WHAT TO WATCH 4
Key matchup
After struggling to contain Patriots linebacker Matt Judon last week, the Bears have an even bigger challenge with Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.
The 6-3, 245-pound Parsons had 13 sacks as a rookie, not only winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, but finishing second to Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Parsons has picked up where he left off, with eight sacks in seven games.
Parsons is questionable with a shoulder injury after being limited in practice this week, but the Bears are bracing for him. Rookie left tackle Braxton Jones has been encouraging but still is a firstyear player. Second-year right tackle Larry Borom, who bore the brunt of Judon’s impact last week, will not play Sunday because of a concussion. Veteran Riley Reiff is expected to start in Borom’s place.
With Parsons leading the way, the Cowboys’ defense leads the NFL in sacks (29) and has forced six quarterback fumbles (with four recoveries).
“He’s a freak, man,” Bears tight end Cole Kmet said. “His explosiveness off the line, his ability to play on the line and off the ball … he’s a guy for sure we’re going to have to key on in the passing game. It’s going to be on us [to] establish the run game early and kind of wear those guys down and stay out of those third-and-long situations when it’s obvious passing downs.”
Trending
The Bears lead the NFL in rushing (and are fifth in yards per carry) after gaining 243 yards on 45 carries (5.4 average) and two touchdowns against the Patriots.
While Justin Fields’ 82 yards and Dante Pettis’ 29 yards on a jet sweep added to that total, running backs Khalil Herbert (12-62) and David Montgomery (15-62) combined for 124 yards on 27 carries.
The Cowboys’ defense is sixth in yards and second in points allowed but 20th against the run (120.1 average) and 17th in yards per carry allowed (4.4 average).
Player to watch
Bears quarterback Justin Fields is coming off an encouraging performance against the Patriots, when he went 13-for-21 for 179 yards with one touchdown and one interception (85.2 rating) and rushed 14 times for 82 yards in a 33-14 victory.
Fields’ designed runs were key to the production. It was the most points the Bears have scored on offense with a quarterback rating of 88.0 or less since 1989, when Mike Tomczak and Jim Harbaugh combined for a 74.9 rating in a 42-35 loss to the Buccaneers.
Now it’s a chess game, with the Cowboys sure to respond to that facet of the Bears’ offense, and the Bears needing to respond in kind.
X-factor
The Bears’ played their best game of the season on 10 days of rest. Now they’re on short rest against an even better defense. That’s a big challenge for Matt Eberflus and a developing team.