Bengals Drop Heartbreaker in Dallas, 20-17

ARLINGTON, Texas — For the second straight week Sunday the Bengals lost a heartbreaker on a walk-off field goal, as Cowboys kicker Brett Maher nailed a 50-yarder as time expired to give Dallas a 20-17 win.

After a 19-play, 83-yard Cincinnati scoring drive capped off by a two-point conversion tied the game at 17 with under four minutes left, the Bengals defense once again forced a three-and-out, giving quarterback Joe Burrow the ball back with a chance to win the game. But Dallas’ star cornerback Trevon Diggs came up with a key tackle on Tyler Boyd on a third down and on the ensuing drive Cooper Rush completed three straight passes to get the Cowboys in Maher’s range. It was Rush’s (19 of 31, 235 yards, 95.5 passer rating) day. One of those three completions was tipped and still got there.

The Cincinnati defense, which started the day by giving up a pair of extended touchdown drives in the first quarter, was lights out in the second half. Coordinator Lou Anarumo’s unit held Dallas to just two first downs in the fourth quarter before the final drive, and when the Cowboys were threatening in Bengals territory late in the third, strong safety Vonn Bell stripped tight end Dalton Schultz and nose tackle D.J. Reader came up with his first career fumble recovery to swing momentum in Cincinnati’s favor.

Though Burrow and the offense had a quick three-and-out following the turnover, the Bengals’ defense once again did its job and forced a punt. On the next possession, Burrow led a 19-play, 83-yard drive that ate up 8:54 and ended with a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tee Higgins, where Burrow rolled away from the rush to the right waving Higgins to go with him and as Higgins ran away from cornerback Anthony Brown Burrow hit him for the touchdown.

Cincinnati converted three third downs and a fourth-and-six during the drive to keep the chains moving. After the Higgins score made it 17-15, the Bengals went for two and Burrow found wide receiver Tyler Boyd wide open…