Cowboys losing via all-time bad punt gaffe is everything wrong with Mike McCarthy

The Dallas Cowboys are the example of a poorly coached team. The talent, even without Dak Prescott, suggests they should be winning more games, but someone new seems to screw it up every single week. This time, on Monday Night Football no less, it was punt returner Amani Oruwariye.

With the Cincinnati Bengals tied at 20-20 late in the fourth quarter despite another passing onslaught from Joe Burrow, the Cowboys finally forced a stop that could help Cooper Rush get the ball back for a possible game-winning drive. Calling what happened next shocking would be the understatement of the year.

After the Cowboys managed to somehow block the punt, the ball dribbled right to Oruwariye. Instead of catching it or running away to let it die, which is what everyone with a body temperature in the 90s would have done, Oruwariye somehow lost his grip on the ball, giving the Bengals the ball back.

Cincinnati wasted no time getting revenge, as the combination of Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, linked up for another 40-yard touchdown that helped the Bengals pull out a 27-20 win. Losses like that could be called bad luck due to the freak nature of that last play, but this is deeper. This is a lack of attention to detail from leadership, plain and simple.

Cowboys losing to Bengals via muffed punt is directly on Mike McCarthy

The Cowboys' defense showed some life in the last few weeks, and they did manage to slow down Chase Brown and the running game. Burrow, however, was in the zone all game long, throwing for 369 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores went to Chase, who added 14 catches for 177 yards to his ledger.

Oruwariye, who has played in just five NFL games over the last two seasons, is on this team exclusively to help Turpin reel off big returns by blocking well on special teams. Instead, he managed to bungle this return by not locking in. A lapse in awareness like that is related to coaching. If Oruwariye let it drop to the ground, that is Cowboys ball.

The Cowboys could try firing special teams coach John Fassel, but that would merely be a cosmetic move that doesn't get to the root of the issue. Whatever McCarthy's merits as a coach, moments like this show the lack of care and preparation that often shows up on subpar teams.

Isn't it interesting how Kansas City, Detroit, and Buffalo never have moments like that happen? The Cowboys look more cartoonish (on Simpsons broadcast day, no less) by the week, and they seem fine with that if they refuse to give McCarthy the boot.