The Cowboys achieved a thrilling victory on Sunday, marking head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s first win with a 40-37 overtime finish. In contrast, the Bears are still searching for their inaugural win under new coach Ben Johnson.
The Bears have struggled defensively, especially in the second half, resulting in an 0-2 record with two losses in their division. Below are ten major storylines for the week, split evenly between the Bears and Cowboys.
Bears
Hunting for Johnson’s first victory – The Bears find themselves at 0-2 with two division losses under rookie head coach Ben Johnson, similar to a situation the Cowboys faced recently. After a promising start against the Vikings in Week 1, where they lost a late lead, the Bears fell short against Johnson’s former team, the Lions, suffering a heavy 52-21 defeat. Now entering Week 3, they are eager to secure their first win.
Eberflus’ return – Johnson is the first full-time head coach for the Bears since Matt Eberflus was let go after last season’s Thanksgiving. Eberflus, who had a record of 14-32 over three seasons, is now the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. Currently, Dennis Allen serves as the Bears’ defensive coordinator, with the team having allowed 79 points in their first two games.
Bears’ cornerback woes – Similar to the Cowboys’ situation with cornerback DaRon Bland, the Bears will be without Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson due to a groin injury sustained against the Lions. Johnson’s absence will likely extend beyond this week’s game, leaving Tyrique Stevenson and former Cowboys draft pick Nahshon Wright as the starting cornerbacks.
Caleb on the move – The Bears seem to have focused on enhancing Caleb Williams’ mobility this season. After a rookie year with no rushing touchdowns and averaging just 28 yards per game, he has already scored once and is averaging 42 rushing yards per game in the current season. The Cowboys have shown vulnerability to quarterback rushes, as seen with Jalen Hurts and Russell Wilson.
Kicking concerns – The Bears lack the same confidence in their kicker that the Cowboys have. Cairo Santos has only converted 1 of 2 field goal attempts this season, including a crucial miss in the loss to the Vikings. The Bears have signed Jake Moody to the practice squad, signaling a possible change. Weather conditions in Chicago differ significantly from Arlington, which could influence kicking performance.
Cowboys
Mixed performance – The Cowboys sit at 1-1, matching expectations so far. Despite falling short against the Eagles, they managed a tightly contested victory against the Giants, which was not the anticipated outcome. Nonetheless, Brian Schottenheimer secured his first win as head coach in an exhilarating manner, raising some questions but also showing resilience.
Beebe sidelined – The Cowboys will miss starting center Cooper Beebe for several weeks due to a high-ankle sprain sustained during the win over the Giants. Placed on IR-to-Return, he’ll be out at least four weeks, with a potential return on October 19 against Washington. In the interim, Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass may fill his role after stepping in during the game.
Clowney joins the team – The Cowboys have signed veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney in hopes of enhancing their defensive line. Clowney expressed his long-standing desire to play in Dallas and aims to serve as both a mentor and impact player. He expects to be ready for action against the Bears this Sunday.
Potential reinforcements? – In response to defensive back issues, Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones indicated that help is on the way. DaRon Bland may return this week after missing the last game with a foot injury, while rookie Shavon Revel, currently on NFI, is poised to return in Week 5 against the Jets. After allowing 450 passing yards to Russell Wilson, this reinforcement is much needed.
Dak’s performance – In Week 1, Dak Prescott showcased exceptional accuracy, though the team fell short against the Eagles. In Week 2, he made several early errors but rallied in the fourth quarter, leading the Cowboys to score 20 points and ultimately forcing overtime with a clutch 361-yard game. This week, he’ll face a motivated Bears team eager for their first win after a disappointing outing against the Lions.
