Cowboys vs Bengals: Recap of Every Possession

The Dallas Cowboys were losing 13-10 to Cincinnati Bengals at halftime.  You can find a complete recap of every possession from the 1st half here. Here is a recap of each possession in the 2nd half:

Possession 1, Cincinnati Bengals:

After a squib kick by the Dallas kicker, the Bengals began their first drive of the 2nd half on their own 28 yardline. Bengals QB Andy Dalton went back to the air immediately, hitting his TE Gresham for a gain of 7. On the next play, a quick pass to the shifty WR Dawkins resulted in a 1st down. Then Dalton hit WR A.J. Green for a medium gain, but Green then made a few nice moves to get another 1st down at the Cowboys 49.  On first down, Green-Ellis carried the ball up the middle for six yards. DeMarcus Ware came off the field with some kind of injury to his arm. The Bengals went back to Green-Ellis on 2nd down to set up 3rd and inches. On a play-action fake, Dalton was able to find a completely uncovered receiver in the flat for a decent gain that took the Bengals close to the Dallas 20 yardline.

Morris Claiborne was injured on the tackle (helmet to helmet contact with another Cowboy), and he stayed down on the field for a long time. Although they brought out the stretcher, Claiborne was eventually able to leave the field on his feet. He did not return to the game.

On 1st and 10 from the Dallas 23, Dalton hit WR Marvin Jones on a comeback route for a first down at the Dallas 12. That completion made Dalton 5 for 5 on the drive. A false start moved the Bengals back 5 yards.  From the shotgun, Dalton scrambled for a gain of five yards. There was a flag on the play: the Dallas Cowboys’ sideline was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty totally changed the situation for the Bengals; they would subsequently score a TD, but have it negated by a penalty. It was then 2nd and goal from the Dallas 12; Dalton just missed his TE Gresham in the endzone to bring up 3rd down. The Cowboys then got penalized for having 12 men on the field to make the Bengals 3rd down much more manageable.  A.J. Green dropped the 3rd down pass from Dalton on a quick slant to force the Bengals to attempt a FG. It was good.

Dallas Cowboys 10 – Cincinnati Bengals 16

Possession 2, Dallas Cowboys:

The Bengals kicker put another kick in the endzone, so the Cowboys started their first possession of the 2nd half at their own 20 yardline.

The injury report on Claiborne is that he had a cut lip, and was going for x-rays.

On the Cowboys first play, Romo got hammered by Atkins as he released the ball for an incomplete. On 2nd down, the Cowboys tried a delay draw to RB DeMarco Murray, but Atkins was in the backfield again to make the tackle for a 3 yard loss. On 3rd and long, the Romo was able to complete a pass to WR Dez Bryant, but he was far short of the first down. Cowboys’ punter Moorman then kicked another terrible punt to set the Bengals up near mid-field.

Possession 3, Cincinnati Bengals:

The Bengals began on their 47; Dalton missed an open receiver on 1st down. On 2nd down, Dalton went deep, but overthrew his receiver to force the Bengals into 3rd and 10. Despite having time to survey the field, Dalton’s pass was incomplete, but the Cowboys were penalized for a helmet-to-helmet infraction on the intended receiver. Bengals RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis carried the ball for a short gain on first down. Andy Dalton then threw a bad pass that brought up another 3rd down for the Bengals. Dalton had plenty of time to fire a nice pass to a wide-open A.J. Green inside the Cowboys 20, but Green dropped the ball. The Bengals then attempted a 52 yard FG; it was good.

After going 5-5 on a previous drive, Andy Dalton was 0-5 at one point on this drive.

Dallas Cowboys 10 – Cincinnati Bengals 19

Possession 4, Dallas Cowboys:

Another big kick left the Cowboys starting at their own 20 yardline. On a play-action fake to Murray, Romo had tons of time to survey the field, then he hit Witten for a short gain, but Witten turned upfield and gained 20 yards. On the next play, the Cowboys lost 10 yards on an end-around to Dez Bryant. On 3rd and 20, Romo hit an open Dez Bryant down field for what looked like a catch, but a huge hit from the Bengals DB jarred the ball loose. The DB was called for a penalty for the hit he put on Bryant, so the Cowboys ended up with a 1st down way out at their 47 yardline. The Cowboys tried to throw a screen to DeMarco Murray, but the pass was incomplete. On 2nd down, Tony Romo did his magician route to avoid a sack and keep a play alive; he narrowly missed the completion to Vickers. With the Cowboys facing 3rd and 10, the Bengals unleashed their blitz and sacked Romo for an 8 yard loss.

Possession 5, Cincinnati Bengals:

Another short punt left the Bengals starting on their own 33. The 1st down pass was a short incomplete. On 2nd down, Dalton was able to find an open receiver on the sideline for a another first down. A short toss to Green-Ellis took the Bengals to midfield; they then went no huddle and ran for a short gain to bring up 3rd and 4. Dalton threw another catchable ball to Dawkins, but he couldn’t control it and the Bengals had to punt. On his first punt of the day, the Bengals punter got great coverage and they downed the punt at the Cowboys 2 yardline.

Possession 6, Dallas Cowboys:

Murray took the first down carry out the 6 yardline. On 2nd and 5, Romo evaded the rush and hit Murray in the flat who then broke a tackle to get the first down.  The Cowboys tried to stick with a bit of the running game on 1st down, but Murray was dropped after a gain of 1 yard. A medium reception by RB Lance Dunbar brought up 3rd and 3 for the Cowboys.

END of 3rd QUARTER

On 3rd and 3 from their own 20, the Cowboys had Romo in the shotgun, the Bengals blitzed, but Romo found WR Miles Austin (covered by Terrance Newman) for a gain of 15.

On the ensuing 1st down, Romo was sacked again despite a holding penalty (declined) by the Dallas offensive line. Murray was able to pick up close to 10 on a short pass on the next play to leave the Cowboys with a 3rd and 10. Romo hit Harris on a quick slant, but he was a few yards short of the first down, and the Cowboys had to punt again.

Adam Jones fielded the punt for the Bengals, tried to make a few moves, but eventually lost yards and got tackled at his own 6 yardline.

Possession 7, Cincinnati Bengals:

Starting this drive inside their own 10, the Bengals stayed conservative by handing the ball to Green-Ellis: he burst through the Cowboys line, broke a tackle, and then scampered for a big gain that was partially negated by a Bengals holding penalty. After a short run, the Bengals tried to pass on the next play, but Dalton was under pressure and threw the ball away. The Bengals were also called for holding, which made it 2nd and 17.  After a short run by Leonard, the Bengals faced 3rd and 12. With 4 WR’s, Dalton had a long time to find a target, but DeMarcus Ware eventually dropped him for the sack.

Possession 8, Dallas Cowboys:

After a short return, the Cowboys began their drive on their own 32 yardline. Romo hit Dez Bryant on a slant pattern, but he was quickly tackled. A short run on 2nd down brought up 3rd and 2 for the Cowboys. Romo was in the shotgun and then found Ogletree on a comeback for the 1st down. On the next play, the Cowboys managed a short gain, but Doug Free was called for holding to make it 1st and 20. Romo was under lots of pressure, but he managed to move around and fire a strike to Kevin Ogletree on a crossing pattern for a gain over 20 and a 1st down. After a deep incomplete on first down, Romo was forced to run for his life and throw the ball away on 2nd down. On 3rd and 10, the Bengals got pressure on Romo, but he stood in the pocket and found Miles Austin on a crossing route for a 1st down at the Bengals 27 yardline.  On the next play, Romo found a Cowboys receiver on another crossing route, this time it is was Dez Bryant for a TD.

Dallas Cowboys 17 – Cincinnati Bengals 19

Possession 9, Cincinnati Bengals:

The Bengals started this drive at their own 20 yardline with 6:35 left on the clock. Dalton, from the shotgun, threw a quick pass to his WR for a gain of 5 on the first play. Cowboys ILB Sims was injured on the play. On 2nd down, the Bengals went back to the air for a medium  gain to Green-Ellis over the middle. On the ensuing 1st down, Jason Hatcher almost sacked Dalton, but he escaped and threw the ball away. The Bengals continued to throw short passes over the middle; the completion resulted in 3rd and 5. Dalton took the snap from the shotgun, but Anthony Spencer shot through the line and sacked Dalton to force a Bengals’ punt.

Possession 10, Dallas Cowboys:

After an 8 yard return by Harris, Romo and the offense took over at their own 28 yardline with 3:44 left in the game. The Cowboys first play was a short rush by Murray who took the ball from Romo in the shotgun. Dwayne Harris appeared to fall on the next play, so Romo’s pass was incomplete. That play left the Cowboys with an important 3rd and 5. Under pressure, Romo found Witten over the middle for the 1st down at the 42. The Cowboys declined a Bengals penalty on the play. Romo then delivered a quick strike to Bryant for an 8 yard gain. A short run by DeMarco Murray gave the Cowboys another 1st down. Out of the shotgun again, Romo hit Murray on a short pass and he scrambled for 7 yards.  On the last play before the 2 minute warning, the Cowboys handed the ball to Murray who carried over the right side for a short gain. On 3rd and 1, the Cowboys stuck with Murray who carried the ball wide right for the 1st down at the Bengals 35. The Bengals got a ton of pressure on Romo on 1st down, so he had to throw it away. On 2nd down, Romo was again chased from the pocket, but managed an off-balance throw to Murray in the flat who was able to pick up 5 yards. On 3rd down, the Cowboys called a run to Murray; he made a great read, bounced the ball outside, broke a tackle, and then fought for enough yards to get the Cowboys a 1st down with exactly 1:00 remaining in the game.  The play was reviewed by the booth to determine whether Murray actually got the first down. The ruling was upheld, so the Cowboys had a 1st down at the Bengals 24 yardline. The Cowboys next play was an inside rush by Murray for almost no gain. On 2nd down, and only 4 seconds left in the game (the Cowboys still had 2 timeouts), the Cowboys brought out Dan Bailey to attempt the winning FG from 40 yards. Dan Bailey is money.

Dallas Cowboys 20 – Cincinnati Bengals 19

EDITOR’S NOTE:This article was posted minutes after the conclusion of the game, so it is unedited. Please overlook the typos. Thank you.

Join the SportDFW Nation! If you are not following us on Facebook & Twitter, the Bengals’ fans are winning.