The Dallas Cowboys’ winning streak came to an end Monday night with a 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. It was a tightly contested game that featured three ties before the Bengals sealed the victory late in the fourth quarter. While there were promising moments for the Cowboys, it ultimately wasn’t enough. They now sit at 5-8 for the season, including a dismal 1-6 record at AT&T Stadium. With their playoff hopes fading fast, here are 10 thoughts from the game:

1. Strong Opening Drive

The Cowboys couldn’t have asked for a better start. After forcing a Bengals three-and-out on their first possession, Dallas quickly seized momentum. Their offense put together an efficient nine-play, 60-yard drive, punctuated by an 11-yard touchdown catch from CeeDee Lamb in the corner of the end zone. Just like that, the Cowboys were up 7-0 and brimming with confidence.

2. A Game-Changing Turnover

Cincinnati answered back with a methodical 11-play, 70-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7. The Cowboys looked ready to respond, but disaster struck in the red zone. Cooper Rush’s pass to CeeDee Lamb was deflected and intercepted by Bengals defender Geno Stone at the 4-yard line. This marked the seventh red-zone turnover for the Cowboys this season—an NFL high. A promising drive ended with nothing to show for it.

3. Rico Dowdle Shines Bright

Despite the loss, one of the night’s standout performances came from running back Rico Dowdle. He carried the ball 18 times for a career-high 131 yards, averaging an impressive 7.4 yards per carry. Dowdle showcased his ability to find running lanes and burst through them with ease. This performance signals the Cowboys’ run game may finally be hitting its stride, with Dowdle likely to see a bigger role moving forward.

4. O-Line Overcomes Adversity

Dowdle’s performance was particularly impressive given the state of the Cowboys’ offensive line. The team learned this week they’d be without veteran guard Zack Martin for the rest of the season. On Monday night, rookie center Cooper Beebe exited with a concussion, forcing Brock Hoffman to shift to center and T.J. Bass to play right guard. Despite all the reshuffling, the line held up well in the running game, a testament to their resilience.

5. Injuries Continue to Mount

Injuries have plagued the Cowboys all season, and Monday night was no exception. Beebe’s exit was a blow to the offense, but the defense suffered an even bigger loss when linebacker DeMarvion Overshown went down with a knee injury. While the extent of Overshown’s injury remains unknown, the outlook isn’t encouraging. The Cowboys’ injury woes have affected their key players, leaving the roster increasingly thin.

6. Penalties Shift Momentum

Late in the game, with the Bengals driving to break a 20-20 tie, a pass interference penalty on Jourdan Lewis seemed to set them up for a game-winning field goal. But two consecutive offensive holding calls pushed Cincinnati back, forcing them to punt from their own 27-yard line. This sequence gave the Cowboys a chance to stage a game-winning drive—a golden opportunity to seize momentum.

7. Special Teams Disaster

The Cowboys nearly made a game-changing play on special teams when Nick Vigil blocked a Bengals punt. The crowd roared as the ball bounced into what seemed like a perfect setup for Dallas to take the lead. But backup cornerback Amani Oruwariye attempted to field the bouncing ball, fumbled it, and handed possession back to Cincinnati in excellent field position. This misstep proved costly, shifting the momentum squarely in the Bengals’ favor.

8. A Disappointing Finish

After the punt-block mishap, the Bengals wasted no time capitalizing. Star receiver Ja’Marr Chase broke free for a 40-yard touchdown, putting Cincinnati ahead 27-20 with just over a minute remaining. The Cowboys had one last chance to respond but faltered under pressure. Cooper Rush struggled on the final drive, stumbling for a three-yard gain, taking an eight-yard sack, and throwing an incomplete pass on fourth down. The Cowboys turned it over on downs, ending the game.

9. No Answer for Ja’Marr Chase

Ja’Marr Chase was unstoppable throughout the game, finishing with 14 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns. While the Cowboys managed to contain Tee Higgins (just two catches for 23 yards), they had no solution for Chase. His ability to create separation and gain extra yards after the catch was on full display, particularly on the game-winning touchdown. Dallas’ secondary simply couldn’t keep up with his elite talent.

10. Limitations at Quarterback

Cooper Rush did his best to manage the game, but his limitations were evident. While he made a few solid throws and avoided reckless mistakes, his inability to consistently deliver big plays downfield was glaring. Without a reliable deep ball or pinpoint accuracy, the offense struggled to sustain drives when it mattered most. Rush’s efforts weren’t enough to overcome the team’s other shortcomings, leaving the Cowboys in a tough spot.

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Final Thoughts

Monday night’s loss was a microcosm of the Cowboys’ season: moments of promise undone by critical mistakes and injuries. The team showed flashes of potential, but they lacked the consistency and playmaking needed to close out a game against a tough opponent. At 5-8, their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and the road ahead only gets tougher. Whether they can salvage anything from this season remains to be seen, but they’ll need to clean up their mistakes and hope for a bit of luck along the way.