Week 3 Showdown: Cowboys (1-1) at Bears (0-2) Gut Check time on the Lakefront

By: Shawn Lugo

🏈 Dallas @ Chicago

📍Solider Field 

📅 Sept 21st 3:25

Line: Dallas -1 @ Bears

The Dallas Cowboys come into Soldier Field at 1-1. The Chicago Bears? 0-2 and licking their wounds after a humiliating blowout loss to Detroit.

This isn’t just another Sunday on the schedule, this is a moment of truth. It’s time for this Bears team to rise up, respond, and show any signs of life.

It’s gut check time on the Lakefront

📃The Preview

The Dallas Cowboys come into Soldier Field sitting at 1-1. The Chicago Bears? 0-2 and licking their wounds after a humiliating blowout loss to Detroit. It’s time for this Bears team to rise up and show any signs of life. This Sunday isn’t just another game. It’s gut check time on the Lakefront.

🐻Our Bears:

The Bears have surrendered an NFL-worst 79 points in just two games. If there’s ever been a time to regroup, it’s now. They’ll face a Cowboys secondary that just got torched by Russell Wilson, Naber, and Robinson for 450 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. This could be a “get right” game for Caleb Williams and the Bears' offense — if they can protect the pocket.

But let’s not kid ourselves: Chicago’s pass rush has been invisible. Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter, and Dayo Odeyingbo need to show up and disrupt the game. If Dak Prescott is allowed to sit comfortably behind that O-line, he’s going to carve the Bears up. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are flat-out dangerous, and it's hard to believe either won’t win their one-on-one matchups against Tyrique Stevenson or Nashon Wright. Stevenson in particular is under fire! Opposing QBs have a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeting him, the worst in the league. As of now the status of Edwards and Gordon are unknown. Their return could make a huge impact.

🤠The Cowboys:

Defensively, Dallas hasn’t been much better. They've allowed 61 points through two weeks, and without Micah Parsons, this unit lacks juice. Former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is now calling the shots on the defensive side of the ball in Big D, but so far, his defense is leaking oil. This could be a prime opportunity for Caleb Williams to operate from a clean pocket and build some rhythm with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. 

CeeDee Lamb remains that guy, already posting 16 catches for 222 yards. George Pickens adds another dynamic threat. Will the Bears double Lamb and take their chances with Pickens? That’s a matchup dilemma to watch closely.

On the ground, Javonte Williams has brought much-needed balance to the Cowboys' offense, averaging 4.5 YPC with 3 TDs already. Chicago’s front seven must stay disciplined in their gaps, set the edge, and generate some form of pressure. If not, it’ll be another long day for the defense.

🔮The Prediction:

Still, I personally like the Bears in this spot.

This is one of the rare matchups where Caleb Williams could finally operate behind a relatively clean pocket. Dallas’s defense hasn’t shown the ability to generate consistent pressure, and their secondary is vulnerable. This could be the game where the Bears' offense finally puts it together.

If the defense can tighten up just enough, create a little pressure, force a takeaway, get a key stop — there's a real path to victory here.

I believe Ben Johnson earns his first win as an NFL head coach this week, and hopefully, we start to see the early signs that the Bears are building something real on the Lakefront.

Prediction: Bears 31, Cowboys 28