Disaster on Special Teams Costs Cowboys in Crucial Late-Season Clash
The Dallas Cowboys headed into their matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals with a sense of urgency, clinging to dwindling hopes of a post-season berth. Yet, an untimely special teams blunder has added another scar to their tumultuous season. Despite a valiant effort, the Cowboys faltered, losing 27-20 to the Bengals after a sequence of unfortunate events on the field.
The game had seemingly swung in favor of the Cowboys following a brilliant sack by Marist Liufau on Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow during a critical third-and-19 scenario. This defensive masterstroke, combined with three remaining timeouts, put the Cowboys in a position to orchestrate a game-winning field goal. However, the tide changed when Nick Vigil blocked the Bengals’ punt, only for the football to be muffed by Amani Oruwariye, granting Cincinnati renewed possession.
In a flash, Ja'Marr Chase capitalized by scoring a 40-yard touchdown, turning the Cowboys' hopes into despair. With this loss, the Cowboys' playoff aspirations have been further reduced to a mere 0.3% likelihood, as calculated by CBS SportsLine’s simulation models. To intensify the blow, Week 14 now stands as yet another missed opportunity, though the Cowboys haven't been mathematically eliminated just yet.
Post-game discussions brought Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones together with coach Mike McCarthy and special teams coordinator John "Bones" Fassel. Fassel provided insights into the play call, describing it as "basic" with a low risk level. "Hold up the right side, force the punt on the backside by the punt-side gunner," Fassel shared, underscoring the routine nature of the strategy which unexpectedly unraveled on game day.
Yet despite meticulous planning, mistakes on special teams have haunted Dallas in past contests, not just in this crucial loss. A similar error nearly cost the team in Week 12, though on that occasion, they managed to emerge victorious. Reflecting on Vigil’s execution, Fassel acknowledged, "Nick Vigil's technique was perfection where he just shot the B gap...The risk element in the play call, I thought it was very low."
However, Oruwariye's muffed recovery and its fallout cast a long shadow on an already challenging season. "This is football reality. I'm a blocker and I'm running with the gunner as fast as I can," Fassel confessed, revealing the chaotic nature of special teams plays. Unfortunately, even a fraction of a second in miscommunication can lead to dire consequences, as Kavonte Turpin’s positioning and timing further compounded the mishap.
Mike McCarthy's approach of aggressively pursuing victories was again evident, yet this is a double-edged sword. "We're playing to win. We're not playing to tie the game," McCarthy stated emphatically, addressing the nuanced decision-making that defines professional football. The tragic irony lies in how quickly the slender threads of fortune can unravel — a blocked punt intended to secure a win instead initiating a sequence that clinched defeat.
Fassel humorously acknowledged the unpredictability of his duties, quipping, "Moms, don't let your kids grow up to be special teams coaches. Coach quarterbacks." His wry acknowledgment of the chaos that reigns over special teams reflects firsthand the capricious nature of the role.
Looking ahead, the Cowboys will need more than just perseverance to navigate the treacherous waters of the 2023 season. With a dim path to the playoffs, the countdown to each game is fraught with anticipation and renewed strategies. Meanwhile, they remain a team determined not to let this setback define a campaign of growth and potential — even if it's shaping up to be a story of lessons learned the hardest way.