Week 8 Bears Preview: Bears Pay Visit to Red Hot Cowboys
Chicago looks to ride new momentum to another upset victory, this time in the Lone Star State
It was without a doubt, one of the most satisfying wins of the last few years.
The Chicago Bears went into Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Monday night and played a nearly flawless ballgame in dominating the New England Patriots. Now, at 3-4 on the season, they go into Arlington, Tx. to face off against a 5-2 Dallas Cowboys team.
This will also be a homecoming of sorts for Bears coach Matt Eberflus, who returns to Dallas for the first time since he served on its coaching staff in various capacities from 2011 to 2017.
Foot on the Gas
The Bears excelled in almost every facet in their victory over the Patriots.
On the defensive side, they intercepted three passes and held the quarterback duo of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe at bay.
Offensively, the three-headed running attack of Justin Fields, Khalil Herbert, and David Montgomery made a big difference, each of them racking up at least 60 rushing yards.
Fields, who ran for a total of 82 yards, will go up against a defense this Sunday that includes all-pro linebacker Micah Parsons, who this past week declared himself faster than the Bears' speedy sign-caller.
"Yeah, I mean (Fields) knows it too. We’ve raced multiple times,” Parsons said during his media availability Wednesday. “We actually raced our 40 times back when he was coming out, beat him in that. It’s not even close."
If Fields is to be a threat in the air against Dallas he will have to dissect a Cowboys pass defense that has seven interceptions on the season.
Trade Aftermath
Besides looking to duplicate the success of their last game, the Bears will also look to re-establish their defense without veteran defensive end Robert Quinn, who was traded on Wednesday to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2023 fourth-round draft pick.
Wednesday wound up being an emotional day for plenty of Bears, especially linebacker Roquan Smith, who had to leave his presser early after nearly breaking down in tears.
“(Quinn’s) work ethic was unbelievable on the field and he certainly did a lot of great things for the bears when was here,” coach Eberflus said in reaction to the trade.
On the bright side of this deal, it allows the Bears to give more snaps to younger players like Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson, two players it’ll be worth it to keep an eye on this Sunday.
NFC Beast
The NFC East division didn’t figure to be the most competitive division in the league entering this season but so far its proven to be the class of the league, with three of its four teams touting five victories or more.
As surprising as the six-win Giants are, the ‘Boys can be spoken of in a similar vein given that they’ve endured a five-week absence from franchise QB Dak Prescott after he fractured the thumb in his throwing hand in the season opener. Prescott returned to the field in Week 7 to help Dallas take care of the Detroit Lions 24 to 6.
Prescott put up a 113.2 quarterback rating on 19-for-25 passing with a touchdown thrown in the victory.
Dallas wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown and tight end Dalton Schultz each had at least four receptions and 45 receiving yards last Sunday. The three main aerial targets for the Cowboys were busy against Detroit, something the Cowboys hope to build upon against the Bears.
This is a Cowboys team that suffered on the offensive side of the ball in Prescott's absence, so his return is a sight for sore eyes for a group that, like the Bears, is bottom five in yards per game.
The Bears' pass defense has been great and improving week to week, allowing the fifth-lowest quarterback rating per game entering this week. It could be expected that the Cowboys might focus their attack scheme on the ground game but they may have to do so without leading rusher Ezekiel Elliott who has struggled this week after a hyper-extension of his right knee suffered against Detroit.
Tony Pollard, who averages 5.6 yards per rush, has shared ball carrying responsibilities with Elliott through his Cowboys career, but he can put together a big game of his own any week.
Pollard will likely be the only worry on the ground for the Bears’ defense, which has allowed 4.7 rushing yards per game this season, tied for 22nd in the league. The Bears are 30th in the league in yards allowed per game.
The Bears and the Cowboys kick off on Sunday at noon in Texas.
Bear Tracks
Bears activated backup offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood this week, he will likely make his season debut Sunday.
Players included on the injury report this week: offensive linemen Larry Borom (concussion) and Lucas Patrick (toe) and defensive lineman Armon Watts (personal).
Bears kicker Cairo Santos received NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors this week. Santos made four field goals and three extra points in the win at New England. With 17 straight field goals converted, Santos has the 2nd-longest streak in the NFL.
TV: FOX
Radio: WBBM Newsradio 780 AM and 105.9 FM
Spanish Radio: TUDN 1200 AM and Latino Mix 93.5 FM
Weather: 62 degrees, partly cloudy
Saul Rodriguez is WARR Media’s associate producer and lead Bears reporter