The play reminded me of Leon Letts’ Thanksgiving slide in 1993, but it happened more recently in Dallas.
According to Opta Stats, only twice in the past 10 NFL seasons have a partially blocked punt of less than 20 yards been touched by the receiving team and recovered by the punting team for a new down. Both were against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium (Broncos in 2021, Bengals in Week 14). Dallas would lose the game against Denver, 30-16, but finished the season with a record of 12 wins and 5 losses.
All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons was seen looking confused on the sideline after Oruwariye, who had just been placed on injured reserve before the game, fumbled.
“I had no idea what was even going on,” Parsons said. “Nick made a great play, so I asked the referee to explain what happened. He told me that (Amani Oruwariye) touched the ball. It was definitely a big momentum change. So… We just got a big stop.”
“We were going into a two-minute practice. That’s really tough because we think and believe that we can finish the game in that situation. It hurts.”
Sadly, not everyone placed the blame on Oruwariye. Jordan Lewis backed up his DBmate after the loss.
“Big plays happen and everyone sees them,” Lewis said. “We have to stay by his side and keep encouraging him. We don’t want that moment to define him. We have to stay behind him. That’s just football. Sometimes things go my way, sometimes they don’t. I can’t do that.” Blame him for trying to play. ”
Unfortunately for the former fifth-round pick, his play ended in the Bengals’ favor.
With this loss, the Cowboys dropped to 5-8 on the season. Dallas, already eliminated from the NFC East race, is still mathematically out of contention for postseason play. However, Next Gen Stats estimates their chances of making the playoffs are less than 1%.
