GRADING THE BEARS
QUARTERBACK A
Mitch Trubisky (23-for31, 244 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 115.5 rating) overcame an early interception to play his best game as a Bear. He set the tone with some key early runs and finished with 63 rushing yards on 10 carries, including a 23-yard TD on a read-option play that gave the Bears a 31-14 lead in the fourth quarter. And he threw three TD passes for the second game in a row.
RUNNING BACKS B
With Trubisky igniting the offense with his legs, David Montgomery was a complementary contributor with 86 yards on 20 carries. His fumble led to a Cowboys TD drive that closed the gap to 24-14. Tarik Cohen (3-7) wasn’t a big factor, but it didn’t matter on this night.
RECEIVERS A
Allen Robinson (5 receptions, 48 yards, 2 TDs) and Anthony MIller (3-42, 1 TD) make key plays. But TEs J.P. Holtz (3-56) and Jesper Horsted (4-36) provided a boost, including Holtz’s 30-yard gain on a screen to the 9-yard line that set up a TD. Cordarrelle Patterson had a 33-yard catch.
OFFENSIVE LINE A
Another stellar job by the beleaguered line – against a strong Cowboys front — gave the Bears the momentum they needed to take control of this game. Tackles Charles Leno and Cornelius Lucas effectively neutralized pass rushers DeMarcus Lawrence, Robert Quinn and Michael Bennett. The Bears rushed for 151 yards on 34 carries.
DEFENSIVE LINE B
Bilal Nichols, Eddie Goldman and Nick Williams all made key contributions as the Bears contained Ezekiel Elliott and put pressure on Dak Prescott. Nichols batted a pass at the line of scrimmage on third-and-four early in the second half to force a punt. Brent Urban chipped in with a QB pressure.
LINEBACKERS B
The Bears might eventually miss Roquan Smith if the second-year LB is out any length of time, but on this night they did not. Kevin Pierre-Louis was excellent in his place. Khalil Mack (sack and three QB hits) and Nick Kwiatkoski (10 tackles) played another solid game.
SECONDARY A
The Bears appeared vulnerable with Kevin Toliver (7 tackles) starting for the injured Prince Amukamara, but Toliver held his own. Kyle Fuller (2 pass break-ups) continued his outstanding season. He nearly had a pick-six in the first half but settled for a pass break-up that forced a punt. Buster Skrine stepped up with Amukamara out.
SPECIAL TEAMS B+
Eddy Pineiro kicked a 36-yard field goal, made all four PATs and kicked off without incident. Patterson had a 32-yard kickoff return. Pat O’Donnell averaged 40.5 yards on four punts. Anthony Miller recovered an onside kick to clinch it.
COACHING A
Matt Nagy’s steady hand might pay off big after all. The Cowboys are a flawed team for all their talent, but the Bears were ready to take advantage of opportunity; Trubisky’s running picked on a key vulnerability of the Cowboys’ strong defense. Coordinator Chuck Pagano can take a bow for a defense that stepped up without four starters.