Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Cowboys-Bears prime-time showdown at Soldier Field. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
ARLINGTON, Tx. -- Though the Chicago Bears hosted the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field for tonight's prime-time clash, I had the opportunity to cover the game from enemy territory: at the Gino's East bar near Jerry World in Arlington. Lounging with my laptop on a corner barstool next to a horde of rowdy, obnoxious, and hammered Cowboys fans wasn't fun. But it was quite the experience. Remember, this was a game featuring two 6-6 teams fighting for their seasons.
I asked for recommendations on Twitter for the best place to watch the game in the Metroplex area. My criteria was pretty simple.
I settled on Gino's East because, well, I wanted pizza. Delicious deep dish pizza. Not the inferior stuff that Texas calls food (and I'm someone who loves good Tex-Mex.)
Back to the game: Both teams played on Thanksgiving Day last week. The Bears rallied to beat the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, while the Cowboys got humiliated at home by the Buffalo Bills. Coming in, while Dallas still occupied a playoff spot and the Bears' playoff hopes were on life support, this game was crucial for both teams. Win, get to 7-6 and above .500, and attack the remaining three games with renewed vigor.
In the end, the Bears shook off a tough start to absolutely dominate the Cowboys in a game that really wasn't as close as the final score. What a performance by Mitch Trubisky, Matt Nagy, the whole offense, and the undermanned defense.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game (and the bar) below. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1a. (Pre-Game) With Taylor Gabriel out again with a concussion, it's another opportunity for Javon Wims to show out as the WR2 as Anthony Miller takes over the slot (and hopefully causes the Cowboys problems.) Wims had another solid game catching the ball in Detroit (minus two illegal block penalties.) He makes plays. Let's see if he can win against the Dallas secondary. And the Cowboys are missing three starters on defense tonight -- Leighton Vander Esch (OLB), Antwaun Woods (NT), and Jeff Heath (S).
A key development is Prince Amukamara's hamstring injury that he suffered late in the win over Detroit. He didn't practice all week and is now inactive for tonight. That means Kevin Toliver, Duke Shelley, and Buster Skrine will all divvy up responsibilities somehow in his stead. Let's see if Dallas decides to attack this alignment early and often.
1b. I called for this challenge before the game. Let's see how much of this happens:
2. The Cowboys won the toss and opted for the ball, likely to remove the taste of an awful Thanksgiving as quickly as possible. Well, they did so with ease. They marched down the field, converting four third downs and controlling the ball for almost 10 minutes. Ezekiel Elliott's touchdown capped it to put Dallas up 7-0. It was about as brutal a start as the Bears could've imagined on defense. The offense will have to respond, if at least to let the winded defense catch their breath a bit.
3. What seemed to be an excellent response by the Bears' offense was derailed when Mitch Trubisky threw a "WTF?!" pass to no one on the Bears' offense that was picked off at the 1 yard line by Jourdan Lewis. Great play on the INT, but that should've been thrown away. A miserable decision takes away points and gives the ball back to the Cowboys, who have a chance to put this game pretty much away early.
4. After the Bears forced a punt, nice response by the Bears to score a touchdown to tie it up. The big play? A 30-yard TE screen to the legend, J.P. Holtz! Two plays later, Trubisky found Robinson for the TD. A couple points on that drive: The Bears got bailed out on an off-sides penalty that shortened a 3rd and 10, but Trubisky HAS to have better awareness to throw deep on a free play. He opted for a short throw. Another is prior to that play, he got sacked and looked loose with the football. He needs to tighten that up. Still, we got a game now.
5. The Bears lost LB Roquan Smith for the game after the Dallas opening drive to a pectoral injury. That is massive news -- pec injuries are almost always season-ending. If he's out, that's a devastating blow for the defense, not just the rest of tonight but the remaining games, too. He'd been playing his best football in recent weeks. Brutal.
6. I have to say, the Bears have really turned it around after the first drive. Even after losing Roquan Smith, they have largely limited the Cowboys (though they have no answers for Ezekiel Elliott.) Brett Maher's missed field goal helped, but the offense has been a well-oiled machine so far tonight. Let's see them keep it going, hopefully.
7. Well, well, well. The Bears came back from halftime and picked up right where they left off, rolling their way down the field for a touchdown to go up 24-7. David Montgomery doing whatever he wants on the ground. Mitch picking Dallas apart. Wow. What a statement from the Bears so far early in the third quarter. This desperate Dallas team may furiously try to roar back here, or they may start to fold, demoralized. Let's see what happens. But the Bears are doing whatever they want on offense right now. This is fun.
8. The referees have missed calls left and right tonight, especially on Dallas defenders. One of those misses resulted in a turnover when David Montgomery fumbled after a strong run (also, forward progress should've been called.) It's ridiculous.
Well, after converting a 4th down from near mid-field and driving down to the Bears' 3, the Cowboys punched it in to make it a two-score game.
9. What a response by the Bears. Mitch Trubisky took the Bears down the field, survived a risky, crazy throw that Allen Robinson somehow caught, and ran it in for a long touchdown. Bears back up three scores. Mitch cannot be stopped tonight. What a performance.
10. I'll just keep this here:
11. I am very impressed by the Bears' defense tonight. No Akiem Hicks. No Prince Amukamara. No Roquan Smith after the first drive. No Danny Trevathan. And they largely feasted on the Cowboys tonight. Kevin Toliver played well. Kevin Pierre-Louis flashed some speed. Very impressive. This was the #1 passing offense coming in, too.
12. Anthony Miller is a beast at getting open and with his route-running. But he still occasionally has lapses with his hands. He dropped a beautiful throw from Trubisky on third down (should've been an easy first.) This follows shaky catches in Detroit last week (that were Mitch's two best throws of the day last week.) He's a weapon, but he has to improve his focus there.
13. Matt Nagy has called a brilliant game tonight. Just brilliant. The play calling has been balance, smart, and aggressive when needed. None more so than the first down Trubisky and Jesper Horsted picked up with about four minutes left, trying to bleed the clock. Huge first down to bleed the clock.
14. What a win for the Bears. That was a statement tonight. And they get Akiem Hicks back next week. The Bears are still alive at 7-6.
15. The Bears head to Lambeau Field next Sunday to take on the Green Bay Packers, who are trying to wrap up the NFC North title. In a weird symmetrical situation, they'll try to basically clinch against the Bears at home, just like the Bears DID clinch against the Packers at home last season.
I'm gonna be crazy and predict some pandemonium. Because why not?
Early prediction: Bears 23, Packers 22.
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