Week 14: Cowboys (7-5) @ Bears (6-6) Mon Night ESPN

[JonJayCutler]

Dolph Lundgren is allowed to hate porn.

[UMFan83]

PFF:

 

Chicago – Three Performances of Note

 

It All Starts Up Front

 

The Bears’ offense crushed the Cowboys’ defense and it all started on the offensive line where only center Roberto Garza earned a negative overall grade with three members of the line earning a +3.0 overall grade or higher (Matt Slauson, Kyle Long and Jordan Mills). The offensive line has still been far from a roaring success for the Bears this season (though positive steps have been made) but last night’s dominance is the sort of level that every line dreams of. In pass protection the five linemen accounted for only four pressures (2 Ht, 2 Hu) and played their part in allowing their quarterback to be pressured on only just more than 25% of his drop-backs. The guards also had a role in splintering a fractured Dallas run defense up front, helping pave the way for Matt Forte to earn 2.3 yards per carry before contact with the guards, Slauson (+2.6 run block) and Long (+1.6 run block) having particularly strong games on the ground. Facing another misfiring pass rush in Cleveland on Sunday this offensive line will look to carry some positive momentum into and through that game.

 

Bowman Provides a Positive

 

Somewhat masked by another dreadful display of run defense up front was a strong performance in the secondary from Zackary Bowman continuing to stand in for the injured Charles Tillman. Of his 40 yards surrendered last night, 33 came on two grabs in the deepest depths of garbage time on the Cowboys’ consolation touchdown drive with Kyle Orton at the helm. Prior to that he surrendered two catches on five targets notching a pass defense on a third down pass to Terrance Williams late in the second quarter (getting the Bears’ offense back on the field for third touchdown drive) and notching two stops on his only two completions allowed before garbage time. Since entering the starting lineup after Tillman’s season ended in Week 10, Bowman is surrendering only 5.3 yards per target while breaking up three passes. He may not be Charles Tillman but he is doing a solid job of deputizing.

 

Lighting It Up Again

 

Maybe not the performance or the production of a week ago but Alshon Jeffery only reinforced what has been a spectacular breakout season with more big plays against the Cowboys last night. Topping 80 yards for the fourth time in the last five games Jeffery also added a remarkable touchdown grab to end the first half to give Chicago extra cushion going into the half. Working deep, Jeffery snagged two of his four targets for 51 yards while logging a reception each on intermediate (15 yards), short (7 yards) and behind the line (11 yards) targets to exhibit the variety of ways that you can get him the ball. On the opposite side, Brandon Marshall also built on an outstanding season both as a receiver and an open field blocker. His 100 yards receiving takes him over the 1000-yard mark for the seventh season in a row but his blocking left just as big a mark on the Dallas defense. His big hit on Sean Lee might feature in the highlight reels, but check out his block on Ernie Sims leading the way for Michael Bush’s touchdown reception on a swing screen on the second play of the fourth quarter. Marshall located Sims in the middle of the field, getting into position to seal him inside, and rode him upfield all the way to the goal line to ensure the Cowboys’ reserve linebacker couldn’t cut Bush off short of the end zone.

 

Game Notes

 

- Chicago’s linebackers combined to earn a -11.5 grade in run defense last night.

 

- Notching a passer rating of 138.1 when the Cowboys didn’t blitz, on the rare occasions he did face extra rushers Josh McCown made Dallas pay all the more. The Cowboys’ eight blitzes resulted in no sacks to go with passing stats of 6-of-8 for 94 yards and a touchdown for McCown

 

PFF Game Ball

 

It’s tough to isolate one player from the brutal efficiency that was Chicago’s display last night but for his work both as a receiver and a blocker Brandon Marshall gets the nod for Week 14’s final game ball.

[UMFan83]

#Bears worst @PFF grades vs Cowboys:

Wootton -5.5, Bostic -4.6, Peppers -3.9, Greene -3.6, Anderson -2.7, Paea -1.8(bottom 9 all defense)

 

#Bears best @PFF grades vs Cowboys:

Marshall +5.7, Slauson +4.8, Mills +3.9, McCown +3.6, Jeffery +3.1, Long +3.0(top 6 all offense)

 

How bad is the #Bears run D? @PFF has them rated last in the league with -107.3 rating. Next worst? San Diego with -40.4. Wow.

 

Pro Football Focus ‏@PFF 18h

DT Stephen Paea has the highest grade on the Bears defense this season at +4.1

 

LM: With 352, 355 & 348 yards, Josh McCown is first QB in #Bears history with three straight 300-yard games.

[rawaction]

Paea only played 18 of the 55 or whatever snaps last night. Wonder why. Ratliff showed flashes as did Landon Cohen. Wonder what Major Wright's score was.

[Banedon]

The safeties weren't good, but the LB's certainly did them no favors. Conte was chasing down LB mistakes left and right last night for sure.

[Soul]

Paea only played 18 of the 55 or whatever snaps last night. Wonder why.

Still a little gimpy?

[jersey cubs fan]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman 30m

#Bears QB Josh McCown is NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

 

That settles it.

[Derwood]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman 30m

#Bears QB Josh McCown is NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

 

That settles it.

 

 

Now even the NFL is trolling us