After two quarters of football between the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears, the Cowboys lead the Bears 28-17.
Entering this game, the Cowboys would have to adjust to life without RB Ezekiel Elliott, as he’s nursing a knee sprain. Well, in the first half, the team looked fine without Elliott, as RBs Tony Pollard and Malik Davis ran the ball well. Shoot, you even saw QB Dak Prescott use his legs.
Starting with the offense, Prescott and the unit came out with tempo on the first drive. You saw a mix of quick passes and runs dialed up from OC Kellen Moore, and the group moved the ball more efficiently than last week.
And, after 11 plays covering 75-yards, the Cowboys capped off the drive with an easy Prescott TD run. Their opening possession was arguably the best drive they have had this season.
The Bears attempted to respond on their first drive, but the Cowboys’ defense held QB Justin Fields and his offense in check. One incompletion, one penalty, one run that went nowhere, and a screen pass that went for a few yards– the defense forced the Bears to punt.
With a chance to build off their momentum and go up two scores, the Cowboys’ offense stayed hot and beat the Bears’ defense with more quick passes and runs. You saw Prescott getting the ball out quickly, which is an encouraging sign as it kept the Bears on their toes.
And just like the first drive, the Cowboys drove the field quickly and efficiently and got another touchdown, as Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb for a 21-yard touchdown. Lamb got the score between two defenders, but the throw from Prescott was right on the money. The Cowboys need him to make those throws if they want to succeed.
Now down two scores, the Bears needed an answer before it got ugly. They opened up with a couple of runs and quick passes, but QB Justin Fields was the “main guy” during this drive. On two third downs, it felt like the Cowboys’ defense was going to stop them, but Fields beat them with his legs.
They made their way to the end zone and got stuffed on first down. But on second down, Fields once again beat the defense with his legs, and he scored on a 3-yard design run toward the left side of the field to cut the lead to 14-7.
With some momentum gravitating toward the Bears’ side, the Cowboys quickly killed it and responded with another up-tempo, efficient drive. From Gallup and Lamb making tough catches to Prescott breaking off for a long-run and Pollard putting defenders on skates en route to a touchdown — the offense looked brand new.
Pollard’s touchdown pushed the Cowboys’ lead to 21-7.
On the next possession by the Bears, the defense dialed in more on Fields. After a one-yard run from Khalil Herbert on first down, the defensive front got home on Fields on second down and sacked him for a six-yard loss. Faced with a long third down, the Bears attempted a trick play, but the Cowboys sniffed it out and shut it down quickly to force a punt.
With the ball back, the Boys’ offense picked up right where they left off in their first three drives and got another touchdown, with Prescott connecting with TE Jake Ferguson on a 1-yard score.
(However, my only complaint about the touchdown was: Let Malik Davis punch it in!)
Now down three scores, the Bears needed an answer badly. They moved the ball efficiently from time to time, but their drive kept getting extended as the Cowboys’ defense kept committing penalties. At one point, the defense got a huge stop when CB Trevon Diggs intercepted Fields, and it felt like the Bears would go down three scores in halftime.
But “a roughing the passer” penalty was called, and the penalty led to Fields connecting with N’Keal Harry for a 17-yard touchdown.
On the next possession, you figured the Cowboys would run the ball with about 40 seconds left, as they could go into halftime up two touchdowns. But Prescott had other ideas and threw an interception to Eddie Jackson. With a chance to cut the lead to seven points, the Bears took two shots to the end zone.
But CBs DaRon Bland and Anthony Brown came up with two key pass breakups, and the Bears got held to three points.
Overall, the offense looked improved from last week, and the defense has done a decent job at containing Fields in the run game. The Boys need to continue to pound the rock and take time off the clock, as it limits the ball being in Fields’ hands.
