Bengals vs. Cowboys Point Spread: MNF Week 14 Odds, Prediction
Both have faint wild-card hopes, but the loser is essentially done. The Bengals are -5.5 on the NFL odds with a total of 49.5
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Yes, you need a good quarterback in the NFL to win consistently … but not necessarily the highest-paid one. Proof is in the pudding when it comes to these two teams. Dallas is 5-7 and sits 12th in the NFC despite having the highest-paid QB in the league in Dak Prescott with an average annual value of $60 million (US). Cincinnati is 4-8 and sits 10th in the AFC despite having the second-highest-paid QB in the NFL in Joe Burrow with an average annual value of $55 million (US).
Now, where things differ is that Prescott is out injured for the season and wasn’t playing up to snuff before he got hurt. In theory, the Cowboys could win out and perhaps earn a wild-card spot and save Coach Mike McCarthy’s job, but they are also +3000 longshots to play postseason football.
Burrow has been playing worth his money and would be among the MVP favourites in nearly every other season, but Cincinnati’s defence has been atrocious and is the biggest reason by the Bengals will almost surely miss the playoffs for a second straight season and perhaps cost Coach Zac Taylor his job.
Dallas leads the all-time series 10-4 and won the last meeting 20-17 at home in 2022 on a walk-off 50-yard field goal.
Cincinnati Bengals
Here’s an amazing statistic how about good Joe Burrow and that Cincinnati offence has been at times this season but how bad the defence has been: Sunday’s 44-38 home loss to Pittsburgh dropped the Bengals to 1-2 this season when scoring at least 38 points. No other team has one such loss. In fact, those two such losses are tied for the most in a single-season in league history. Cincy has four losses when scoring at least 33 points, which is the most ever. The Bengals are averaging 27.8 PPG in their losses overall, which would also be a full-season record (minimum five losses). Their 99 points scored in a three-game skid are the most by any team in such a losing streak since 1970. Burrow threw for 309 yards and three scores in Sunday’s loss and leads the league in passing yards (3,337) and touchdown passes (30). He’s only the second quarterback in league annals with at least 300 yards passing and three TD throws in three straight games and lose them all. Playing in his 64th career regular-season game, Burrow became the third-fastest quarterback in NFL history to record 125 touchdown passes. The over is 5-0 in the Bengals’ past five games.
Dallas Cowboys
It appears Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy will at least finish the season with his team on back-to-back wins. Dallas had lost six straight home games, including playoffs, until snapping that skid on the American Thanksgiving holiday with a 27-20 win over the New York Giants – one of the few teams worse off than the Cowboys this year. Dallas has now won eight straight in the series. Rico Dowdle became the first Cowboys player with a 100-yard rushing game in the last 26 games, snapping the longest drought in team history. Wideout Brandin Cooks was activated to play after missing the last seven games and had a TD catch. The Dallas defence has been terrible for the most part in 2024 but dominated the Giants with six sacks, five tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits. Pass-rusher DeMarcus Lawrence could be activated off IR and return for this one. Cornerback Trevon Diggs, who his missed the past two, also may return. The over is 10-4 in the Cowboys’ past 14 games.
CIN
DAL