Add another gut-punch to this 2024 season 

ARLINGTON, Texas – Critically, what else can occur on this loopy season?

It is actually each single week we’re seeing one thing – both on the sector, off the sector, or typically each – that we have simply by no means seen earlier than.

And if we now have seen it, it has been over 30 years.

Sure, each single Cowboys fan that was alive for that 1993 Thanksgiving Day recreation in all probability considered Leon Lett immediately after Amani Oruwariye muffed the blocked punt that led to an eventual game-winning landing.

However here is why the Leon Lett play within the snow would not sting so dangerous … the Cowboys by no means misplaced one other recreation that yr and gained the Tremendous Bowl. Similar purpose why his fumble within the earlier Tremendous Bowl when he was holding the ball out and let the Payments receiver catch him, would not damage both. That solely prevented a document, however the Cowboys nonetheless gained the sport, profitable a freakin’ Tremendous Bowl.

This yr, we have got all of the ache … and no Tremendous Bowl in sight. Actually, the possibilities to even make the playoffs principally went out the window after this dramatic 27-20 loss to the Bengals.

The Cowboys had been battling Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals. It wasn’t fairly they usually regarded overmatched at instances, however right here they had been with an opportunity to win… and a number of other possibilities to get the ball, however they got here up brief.

I will be trustworthy, that play the place Oruwariye tried to subject the ball and missed, will go down because the play of the sport for positive. I feel the Cowboys may get into subject purpose vary and take the lead. If that had been to occur, it could simply come right down to how a lot time the Bengals had left to function.

However whereas that play modified the sport, that is not when the Cowboys actually misplaced the sport. To me, it was the back-to-back fumble alternatives they did not get.

I’ve seen the play three or 4 instances and it nonetheless appears to be like like a fumble to me. When you’re tucking the ball in to run, I’ve thought that was a “soccer transfer” and that is when it got here out. If the Cowboys get that ball proper there on the Bengals 28, that may’ve modified all the things as a result of they’d all of the momentum.

However when the replay officers in New York signaled down to alter the decision, there’s actually nothing to overview at that time. The sales space had already seen it and wasn’t going to alter it.

However on the very subsequent play, the Cowboys get the ball out once more with Wilson and Liufau getting a sack and fumble … and the Bengals nonetheless get well it.

That is after I mentioned within the press field, ” this recreation is over.” I actually felt that means as a result of for your complete recreation, even when it was tied 17-17 and even when the Cowboys took a 20-17 lead within the fourth, I felt just like the Bengals had been up by 10. Clearly, they weren’t, however that is what it felt just like the Cowboys needed to overcome to win this recreation.
However right here they’re in the course of the fourth and two possibilities to get a turnover come up, and they do not get both? Yeah, it is simply not your night time.

And even with that, they’d a shot and it did not work out.

I imply, severely, solely on this 2024 Cowboys season are you able to block a punt within the closing two minutes of a tie recreation… and it seems to be a unfavorable play. That is simply not purported to occur, however in a season like this, it is truly fairly regular.

I am positive the teaching workers is getting its share of blame for this consequence, whether or not it is Mike McCarthy or John Fassel or each. However I am not shopping for that one in any respect.

I used to be sitting up right here within the press field when half of the individuals in right here mentioned “get away from it” after which everybody was like, “what’s he doing?”

Nobody up right here is aware of the entire guidelines, however most of them know that one – identical to Oruwariye does as properly. We’re not speaking a few rookie, however a veteran in his sixth yr who has performed loads of particular groups.

As Jourdan Lewis mentioned, he was making an attempt to make a play and he did not subject it. Easy as that.

And with that, the Cowboys discover a approach to lose a winnable recreation – one which in all probability dashes what was already slim-to-none playoff hopes.

Simply if you thought we now have seen all of it on this 2024 season, we get a kick-in-the-groin reminder that is one thing else on the market to see.

However not like the Leon Lett moments, there would not appear to be any glory on the finish of this journey.