4 things to watch in Chicago Bears-Dallas Cowboys game: Justin Fields, offense, more
The Bears (three-4) will appearance to document their 2nd instantly win Sunday once they go to the Cowboys (5-2) in Dallas. Here are 4 storylines to observe in the sport:
(1) Will the Bears be capable of maintain going for walks the ball effectively?
The Bears boast a dynamic 1-2 backfield tandem of David Montgomery (seventy seven consists of for 308 yards and touchdowns) and Khalil Herbert (75-464-three). But they wouldn`t lead the NFL in dashing with out the contributions of Justin Fields, who has generated 364 yards and TDs on sixty eight tries—the second one maximum dashing yards via way of means of an NFL quarterback in the back of most effective the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson.
After a mini-bye, the Bears applied extra designed runs and read-choice performs into their recreation-plan Monday night time in New England. Fields replied via way of means of dashing for a recreation-excessive eighty two yards and one TD on 14 consists of in an excellent 33-14 victory.
Moving forward, the Bears recognize that the Cowboys and different destiny combatants will put together for Fields to run with the ball.
“Once you placed it on tape, the men ought to shield it,” stated teach Matt Eberflus. “Then you need to be innovative withinside the methods which you do matters and also you need to do it in a secure manner due to the fact it’s far your quarterback. He has to recognize while to do matters the proper manner in phrases of while to slide, while to get out of bounds and all the ones matters.
“Then he has the unscripted performs wherein on 1/3 down he drops lower back and could take off for a primary down, or maybe on first down. It’s very difficult to shield. I’ve attempted to shield the ones men over time and it is very tough.”
(2) Will the Bears be capable of comprise Cowboys supermegacelebrity linebacker Micah Parsons?
The twelfth common choose withinside the 2021 draft, Parsons become named NFL protective rookie of the yr and first-group All-Pro remaining season after registering eighty four tackles, thirteen sacks and 3 pressured fumbles. He’s picked up this yr wherein he left off, recording 32 tackles, 8 sacks and pressured fumbles withinside the first seven video games this season.
“He’s a freak, man,” stated tight give up Cole Kmet. “His explosiveness off the road, his capacity to play each on the road and rancid the ball, he is a dynamic participant. He’s a man we are going to ought to key on withinside the byskip recreation and in 1/3-down conditions.
“He’ll be seeking to tee off. It’s going to be on us; set up the run recreation early to put on the ones men down and live out of these 1/3-and-lengthy conditions wherein it is then an apparent passing down. He’s a unique participant, for sure.”
Parsons possesses extremely good speed, athleticism and versatility. Last season he switched from linebacker to protective give up after teammate DeMarcus Lawrence broke his foot in practice. This yr, Parsons has endured to line up all around the discipline, making it tough to account for him on each play.
“There’s now no longer many indoors linebackers which can rush the passer withinside the records of the sport the manner this man can,” stated offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. “He’s amazing, and the undertaking of understanding wherein he is at is without a doubt one in every of the largest responsibilities that allows you to have achievement towards those men.”
(three) Will the Bears protection maintain to excel?
The unit heads to Dallas gambling its satisfactory soccer of the season.
In a 12-7 loss to the Commanders Oct. thirteen, the Bears allowed most effective 214 yards and 14 first downs, accepted 2-of-eleven 1/3-down conversions and gave up simply one touchdown—on a force that began out at the Chicago 6 following a turnover. In Monday night time’s win over the Patriots, the protection held New England scoreless over the sport’s very last 36:04, producing 4 takeaways, such as 3 interceptions.
“I assume the men are executing extra, particularly the D-line,” stated protective coordinator Alan Williams. “The D-line is the engine that runs this ship, so once they play nicely, we play nicely and that they did play nicely remaining week. They do not get perhaps all of the accolades that everybody else receives or sees, however they have got performed extraordinarily nicely and the end result of all the ones interceptions or tackles-for-loss or sacks that a number of the opposite men got, the D-line, they are the reason.”
The Bears byskip protection ranks 1/3 withinside the NFL in passing yards (180.three in step with recreation), tied for 2nd in TD passes (5), 5th in opponent passer rating (75.5) and tied for 1/3 in interceptions (8). The unit can be challenged Sunday via way of means of quarterback Dak Prescott, who performs his 2nd instantly recreation after lacking 5 contests with a fractured thumb he sustained withinside the season opener.
Prescott’s pinnacle goal is receiver CeeDee Lamb, who has stuck 37 passes for 479 yards and TDs and has led the Cowboys in receiving yards in every in their remaining 5 video games.
Running lower back Ezekiel Elliott isn’t anticipated to play because of a knee injury, however Tony Pollard is a skilled fourth-yr seasoned who has rushed for 375 yards and TDs and is averaging 5.6 yards in step with carry.
(4) Will the Bears maintain to carry out nicely on unique groups?
The Bears have thrived withinside the 1/3 section all season, led via way of means of Cairo Santos, who become named NFC unique groups participant of the week after making all 4 discipline desires he tried from 42, 23, 38 and 50 yards towards the Patriots. Santos has related on 17 instantly discipline desires, such as all eleven of his tries this yr.
The kickoff insurance unit helped the Bears win the discipline-role struggle in New England; the Patriots began out drives following kickoffs at their personal 17, 21, 23, 27, 25, 25 and 18 and failed to rating on any of these possessions.
On Sunday, the Bears insurance group can be challenged via way of means of KaVonte Turpin, who ranks 2nd withinside the NFL on punt returns, averaging 16.zero yards on eleven returns. Turpin joined Dallas this yr after being named the USFL MVP even as gambling for the New Jersey Generals this spring. In a preseason recreation towards the Chargers, Turpin scored TDs on a 98-backyard kickoff go back and an 86-backyard punt go back.
“Turpin is electric,” stated unique groups coordinator Richard Hightower.
