Dallas Cowboys (6-2) – Chicago Bears (3-5): 49-29
Ezekiel Elliott on the flank? No worries for the Cowboys. His replacement, Tony Pollard (14 races, 131 yards, 3 TD), released an extraordinary performance to allow his people to win very largely in a very offensive meeting. Three touchdowns in one game for a Dallas runner, it hadn’t been seen since Joseph Randle in 2015. It’s simple, the running back seemed unstoppable, and the Bears defense suffered as a whole, conceding 49 points, a total that a Chicago defense hadn’t conceded since 2014, and a 55-14 loss to the Packers.
Dallas, from the start of the match, took the lead thanks to two touchdowns in quick succession, one on the run and one on the pass, from a Dak Prescott (21/27, 250 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1 TD on the run) efficient and clean. Whether in the air or on the pass, Kellen Moore and his offense carefully cut through the Bears defense. The only downside was the interception of Dak Prescott by Eddie Jackson at the end of the second quarter, which could have restarted the Chicago game when the gap had not yet been made. Fortunately for the Cowboys, without consequences.
Tony Pollard, Tony Pollard, TONY POLLARD 🏈🏈🏈#CHIvsDAL #DallasCowboys
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— DNA of Sports.com – NFL News 🏈 (@DNA of Sports) October 30, 2022
Opposite, Justin Fields (17/23, 151 yards, 2 TD, 60 yards and 1 TD on the run) confirmed his good period at the helm of a Bears attack also successful. The young quarterback shone in a register of his own, alternating short throws, handoffs and runs brilliantly. Overall, the ground game of the Bears gave Dallas a hard time, especially because of a very efficient Khalil Herbert (16 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD). David Montgomery was less visible, or at least not for the right reasons, being guilty of a fumble on a tackle from Leighton Vander Esch, recovered by Micah Parsons who spun towards the end zone for a defensive touchdown.
Bears defense never happened
If the two attacks were festive, the real difference was on the other side of the ball. Admittedly, the Cowboys’ defense, despite a defensive touchdown, has not shown itself to the level it has since the start of the season, but it has been able to limit the breakage, in particular thanks to pressure on the quarterback of all moments. With four sacks and seven tackles for loss, the squad was solid, nothing more.
Much more, in any case, than the defense of the Bears, which was brutalized throughout the meeting. 49 points, 442 yards, all on relatively short drives, the Cowboys offense having held the ball for just 24 minutes out of the 60 in a game. Is it the recent departure of Robert Quinn for Philadelphia that has taken a toll on the morale of this defense, or just a bad meeting? Because if this squad, since the beginning of the season, seemed to be a reason for hope in Illinois, this match calls into question everything that has been done for several meetings.
This victory is therefore good for the Cowboys in the race for the playoffs and a place in the wild card, as the division title seems to be moving away with regard to the level displayed by the Eagles. The rest week will still allow the Cowboys to breathe and see the return of Ezekiel Elliott, even if, after a performance like this, his starting place could (should) be called into question. The Bears, they continue to sink into the bottom of the NFC North. Expected reaction against the Dolphins next Sunday.
