RADIO
Somehow, the Dallas Cowboys are still on top of the NFC East with a 6-6 record so this Thursday night visit to face the 6-6 Chicago Bears remains critical for the NFC playoff picture.
The Cowboys have the talent to be better than this. Quarterback Dak Prescott has had a great season and has Ezekiel Elliott running the ball along with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup as his top receiving threats. That group should be able to score but, in general, Dallas has underachieved.
It’s not as though the Bears have lived up to expectations either but they have won back-to-back games – there are obvious benefits to facing the Lions and Giants – and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has shown signs of life in those two wins. Anthony Miller has emerged as a complement to No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson and rookie running back David Montgomery gives the Bears some balance offensively.
Dallas needs the game more, because the Bears’ playoff hopes are a longshot, but two .500 teams should be looking at a close, hard-fought contest.
Here are some angles to consider before getting your prop picks in on Monkey Knife Fight for Thursday night’s game.
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DALLAS-CHICAGO
OVER/UNDERS
Dak Prescott UNDER 265.5 PASSING YARDS – In a dozen starts this season, the Cowboys quarterback has thrown for more than 265 yards in seven games and is averaging 315.7 passing yards per game. When he goes over, he really goes over! And yet, he’s going against a Bears team that can get after the quarterback an is allowing 222.2 passing yards per game as well as 6.6 yards per passing attempt, both of which rank in the Top 10.
Mitchell Trubisky OVER 235.5 PASSING YARDS – The Bears passing game has been a mess for most of the season and a lot of the blame has landed on Trubisky, who has seemed reluctant to throw the ball down the field. In the past two weeks, though, he has thrown for 616 yards and four touchdowns. The sudden emergence of a viable passing attack makes Trubisky a worthwhile play, particularly with such a low bar to cover.
Amari Cooper UNDER 4.5 RECEPTIONS – It has been feast or famine for the Cowboys receiver and the split between them seems to be based on location. Cooper has accumulated at least five catches in seven games this season – six in Dallas and one on the road (Week 4 at New Orleans) – so this week’s trip to Chicago doesn’t swing the pendulum in his favor.
Allen Robinson OVER 70.5 RECEIVING YARDS – Even when the Bears couldn’t throw the ball with much success, Robinson was still a consistent threat, and he has surpassed 70 receiving yards seven times, including three of the past four games.
Ezekiel Elliott UNDER 80.5 RUSHING YARDS – The Bears are one of three teams to allow fewer than 100 rushing yards per game while also allowing less than four yards per carry. Zeke has five 100-yard games this season, so the potential is always there for him to go big, but he’s been held under 80 rushing yards in three of the past four games.
RAPID FIRE
Allen Robinson -0.5 receiving yards vs. Amari Cooper – As noted above, Cooper has been so much more productive at home vs. on the road that Robinson’s consistency makes him the play in the head-to-head battle between top wide receivers.
Ezekiel Elliott -22.5 rushing yards vs. David Montgomery – Maybe this seems like hedging on the Elliott under play but Montgomery has been held under 60 rushing yards seven times and that low floor leaves the door open for Elliott to get the better side of this one.
Anthony Miller +8.5 receiving yards vs. Michael Gallup – This would have been a lock for Gallup not so long ago but Miller is finally hitting his stride for the Bears, averaging 90.3 receiving yards per game in the past three contests. Gallup has been a much more consistent part of the Cowboys offense all season and is putting up 79.6 receiving yards per game, so this is more about catching Miller on the rise more than evaluating their respective bodies of work for this season.
