The Dallas Cowboys faced a heartbreaking defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football, losing 27-20 after a chaotic sequence involving a blocked punt. The Cowboys were in a strong position to win until a crucial mistake by cornerback Amani Oruwariye led to the Bengals retaining possession and scoring a go-ahead touchdown.

Despite the loss not mathematically eliminating them from playoff contention, the Cowboys' chances have plummeted to just 0.3%. Team owner Jerry Jones confronted head coach Mike McCarthy and special teams coordinator John Fassel about the late-game blunder, which involved a muffed recovery on a blocked punt. Fassel took responsibility for the special teams errors, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the role.