Déjà vu in Dallas: Cowboys crumble in 31-14 Loss to Bears

Déjà vu in Dallas: Cowboys crumble in 31-14 Loss to Bears originally appeared on The Sporting News

Déjà Vu in Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys’ 31-14 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday felt like déjà vu for fans who lived through the painful 2020 season. Once again, Dak Prescott was forced to shoulder the offense in “hero ball” fashion while the defense unraveled against a struggling opponent.

Caleb Williams carved up the Cowboys’ secondary, throwing four touchdowns without a single interception and repeatedly finding open receivers downfield. The Bears exposed Dallas with both explosive plays and long, methodical drives, including a backbreaking 19-play march in the third quarter that chewed nearly 10 minutes off the clock before ending in a touchdown.

Prescott’s numbers weren’t poor — he completed passes efficiently and found the end zone once — but two costly interceptions halted momentum. Tight end Jake Ferguson was a bright spot, hauling in 13 receptions and battling through contact, while CeeDee Lamb’s ankle injury limited his impact. Still, the offensive spark wasn’t nearly enough to overcome a defense that failed to register a sack and looked powerless on the field.

Scheme Out of Sync

Much of the frustration falls on a defensive scheme that appears mismatched to personnel. Defensive coordinator Eberflus leaned heavily on zone coverages, despite Dallas boasting cornerbacks better suited for man-to-man coverage, which led to blown assignments, open receivers, and big plays that kept the Bears rolling.

Trevon Diggs voiced the frustration bluntly: “We've got to eliminate the big plays. We've got to get stops, get off the field on third down. That’s pretty much it.”

Owner Jerry Jones echoed the sentiment, saying, “Those big plays, on either side, will eventually take the heart out of you when you get a bunch of them.”

Defensive lineman Kenny Clark added, “We just have to do a better job with that, and it’s just locking in with film. Playing fast, understanding what you’re going to get, and just holding each other accountable.”

Time for Change

If the Cowboys are to avoid reliving the failures of 2020, urgent adjustments are required. That means tailoring coverage schemes to personnel strengths, finding creative ways to generate pressure without Parsons, and improving situational defense in the red zone and on third down.

Prescott has shown he can keep the offense afloat, but unless the defense fixes its recurring breakdowns, this season risks spiraling into another frustrating repeat. For Dallas, something has to change — or else 2020’s nightmare will feel like it never ended.