Now that’s more like it! The Chicago Bears picked up their first win under head coach Ben Johnson with a 31 to 14 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The offense was clicking, and the defense was opportunistic all afternoon.
The overall offensive numbers don’t tell the full story, because mixed in their 298 passing yards and 87 rushing yards on 29 carries (3.0 ypg), was a fantastic 19-play drive that went 76 yards, chewing up 9:54 in the third quarter. The drive featured 11 consecutive runs and a fourth-and-goal
touchdown pass. If it was “torture” for the Bears, it had t be excruciating and demoralizing for the Cowboys.
Chicago had 385 total yards and that marks the third consecutive game in which their offensive yards increased.
The Cowboys had 396 total yards, but they turned the ball over four times. Chicago held Dallas to just 3 of 11 (27.3%) on third downs while going 8-14 (57.1%) themselves.
The Bears had 6 penalties for 41 yards, but none were of the presnap variety. Dallas was flagged 4 times for 25 yards.
Let’s look at the Bears’ playing time breakdowns and a few individual stats from the game.
OFFENSE
Make that three straight games that Caleb Williams showed growth in Ben Johnson’s offense. Not only did he execute the plays called, but he also made a few passes that only a few players in the league are capable of making. This fade-away bullet with a defender in his face wasn’t a huge gain or a score, but it’ll be on his 2025 highlight reel.
This was the first game in Caleb’s career that he wasn’t sacked, and the Cowboys were credited with just a single QB hit.
D’Andre Swift’s 33 rushing yards won’t look impressive in the box score, but he ran hard, and his 7 runs for 28 yards (4.0) on the 19-play third-quarter TD drive were big. His 41-yard scamper on the screen pass shows that he’s capable of breaking off a long gain at any time.
Rookie Luther Burden had the first 100 yard game of his career and his first TD.
Through three games, Rome Odunze is tied for the league lead with 4 TD receptions, and Williams is tied for the legue lead with 7 TD passes.
DEFENSE
Tremaine Edmunds was all over the field with 15 tackles and 2 interceptions. Per Pro Football Network, he’s the first linebacker with 2 picks in a game since Week 14 of the 2019 season, when Shaquille Leonard did it for the Indianapolis Colts.
Noah Sewell was also active all game with 11 tackles.
Cornerback Nashon Wright had 9 tackles.
Kevin Byard III had 7 tackles and an interception.
Tyrique Stevenson played like he had someghing to prove, with 3 tackles, a forced fumble, which he recovered, and 2 passes defended.
Montez Sweat had 2 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a sack, and 2 QB hits.
Dominique Robinson had 4 tackles, a TFL, and his first full sack since the first game of his rookie season (9/11/22).
SPECIAL TEAMS*
*The above image has players who only played in the third phase.
Cairo Santos hit all 4 extra points and a 30-yard field goal.
Tory Taylor had 4 punts for a 44.0 average (37.0 net), with 1 inside the twenty yard line.
Roschon Johnson had 2 solo special teams tackles and Carl Jones Jr. had a tackle and an assist.
To check out the complete Bears vs. Cowboys box score, I find that ESPN has an easy-to-navigate site. Hit that link if you want to see all the game’s numbers.
All statistics and snap counts, as well as the accompanying pictures, are taken directly from the NFL’s Game Statistic and Information System.
