Cowboys choke, Bears smoke (Dallas): The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Ugly

After the loss to Buffalo on Thanksgiving, defensive lineman Michael Bennett could be heard from outside the locker room imploring the team to work harder and fight for their playoff lives. Imagine how the game against the Bears would have looked like without such an inspiring plea.

Dallas looks like a group of dead men walking. From the coaching staff to the players, it basically looks like the team does not care.

Jerry Jones must be dying inside. In a scrum after the game, Jones was quoted as saying this via abc7chicago.com:

"“Chicago took it to us. We won’t be going anywhere until we win a football game.”"

The defense, despite their two turnovers, could not find a way to stop Mitch “struggling all season” Trubisky. After closing the score to 31-21 with about four minutes to play in the game, Dallas forced a third and ten. But somehow, they managed to allow a wide open tight end, Jesper Horsted, pick up the first down.

The Dallas defense ranks in the top ten in yards allowed but they must be close to the bottom in forcing stops when the team absolutely needs to get the ball back. Even an eternal optimist must see that the 2019 Cowboys season has been wasted.

With more than twenty unrestricted free agents on the roster, the 2020 team will be vastly different. With Dak Prescott seemingly intent on being paid as the highest player in the NFL, the Cowboys Super Bowl window is likely closed before it was ever opened.

The playoffs are still within reach if you are inclined to hope. Despite their 6-7 record, Dallas will clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Eagles and either the Rams or Redskins. Sadly, a better draft pick and a clean slate might serve this team better.

Before the game, Dak Prescott told Fox sideline reporter Erin Andrews that he was thankful the Cowboys were playing on a Thursday and not having to wait until Sunday after their Thanksgiving debacle against the Bills. I would imagine he wishes the team were playing today to remove the stink they left on the field in Chicago.

The team now has ten days before their home date against the Rams. That is plenty of time to think about what they can do differently.