Bengals vs Dallas Cowboys Match Player Stats (Dec 09, 2024)

The Bengals vs Dallas Cowboys match player stats from December 9, 2024, tell a wild story of momentum swings, clutch performances, and one catastrophic special teams play that flipped the script on Monday Night Football. Both teams walked into AT&T Stadium carrying identical 4-8 records. Only one walked out with their season still breathing.

Burrow and Chase Turn AT&T Stadium Into Their Playground

You know that feeling when you’re watching a striker who just knows he’s scoring today? That was Joe Burrow from the first snap. The man completed 33 of 44 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns, posting a 112.8 passer rating that made Cooper Rush’s 77.8 look like Sunday league numbers.

But here’s the thing about Burrow that stats don’t show – when the Cowboys brought pressure, he’d just spin away and find someone downfield. Reminded me of watching prime Aaron Rodgers, that ability to turn broken plays into chunk gains.

Cincinnati’s Offensive Production

Now let’s talk about Ja’Marr Chase. Bloody hell, what a performance. 14 receptions on 18 targets for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns. The lad set an NFL record too – first player ever to notch 80+ catches, 1,000+ yards, and 7+ TDs in each of his first four seasons.

Early in the second quarter, Cincinnati trailing 10-7, Chase ran this perfect dig route against Trevon Diggs. The way he sold the vertical stem before breaking inside… Diggs had no chance. Burrow hit him in stride, and you could feel the momentum shift. By halftime? Chase had 8 catches for 94 yards. Dallas looked lost.

When Your Running Back Shows Up But Your Quarterback Doesn’t

Credit where it’s due – Rico Dowdle was brilliant. The Cowboys back churned out a career-high 131 yards on 18 carries. That’s 7.3 yards per pop, better than what most Premier League sides manage possession percentage wise on a good day.

His 27-yard burst in the third quarter was proper running back play. Patient behind his blockers, then exploded through the gap. Set up Dallas’s go-ahead field goal and for a moment, just a moment, you thought maybe the ground game could carry them home.

Cooper Rush though? Different story mate.

Cowboys’ Offensive Numbers

The backup quarterback completed just 16 of 31 attempts for 183 yards. Yeah he threw two touchdowns, but that 51.6% completion percentage? That’s not winning you games in today’s NFL. Plus that red zone interception in the second quarter… absolute momentum killer.

CeeDee Lamb tried his best, hauling in 6 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. There was this one 43-yard gain where he broke three tackles – proper effort that. But when Jake Ferguson’s managing just 3 catches and Brandin Cooks is basically invisible outside the red zone, what chance have you got?

The Play That’ll Haunt Dallas Forever

Alright, here we go. 1:53 left on the clock. Game tied at 20.

Cincinnati’s punting from their own 30. The crowd’s on their feet, noise levels approaching what you’d hear at Anfield on European nights. Nick Vigil – former Bengal, bit of poetry there – times his rush perfectly. BLOCKED!

The ball’s bouncing toward midfield. Dallas fans are going mental. This is it. Their moment.

Then Amani Oruwariye happens.

What Went Wrong

Instead of letting the ball go dead (which any youth coach would tell you to do), Oruwariye tries to scoop it on the run.

The ball squirts loose.

Cincinnati’s Maema Njongmeta falls on it at the Bengals’ 43.

On the Cowboys sideline, Mike McCarthy’s face… if looks could kill. Everyone in that stadium, all 92,587 of them, knew what just happened. The game had flipped in an instant.

Three plays later – and this is where it gets painful for Dallas fans – Burrow drops back. He sees Chase beat DaRon Bland on a deep crosser. The throw is perfect, catchable only for Chase. He grabs it at the 20, nobody near him, and cruises in.

27-20 Bengals. 1:01 left. Game over.

The Defensive Chess Match Nobody’s Talking About

While everyone’s focused on the offensive fireworks and special teams disaster, both defenses actually had their moments. Cincinnati’s much-maligned unit came up clutch when it mattered.

They sacked Rush 3 times for 17 yards. Trey Hendrickson got his league-leading 12.5th sack – the man’s been an absolute monster all season. But the real dagger? Geno Stone’s second-quarter interception in the red zone. That’s the kind of play that doesn’t just stop points, it deflates an entire sideline.

Defensive Comparisons

Now here’s what’s mad – Micah Parsons didn’t get a single sack but still wrecked havoc. Post-game analysis showed 10 total pressures. Ten! The difference between him and Hendrickson on this night? Burrow’s pocket presence versus Rush’s… well, rushing into sacks.

Eric Kendricks led everyone with 12 tackles, constantly filling gaps like a man possessed. Donovan Wilson was everywhere too – 9 tackles, half a sack, forced fumble. But when you needed one stop in the final minutes? Couldn’t get off the field.

Special Teams: The Forgotten Phase Until It Isn’t

Both kickers were money all night. Cade York – perfect on two field goals (37 and 29 yards) plus all three extra points. Brandon Aubrey matched him kick for kick until… well, you know.

Kicking Game Stats

What’s mental is how one play overshadowed everything else. All those perfect kicks, all that precision, forgotten because of one botched punt recovery. That’s football for you. One moment you’re Nick Vigil, hero for blocking the punt. Next moment you’re watching your teammate fumble away the season.

Those Crucial Injuries

The Cowboys didn’t just lose a game. They lost bodies.

DeMarvion Overshown went down with a serious knee injury in the fourth quarter. Just one week after that ridiculous pick-six against the Giants. The lad was having a breakout season, and now? Season over most likely. Mike McCarthy confirmed it was serious post-game.

Cooper Beebe took a knock to the head at halftime. Concussion protocol, didn’t return. That forced Dallas to shuffle their offensive line mid-game. Brock Hoffman moved to center, T.J. Bass slotted in at right guard. When you’re protecting a backup quarterback against that Bengals pass rush, the last thing you need is musical chairs on the O-line.

Cincinnati? Joe Burrow walked off with a limp. Bit of knee soreness he said. Downplayed it in his presser, insisted he’d be ready for Tennessee. But you could see it bothering him those final few drives.

Why These Numbers Matter More Than You Think

Looking deeper at the Bengals vs Dallas Cowboys match player stats, some truths jump out.

The Burrow-Chase connection isn’t just good, it’s historic. Their 14 completions on this night accounted for nearly half of Cincinnati’s passing yards. When two players have this chemistry, all the defensive schemes in the world mean nothing.

You can double Chase. You can bracket him. You can have your best corner shadow him. Doesn’t matter. He’ll still find space, and Burrow will still find him.

Dallas losing this way stings more because they actually did some things well. Dowdle’s 131 yards? That should win you games. Holding Cincinnati to 74 rushing yards? That should win you games. But when your quarterback averages 5.9 yards per attempt while the other guy’s at 8.4? You’re swimming upstream.

Then factor in the special teams disaster. One blown coverage. One poor decision. Season essentially over. In a league where the margins are this thin, discipline matters as much as talent. Maybe more.

The Aftermath Nobody’s Discussing

Cincinnati improved to 5-8, keeping their slim playoff hopes breathing. They also snapped some painful history – first win over Dallas since 2004. Eighteen years! Mental when you think about it.

For comparison, check out how the Bengals handled Pittsburgh earlier this season. Same explosive offense, same defensive concerns. It’s been their story all year.

Dallas? They’re 5-8 and basically done. Their earlier battle with Philadelphia showed the same cracks – decent rushing attack, but can’t keep pace when elite quarterbacks start slinging it.

Breaking It All Down

The final tally: Cincinnati outgained Dallas through the air 359-166. Dallas controlled the ground 156-74. Twenty years ago, that ground dominance wins. Today? Not so much.

Both teams entered with identical records. Both needed this win desperately. But only one team had Joe Burrow. Only one team had Ja’Marr Chase. And crucially, only one team held onto the bloody football when it mattered most.

FAQs About This Mental Game

---

Sources: ESPN Game Recap, CBS Sports Live Tracker, Pro Football Reference