It wasn't a particularly entertaining season for them Dallas Cowboys and their players. The club started 3-2 but lost several contributors in the first month of the season, leading to a cascading record that turned into 3-7. During those five games, QB Dak Prescott lost the year and the season went down the drain.
From an individual perspective, it will be difficult for players to stand out among the organization's dourness, but The electrifying victory on Sunday allowed one player in particular to get out of the doldrums. Return specialist and (unfortunately only) part-time receiver Kavontae Turpin has punched his ticket to the Pro Bowl.
In the fourth quarter of the game, Dallas extended its lead to 20-9 when Cooper Rush found Jake Ferguson wide open over the middle for a 22-yard score. Cowboys fans are used to seeing the bottom line drawn on every positive play, and sure enough, the Commanders offense woke up and quickly marched down the field to score their own touchdown.
On the ensuing kickoff, with three minutes left and a 20-17 lead, Washington's Austin Seibert shot the ball to Turpin infield at the five-yard line.
Turpin screwed up; The ball squirted through his hands and legs toward the goal line.
But then, magic. Turpin grabbed the ball at one, turned back up and saw magic in the middle. At the nine-yard line he went into Madden spin mode and it was dust.
KAVONTAE TURPIN WITH THE 99-YARD KICKOFF RETURN AND THE COWBOYS (+10.5) JUMPED TO A 10-POINT LEAD AGAIN! 😱
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— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET)
Turpin has long been the victim of opposing teams that don't step in his direction. After returning that punt for a touchdown in the opening week, there was a lot of frustration as kickers choose wait time over distance to ensure he doesn't get a good opportunity to embarrass them.
TURPIN TIME!!!! 🔥🔥🔥
KaVontae Turpin with the 60-yard punt return for the TD. Cowboys ROLL in Cleveland.
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— SportsDay Cowboys (@dmn_cowboys)
Turpin's options are limited. He has only made 31 returns this season and has now scored two goals. He is the only NFL returner to record both a kick and punt return score this season. In fact, Turpin is the only player in the NFL with a kick, punt and catch touchdown of at least 60 yards each and has posted speeds that rank among the top 10 in the league on three plays.
Turpin has been ranked among the best returners in NFL history in less than three seasons and is a guaranteed berth to this year's Pro Bowl, starting in Week 12.
