The Dallas Cowboys did not belong on the same field as the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Soldier Field was the field in question to be clear, and the Cowboys looked like an infantry that was out-matched and out-classed in every single way. Chicago had not won a game on the season before this one started, but they beat the Cowboys so badly that this one might count twice.
All told the Bears had their way with the Cowboys defense and in the process raised even more questions about the group. It was particularly unfortunate for Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as he returned to the Windy City for the first time since being fired last season from being the Bears’ head coach.
This was only the third game of the season, but the Cowboys are now 1-2 and entering what will be one of the bigger weeks they will see all season from a narrative perspective as Micah Parsons will be at AT&T Stadium next Sunday night as a member of the Green Bay Packers.
Can the Cowboys get to .500 on that day? Or will we see more of the same?
We will spend the next week figuring that out, but right now the Cowboys have a lot of self-scouting to do if they want to succeed against Green Bay or anyone for that matter.
Below you will find our quarter-by-quarter recap of all of the “action” on Sunday in Chicago.
First Quarter
The Dallas Cowboys won the toss and elected to defer which put the Chicago Bears offense on the field first.
It seemed as if the defense was making a statement as they got to Caleb Williams pretty quickly. Reddy Steward made some particularly loud noise as Dallas forced a three and out to begin the game and put the ball in Dak Prescott’s hands.
Things began very well for the Cowboys. They were moving on the ground and as Javonte Williams was running deep into Chicago territory Tyrique Stevenson made an incredible play to rip the ball away from him.
Things happened quickly after that.
How quick, you wonder? In just five plays Rome Odunze was waltzing into the endzone.
As if things did not feel dark enough for the Cowboys after this early moment, that idea was tested.
CeeDee Lamb’s ankle got rolled up on after he was giving the ball on a handoff, and while he was being tended to the offense kept on working.
Facing a 4th and 2 the Cowboys did their best to bluff the Bears, but they ultimately backed off and called a timeout before Brandon Aubrey trotted out for his first field goal attempt of the day.
Aubrey was good from 53 which made the score 7-3 in favor of the home team. The good news for the Cowboys was that at about the same moment in real time CeeDee Lamb emerged from the blue medical tent with an intention to return to the game when Dallas held the ball next.
It turns out that was fairly quick. On the first play of their next possession Caleb Williams found Luther Burden on a flea-flicker for a 65-yard touchdown.
Dallas hit the field quickly as noted and CeeDee Lamb was not a part of the team that did so. He was officially listed as questionable and was seen with his helmet both on and off on the sideline.
The first quarter ended with the Bears up 14 to 3, but with Dallas threatening to score.
Second Quarter
The Cowboys began the period deep in Chicago territory. Notably, CeeDee Lamb was on the field at this point, but after one play he walked off and appeared done for the day. That was/is not great.
Unfortunately the Cowboys offense could not fully capitalize and had to ask Brandon Aubrey to score once more. Aubrey was good from 33 yards out and Dallas cut the deficit to 14-6.
Miracles do happen, though. The Cowboys forced a Chicago punt and took over with a chance to take a breath and reset after a chaotic start.
That breath translated well. Dallas traveled 52 yards on 7 plays and on the last one found the endzone by way of George Pickens’ right hand.
Given the score at the moment the Cowboys elected to go for two. Prescott found Jalen Tolbert to successfully tie things at 14 all.
Chicago would not be denied totally, though. Thanks to a huge screen conversion on third down they were able to keep their drive alive long enough to get points themselves. Thankfully the Cowboys defense held them to a field goal, but the Bears re-took the lead 17-14.
The Cowboys offense went three and out for the first time on the afternoon as a result. It was the least productive drive of the game to this point, although the opening possession lasted only two plays due to the Williams fumble (he did gain a lot of yardage before fumbling, but you get the picture).
Unfortunately for the Cowboys… the Bears managed the end of the first half very well. They milked a ton of clock to avoid a possession for Dallas and put another touchdown on the board with 25 seconds left.
Caleb Williams finished the first half 10 of 16 for 239 yards and 3 touchdowns. Unreal.
It was a forgettable first half to say the least.
Third Quarter
The Cowboys began the second half with the ball and appeared to be moving rather well. Unfortunately Tyler Guyton got beat on a moment that led to a Dak Prescott sack and that pretty much halted the drive at that point.
Chicago took over with a 10-point lead at their back, and they appeared intent on adding to it.
The Bears authored an absolutely masterful drive. They took up almost all of the time left in the quarter and capped it off with Caleb Williams’ fourth touchdown of the day in the closing seconds. It came on fourth and goal to make matters worse.
The game felt over at that point to say the least.
Consider that the touchdown in question matched Caleb’s career high.
Fourth Quarter
The Cowboys began the quarter with a prayer of a chance and were determined to make the most of it.
Trailing by 17 the offense went to work and began to somewhat move the ball, although their drive was partially kept alive by a penalty.
It wound up not mattering much as a few plays later George Pickens let a ball bounce off of his hands and Chicago picked it off. That about locked the game away.
The Cowboys forced a Bears punt and hope was alive in only a technical and literal sense.
Dallas took over at their own 8-yard line and Brian Schottenheimer kept his starters in the game despite the deficit. They managed to get down all the way to the goal line and faced fourth down. Prescott was intercepted and that about did it.
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