Bengals running back Chase Brown celebrated a 19-yard catch-and-run with a leap into one of the giant Salvation Army kettles behind the end zone. Officials then ruled he stepped out at the 3-yard line.
Brown questioned the on-field call while still in the kettle, and so did coach Zac Taylor on the sideline, throwing his red flag. The Bengals won the challenge, with Brown never going out of bounds on his way to the end zone.
It gave the Bengals a 14-10 lead with 3:30 left in the second quarter, and they added a field goal three minutes later.
Cincinnati leads 17-10 at halftime.
The Bengals scored their first touchdown on a 5-yard touchdown throw from Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase.
Cade York kicked a 37-yard field goal with 30 seconds left in the half.
The Bengals outgained the Cowboys 240 to 157, with Dallas getting 60 yards on its opening drive, and Cincinnati controlled the clock for 17:07.
Burrow is 19-of-26 for 207 yards and two touchdowns, with Chase catching seven for 87 yards and a touchdown. Brown has 16 yards on five carries and 43 yards and a touchdown on four catches.
Rico Dowdle leads the Cowboys with 60 yards on 10 carries, and Cooper Rush is 8-of-15 for 104 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb, who has four catches for 71 yards.
