The 15th all-time meeting between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals will have more than one storyline.
Dallas is 10-4 all-time against Cincinnati – 7-1 at home but just 3-3 in Ohio.
The Cowboys haven’t lost to the Bengals in 20 years. It has been 36 years since Cincinnati has come to Dallas and returned home with a win.
The Bengals are just three years removed from a heart-breaking – and some might say referee-assisted — Super Bowl loss to the Rams.
Two years ago they fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs in the AFC title game. Last year they finished 9-8 with the star quarterback hurt and out for seven games.
If Joe Burrow is back and fully healthy, the Bengals are expected to challenge for the AFC crown again.
They will definitely be a challenge for the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Week 14.
Against The Bengals
Cincinnati joined the old AFL in 1968 and stayed in the AFC after the 1970 merger. The two teams did not meet for the first time until 1973.
The Cowboys jumped out to an early 17-0 lead in that game, thanks to a 31-yard interception return for a score by Lee Roy Jordan.
Dallas rolled to a 38-10 win that day at Texas Stadium.
The Bengals returned to Dallas for the rematch and probably wished they hadn’t. The Cowboys routed the Bengals again, 38-13.
In 1985, the Cowboys played their first game in Cincinnati and the Bengals crushed the visitors 50-24.
In 1988, the Bengals got their only win in Dallas with a 38-24 victory. Dallas defended its home turf 35-23 in 1991.
The Cowboys got their first win in Cincinnati in 1994, 23-20, on three Chris Boniol field goals in the second half.
The Bengals won at home in 1997, with Dallas holding serve at home in 2000. A 26-3 home win by the Bengals in 2004 would be the last time Cincinnati has beaten Dallas.
The Cowboys have won the last five meetings – three in Dallas – since.
Brett Maher’s 50-yard field goal as time expired gave the Cowboys a 20-17 home win in 2022, the last time the teams played each other.
The teams have never met in the playoffs. Had it not been for the thrice-accursed “The Catch” in 1981, they would have met for Super Bowl XVI.
Week 14 History
The Cowboys are 34-28 all-time in Week 14 games. The NFL only played 12 games in Dallas’ first year.
The Cowboys also had a very late bye week in 1990 fall on Week 14.
Dallas is 15-9 at home and an even 19-19 on the road in Week 14 games.
Another good omen is that the Cowboys are 2-1 against Cincinnati when they play on Week 14. All three of those games were played in Cincinnati though.
The lone loss came in 1985 with Dallas winning in 2012 and 2020.
Nearly half of the Cowboys’ Week 14 games have been against NFC East opponents – including three against the then St. Louis Cardinals when they were in the division.
Dallas was 3-0 against St. Louis – winning at home in 1971 and twice on the road in 1963 and 1973 – in Week 14 battles.
The Cowboys are 6-3 against the Eagles, 5-4 versus the Giants, and just 3-4 against Washington.
Dallas has won its last four Week 14 games and last three home games played on this week in the schedule.
The Cowboys last home loss in Week 14 dates back to a 2011 home loss against the Giants. They lost to the Bears at Chicago in 2019.
Dallas’ longest Week 14 winning streak is eight, from 1977-1984, with six victories coming on the road.
They have had a pair of five-year losing streaks – 1985-1989 and 2000-2004.
My Prediction
(based on rosters as of today)
This one has a huge asterisk on it, because the status of Joe Burrow’s wrist remains to be seen. If he’s healthy the Bengals should win this game.
If he isn’t, Dallas has a chance to make a liar out of me. But for now, it’s a Bengals win in my crystal ball.
Predicted season record: 5-8