The Chicago Bears don’t have a straightforward follow-up Sunday to their upset of the New England Patriots. The Dallas Cowboys are 5-2 and have held opponents to only 14.9 factors per recreation, second greatest within the NFL.
As kickoff approaches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, right here’s our snapshot have a look at the sport.
1. Pressing query
How will the Bears formulate a plan to gradual Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons?
Less than every week after Patriots edge rusher Matthew Judon terrorized the Bears with 2½ sacks, two tackles for a loss and three quarterback hits, the offense will take a step up at school going through a tenacious Cowboys protection led by Parsons.
Parsons has eight of the Cowboys’ NFL-high 29 sacks and has been the last word chess piece for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
“It’s just his flexibility,” Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy mentioned. “The guy literally lines up all over the place. There are not many interior linebackers in the history of the game who can rush the passer the way this guy can. … He’s amazing. And the challenge of knowing where he’s at is definitely one of the biggest tasks to have success against these guys.”
Coach Matt Eberflus stays impressed with the mix of quickness, power and depth of Parsons, who popped up on the Cowboys damage report this week with a shoulder challenge.
Getsy acknowledged his behind-the-scenes problem this week has revolved round discovering unconventional methods to deal with Parsons, even with an understanding that they gained’t know precisely the place he’s coming from play to play.
“You have to,” Getsy mentioned. “If you don’t, he’ll make you look bad for sure.”
2. Players within the highlight
Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson
The Bears’ commerce of defensive finish Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday leaves an enormous opening. Quinn performed 68% of the defensive snaps over the primary seven video games, in line with Pro Football Reference, and coordinator Alan Williams mentioned Quinn made an even bigger impression than his one sack and three quarterback hits advised.
Now the Bears want gamers similar to Gipson, in his third yr with the Bears, and Robinson, a rookie, to step up and fill the void. Gipson has two sacks, six quarterback hits, three passes defended and three tackles for a loss. Robinson has 1 ½ sacks, two quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss and a cross defended.
Robinson, who transformed to protection late in school, remains to be growing, and Williams mentioned he needs to see “mental and physical stamina” as his rookie yr wears on.
“It gets to be a long year,” Williams mentioned. “Where colleges are almost done, we’re at Game 7, 8, and we want to see that — can they keep improving? Can they keep getting better? And still practice well, still walk through well, take care of their bodies, get the proper rest that they need to and still continue to ascend.”
The Bears will look to get after Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed 5 video games with a fractured proper thumb however returned final week in a win in opposition to the Detroit Lions.
3. Keep an eye fixed on …
Special groups might make an enormous distinction Sunday.
The Cowboys have a harmful younger return specialist in KaVontae Turpin, who had a season-high 52-yard punt return in opposition to the Lions on Sunday and averages 16 yards per punt return and 24.6 yards per kickoff return.
The Bears, in the meantime, have the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Cairo Santos, who made all 4 of his field-goal makes an attempt in opposition to the Patriots.
Both gamers might play an enormous function this weekend.
Turpin’s mixture of quickness and aggressiveness is plain. During the preseason, he had an 86-yard punt return landing in addition to a 98-yard kickoff return rating. It’s no surprise Bears particular groups coordinator Richard Hightower labels Turpin as “electric.”
“He does a great job of catching it and attacking it,” Hightower mentioned. “He’s fearless. He can make that first guy miss. And then he also has some stop-and-start ability that’s phenomenal.”
Santos hasn’t missed a field-goal try since Week 14 of final season, bringing his streak of 17 consecutive makes into AT&T Stadium and never pausing to assume too onerous in regards to the groove he’s in.
“I hit this streak and now I’m just kind of grooving with the routine that’s working,” Santos mentioned. “I feel like I’m at such a good point in my career now as far as my rhythm with the snap and hold.”
4. Something to construct on
There was rather a lot to love about what Bears quarterback Justin Fields and the offense did in opposition to the Patriots. Fields accomplished 13 of 21 passes for 179 yards, a landing and an interception and ran for 82 yards and a landing on 14 carries.
The offense amassed a season-high 33 factors and 390 yards and transformed 11 of 18 third downs. Getsy mentioned greater than the stats he was happy with the best way they performed, noting it was their most bodily recreation and one which required gamers to make a distinction off the bench.
Getsy mentioned Fields’ efficiency was one other step within the incremental development he has been preaching.
“He gets more confident each week, not only in our relationship, our scheme, but being on the field and understanding what it looks like, what it feels like, coverages, fronts and all that stuff,” Getsy mentioned. ‘As he continues to get that have, it can preserve feeling higher.”
The Cowboys protection is among the many greatest within the NFL in opposition to the cross, holding opposing offenses to 185 passing yards per recreation and 5.47 yards per cross play, ranked fourth and third, respectively. Along with the aforementioned prowess at dashing the quarterback, in addition they have seven interceptions.
So maybe the Bears do extra of what has labored: a heavy dose of the operating recreation, together with with Fields.
“It’s just staying within who we are, what we do,” Getsy mentioned. “Teams that are really, really good, they usually do what they do pretty well and then just make it look a little different to the defense or the defense makes it look a little different to the offense. … That’s the challenge of every coach across the league to find ways to do what your guys do well without letting it be so obvious or predictable.”
5. Injury report
The Bears could have extra shuffling on the offensive line this week with heart Lucas Patrick happening injured reserve with a toe/foot damage and Sam Mustipher taking up his beginning spot.
Right sort out Larry Borom missed observe Wednesday and Thursday whereas within the concussion protocol, so the Bears might have a second gap to fill, with veteran Riley Reiff or Alex Leatherwood among the many choices.
The Bears already are enjoying with out left guard Cody Whitehair, who’s on IR.
“The way we work every day and the way we come into the building every day, the guys in that room, we’re just a group of fighters,” Mustipher mentioned. “The guys are going to get after it. I come into the game last week, (Michael Schofield) comes into the game, that’s his first game starting as a Chicago Bear … there was no, ‘Uh-oh, what do we do now?” We didn’t skip a beat.”
The Cowboys have a a lot deeper damage checklist, beginning with operating again Ezekiel Elliott, who missed practiced Wednesday and Thursday with a knee damage. Wide receiver Noah Brown (foot), security Malik Hooker (hamstring) and defensive finish Sam Williams (knee) didn’t observe Thursday. Parsons, linebacker Devin Harper (Achilles), tight finish Dalton Schultz (knee) and offensive sort out Terence Steele (neck) have been restricted.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (3-4)
The Cowboys have been stingy on protection all season, permitting solely eight touchdowns. Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence lead a ferocious cross rush that’s No. 1 within the NFL with 29 sacks — 5 greater than the next-closest group. That has contributed to seven interceptions, tied for seventh-most within the league. Quarterback Dak Prescott is settling in after returning final week from a damaged proper hand. The Bears dominated the New England Patriots up entrance on either side of the ball and have been actually tuned in with further time to organize. It’s asking rather a lot from them to carry out on the identical degree on a brief week.
Cowboys 24, Bears 16
Colleen Kane (4-3)
I’ve been pondering with trepidation in regards to the Bears and Justin Fields having to face this protection and its 4.1 sacks per recreation on the highway for weeks. Having extra uncertainty on the offensive line with Lucas Patrick on injured reserve and Larry Borom within the concussion protocol doesn’t assist. Obviously what the Bears have been in a position to do in opposition to the Patriots in all phases of the sport was spectacular. I’m not sure they are going to be as profitable, particularly on offense, in opposition to the Cowboys, although the Bears protection might catch a break if Ezekiel Elliott is out. Maybe Matt Eberflus’ crew will shock us all once more, however I’m not banking on it.
Cowboys 20, Bears 17
Dan Wiederer (4-3)
Playoffs?!?! Playoffs?!?! Dream with us for only a second. What if the Bears can replicate Monday night time’s efficiency in opposition to the Patriots and rating one other highway upset over a top quality opponent this weekend? What if they will enhance to 4-4 inside an NFC that’s completely up for grabs? What if this season abruptly takes on a bit of peculiar November relevance? That’s the golden alternative sitting in entrance of Matt Eberflus’ group. And Monday’s blowout in New England has supplied gas. Alas, the Bears offense additionally has to take care of Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Trevon Diggs and Dan Quinn.
Cowboys 23, Bears 17
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Source: www.bostonherald.com