD and were back on top (14-10). It was followed by Cade York’s 37-yard FG.

The Bengals not scoring a touchdown in the third gave dull vibes. It was Cooper Rush, who scored a 3-yard touchdown in the third quarter and tied the game to 17. But that was as interesting as it got. The energy was high in the last quarter! The offense and defense on both sides were playing full pistons firing. Brandon Aubrey opened the last quarter with a 47-yard FG taking a 3 point lead, but then Cade Brown tied it with his own kick. But then, the Dallas Cowboys made a huge mistake.

The Cowboys were desperate so many of us saw that kick block coming. But many were not prepared for what was about to come next. The Cowboys LB, Nick Vigil, tipped the kick. The pigskin bounced off, Amani Oruwariye nearly caught it, but it slipped off his hands. That’s when  Joe Burrow’s Bengals got hold of the ball and the play was declared dead. The commentator exposed the Cowboys linebacker when he said, “Had he not touched it, it would’ve been Cowboys ball.” 

Cool Joe and Co. got the possession and it was just a matter of time before the QB would lob the ball to Ja’Marr Chase. The Bengals wideout ran it in for a 40-yard touchdown. The Cowboys defense looked drained by the end of it all. After last game’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincy’s playoff stocks plummeted quickly. This win has kept their playoff hops alive, but it’s hard to see Cincy. That’s because they still have their divisional rivals, the Broncos and the Steelers (again) to deal with.