Here are the 10 big storylines for the week, with five for the Bengals and five for the Cowboys.
Bengals
- It's been an interesting, yet disappointing season for the Bengals, who are near the bottom of the AFC with a 4-8 record. Cincinnati has struggled the most in close games, posting an 0-6 record in the games decided by six points or less.
- Joe Burrow doesn't look like a quarterback of a 4-8 team. His stats don't as well, as he currently leads the NFL in completions, attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns. The Bengals are tied for fifth in the NFL scoring 27.9 points per game. But they're the only team in that top five with a losing record.
- The Bengals have arguably the best 1-2 receiving duo in the NFL when healthy. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are quite a combination, led by Chase who leads the NFL in both receiving yards (1,142) and touchdown catches (13). Higgins has played just seven games but is averaging 6.1 catches and 79.2 yards per game and has a receiving TD in each of the last three games.
- The Bengals and Cowboys are tied for 26th in the NFL for most points allowed, each averaging 28.3 points per game for the defense. In the Bengals' last three games, they've scored 99 points overall and have lost all three games, yielding 113.
- Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. returned to the lineup for the first time last week after being out since an Oct. 27 injury to his fibula. Brown was "fighting through it at the end," according to head coach Zac Taylor. But the Bengals expect Brown to be ready for the Monday night game. Expect the Cowboys' coaching staff to be alerting the officiating crew of Brown, who was shown several times in the latest game against the Steelers getting an early jump on the snap count, although the officials rarely called him for a false start. Look for that to be a point of emphasis as he tries to block Micah Parsons this week.
Cowboys
- The Cowboys are desperately trying to stay alive in the NFC playoff picture. With a two-game win streak to push to 5-7, it's still a very uphill battle for this team, which finally won its first home game of the season on Thanksgiving by beating the Giants. The Cowboys have three straight games against teams without a winning record, including the 4-8 Bengals this Monday night.
- Injuries have been a major storyline for the Cowboys all season long, highlighted by the loss of Dak Prescott for half of the season, not to mention injuries to key Pro Bowlers such as Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, DaRon Bland, Trevon Diggs and Zack Martin. Currently, the injury front looks somewhat positive as they got Brandin Cooks back last week and now Diggs and Martin could return for this game. Lawrence remains on IR with a foot injury and is considered to be a "long shot" to play Monday night but he's getting closer to a return.
- Cooper Rush has improved his play since taking over for Dak Prescott, who is out for the season with a hamstring injury that required surgery. Rush is starting to get more comfortable in the offense. Not only has he won the last two games as a starter, but he's taking better care of the ball, going interception-free in the last two wins. Rush is about to start his fifth game this year, the most he's ever had in a season. Back in 2022, Rush went 4-1 as a starter in the five games he filled in for Prescott.
- Since Micah Parsons returned from a high-ankle sprain, he's not only on a tear, but he's leading a defensive charge as well. Parsons had just one sack in the first four games before his injury. In the four games since he's returned, Parsons has 5.5 sacks, including three different multi-sack games. He's now up 6.5 sacks and on pace to lead the team in sacks for the fourth straight year.
- While the 100-yard game is still the standard for a running back, the 85-yard mark seems to be a difference-maker for the Cowboys and Rico Dowdle. He has three games over 85 yards this year and the Cowboys are 3-0 in those, including last week's season-high 112 yards against the Giants. Dowdle also rushed for 86 yards two weeks ago against Washington and had 87 in a win over the Steelers earlier in the season.
