The Dallas Cowboys (8-4) and the Chicago Bears (5-7) both had forgettable Thanksgiving Day games last Thursday, each team losing a crucial one to their respective opponents. The Cowboys failed to wrest the No. 1 seat in the division after being defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles (9-3), while the Bears saw their playoff hopes go from slim to grim following a road loss to the Detroit Lions.
This Thursday game kicks off the Week 14 action in the NFL. Click here for a rundown of all the games of that week.
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Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington
When: Thursday, December 4, 8:25 PM ET
Line: Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) at Chicago Bears (+3.5); total: 51.5 –see all NFL lines
Betting on the Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys were on the cusp of breaking their eight-win curse but the Philadelphia Eagles made sure that that wouldn’t happen—at least not last Thursday when Dallas remained at 8-4 in the standings following a disappointing 33-10 loss in Arlington.
[sc:NFL240banner ]For most of the season, the Cowboys’ offense was looked upon as the team’s great compensation for its porous defense. But in the Philadelphia game, the Cowboys’ offense was visibly contained by the Eagles, who in turn ran amok against Dallas’ defense that allowed 464 total yards. The Cowboys will head to Soldier Field on Thursday armed with a defense that is ranked 22nd overall in the NFL. The Cowboys are allowing 364.1 total yards per game.
About the only one who played good on offense for Dallas was DeMarco Murray (1,427 rushing yards, eight touchdowns), who rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown. Murray’s 73-yard output, however, was his lowest thus far this season. Tony Romo, meanwhile, had it rough facing the Eagles’ front seven. Romo was sacked four times and was held down to just 199 passing yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
The offensive line will have to improve for the Cowboys next Thursday or the Bears’ pass rush might see their sack party continue in Dallas. The Bears have nine sacks over their last three games.
Coming off back-to-back wins on the strength of a seemingly improving defense, the Bears looked poised to win their third-straight game when they jumped to a 14-3 lead in the first period against the Detroit Lions last Thursday. Instead, their defense finally crumbled and failed to stop the Lions from taking home a 34-17 win. The Bears now return to Windy City, where they are 2-0 SU and ATS in their last two games there.
Awaiting the Bears at Soldier Field is Dallas, which must be itching to return to the field and bounce back from an ugly loss against the Eagles. Tony Romo and Dez Bryant have the Bears’ sputtering secondary to look forward to in their attempt to restore order in the Cowboys’ passing game.
The Bears’ secondary defense was last seen on the field being toyed with by the Lions’ pair of Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, who registered 146 and 86 receiving yards, respectively. With that said, it would be important for Chicago’s front seven to put all the pressure it can on Romo and force him to pound the rock to Dallas’ backfield, which the Bears appear to have a better chance of stopping. The Bears are 30th in the league in passing defense (270.7 yards per game) but are 11th in rushing defense (105.5).
On offense, the Bears were led by Alshon Jeffery, who was clearly the best Chicago player against the Lions. Jeffery caught nine passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Jeffery was able to become the center of Chicago’s offense largely because Detroit’s top-rated run defense took away the Bears’ confidence in their backfield. This was evident in running back Matt Forte’s season-low figures of six rushing yards and five touches.
Forte, however, should find more space to run against Dallas, which is 22nd in the NFL in rushing defense with 119.6 yards allowed on the ground per game.
