The Dallas Cowboys score 49, the highest point total of the season. The offense played very well in Sunday’s game versus the Chicago Bears, and the defense got on the scoreboard as well. The team came out strong, scoring touchdowns and holding the Bears in check for the majority of the first half.
Dak Prescott brings experience and ability to the offense and the results were on full display. The defense managed to get a touchdown on a fumble recovery and a little bit of Micah Parsons’ magic. They also gave up 29 points to the Bears, an offense who had played well in their previous game versus the Patriots. On special teams, KaVontea Turpin has been better than the average returner but has not been the electrifying player we saw in the preseason.
Dak Prescott Running the Offense
Dak is back. His thumb might be taped up but looked to be in mid-season form during Sunday’s game. He controlled the game well, 21/26 for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns. He did have one interception where he might have been trying to do too much just before the half. Other than that one mistake Dak was reading the defense well and making throws to the open targets.
One factor that helped was Tony Pollard and the run game. Pollard was a man on fire, rushing for 131 yards and three touchdowns. The crazy stat is that he did all that on just 14 attempts, averaging 9.4 yards per carry. When a running back has that kind of game it makes the defense react, opening up throwing lanes for Dak Prescott.
Defense Gives up 29 to the Bears
Dallas has two games this season where their opponent has scored over 20 points, the Eagles and now the Bears. Both teams have athletic rushing quarterbacks. The Cowboys’ pass rush does extremely well when facing pocket-passing quarterbacks. Getting out of 3rd down situations when the quarterback can move out of the pocket and run has become a problem.
If you take away Justin Fields’ rushing stats, 8 attempts for 60 yards, the Bears still ran for almost 180 yards. This is obviously a problem that the Cowboys need to address. The Cowboys recently acquired defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins, and he did help with clogging up the middle, but there is still a problem anytime the opponent rushes for 240 yards.
Special Teams X-Factor
KaVontea Turpin is that guy, but he has not been able to produce touchdowns. So far the regular season has been mediocre for Turpin, and I’m sure he would tell you the same. He is averaging 14.7 yards per punt return and 24.2 yards per kick return, solid numbers. And he hasn’t done anything bad like muff a punt or fumble a kickoff return.
The problem is he hasn’t broken one for a touchdown. Not yet at least. Turpin possesses the skills to make for a special kind of player and it seems to be only a matter of time. Until then Cowboys fans will be watching from the edge of their seat every time this special player fields a punt or kickoff.
Mid Season Form
Like Dak, the entire team seems to be in mid-season form. Thankfully Cooper Rush was able to hold the season together while Dak was injured, but now is the time. The Cowboys have a moderately easy schedule for the rest of the season that should play out well for them. Provided injuries are minor, the defense bends but doesn’t break, and hopefully, we get some excitement from Turpin; the Dallas Cowboys should stroll into the playoffs feeling good about their chances.
