Bears vs. Cowboys Predictions: Defense eyes bounceback as Matt Eberflus makes return to Chicago

Through the first two weeks of the season, no team allowed more points than the Bears‘ defense. The Bears have allowed 79 points after games against the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, including 73 points over the past five quarters.

Facing a Dallas Cowboys offense that scored 40 points against the New York Giants last Sunday, it’s up to Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to prevent the Bears’ shaky start from becoming a dangerous trend.

That begins by learning from last week’s disaster in Detroit and moving on quickly to Week 3 back home.

“I think if you’re in this league long enough, you’ve been in one of those types of games,” Allen said Thursday. “So you make the corrections that you need to make, you come back in, and you go to work, and that’s what you do. You get right back up on the horse and ‘let’s go ride again.'”

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“I know everybody wants to rehash what happened last week, and really, we’ve moved on,” Allen added. “I’ll just say this. When you don’t perform well, and you lose a game like that, there’s a lot of issues that went on. So, there’s a lot of dirty hands in that we all accept responsibility, coaches, players alike. We’re focused on trying to make the corrections and get ready for Dallas.”

But they’ll have to rebound without several key members of the defense. Jaylon Johnson’s new groin injury will sideline him indefinitely, though the Bears won’t commit to calling it a season-ending issue. T.J. Edwards and Kyler Gordon, both down with hamstring injuries, won’t play Sunday and were categorized as “week to week” by coach Ben Johnson.

Allen still won’t make excuses before game day.

“When you have significant players that are missing time, it’s challenging,” Allen said. “And yet, that’s why we do what we do, and that’s why we’re at the highest level of this profession, to figure out solutions and figure out ways to get the job done.

“Ninety percent of the world doesn’t give a care about your problems. The other 10 percent are glad you’ve got them. So, we come in every night, we go to work, try to put a good plan together, try to utilize our guys the best we can, put them in good positions to make plays.”

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Here’s how we think Week 3 will shake out:

Adam Jahns

2025 record: 2-0

To me, the difference-maker will be Dallas starter Dak Prescott. It wouldn’t be surprising if the game plays out in a similar fashion to Week 2. Quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears offense move the ball and score against Matt Eberflus’ defense. But can they keep up with what Prescott is doing? Can they avoid what happened in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions? Can Williams protect the football when it’s needed most?

If this is going to be a high-scoring game, then I have to go with the more experienced and accomplished quarterback in Prescott, who has excelled on third down this season and has outstanding help.

Cowboys 31, Bears 27

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Patrick Norton

2025 record: 2-0

Are we sure the Cowboys’ offense is as good as we’ve been led to believe? Like the Bears, they’ve looked solid in scripted scenarios, but their success after the first drive has depended on their opponent. Unfortunately for the Bears, their defense more closely resembles the Giants than the Eagles at this point.

I’m not confident this will end as some high-scoring duel either. Maybe this is giving the former Bears coach too much credit, but Matt Eberflus knows his former team well, and the Bears’ defense is desperate to prove that last week in Detroit was some sort of anomaly. Maybe it was, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

Cowboys 26, Bears 17

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Adam Hoge

2025 record: 1-1

This is a game that both teams feel like they should win, and it’s hard to predict when both defenses are this bad. The problem is, the Cowboys offense looks considerably better than the Bears — especially when it comes to running the football. 

I also don’t like the fact that Matt Eberflus has had some success against Ben Johnson’s offense, especially when able to stop the run. I’m not sure the Cowboys can stop the run, but do they need to if the Bears can’t run it well? This could be a wild game. Tie goes to the best kicker in the game in Brandon Aubrey.

Cowboys 30, Bears 28

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Mark Carman

2025 record: 1-1

Dallas put up 40 points on the Giants and the Bears allowed 52 to the Lions last Sunday. Johnny from NutsToGoChi believes we’re in store for a shootout. Can the Bears win a shootout? Hard to imagine. But I’m imagining it cause I don’t want to imagine anything else. Career game for Caleb, and DJ and Rome both go over 100 yards.

Bears 35, Cowboys 31

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Greg Braggs Jr.

2025 record: 0-2

I have zero confidence this will actually happen, but you know what? Screw it. I’m sending it. Bears win.

Bears 30, Cowboys 28