(Too) Bold Predictions aims to take nuanced, well-researched information and use it to make wildly improbable predictions. Analysis!
Rob Schaefer:
1. For the second week in a row, Anthony Miller will lead Bears skill position players in yards:
Miller is coming off the best game of his season on Thanksgiving against Detroit — nine catches, 140 yards and a couple crucial late-game snags — a performance both refreshing and a culmination of recent strong play. In each of the Bears’ last three games, Miller has garnered nine or more targets (and six or more receptions), averaging 90.3 yards per contest.
Dallas’ defense is solid from the front end to the back — they’ll put pressure on Mitch Trubisky all night, and they allow the eighth-least passing yards per game in the league. But Cole Beasley absolutely picked on Cowboys slot corner Jourdan Lewis last week en route to a six catch, 110-yard performance, his best game of the season. Beasley showed that, if given enough time to let plays develop, holes have a propensity to open in the middle of this Cowboys defense. Look out for Miller to take advantage of that and continue to build on the longest consistent stretch of his career so far.
2. Each kicker will miss an extra point
Is this even bold enough for this post? Somehow, I’m not 100 percent sure. Entering the night, Eddy Pineiro (75%) and Brett Maher (67.9%) rank 24th and 32nd in the NFL in field goal percentage, respectively, and Pineiro has missed two XPs this season already.
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Especially strong winds aren't expected to be howling at Soldier Field, but in a (likely) grind-it-out game with a smattering of high-leverage situations throughout, it wouldn’t be surprising to see two of the league’s more inconsistent kickers yank a gimme at least once. For what it’s worth, Maher is 33-for-33 on extra points so far this season, but he did miss two kicks (one blocked) last week in his home dome.
1. David Montgomery has 150 all-purpose yards
The Cowboys' pass rush is no joke, but they've been susceptible against the run over the second half of the season. Dallas will certainly have plans for Allen Robinson, and Anthony Miller's last month probably has earned him some more attention on Thursday night. Montgomery hasn't had a huge impact in the pass game so far, and his best game as a receiver was when he had three catches for 36 yards in a loss to the Eagles (although an argument could be made for Thanksgiving, too). Leighton Vander Esch isn't going to play, which is objectively an advantage for Montgomery. The rookie running back has been impressive at points throughout the season, but has yet to have a breakout-type game on a national stage. That changes Thursday night.
2. Eddy Piñeiro regains the trust of Chicago and Mayor Lori Lightfoot and your college friend who's a huge Bears' fan. Your dad remains skeptical.
Piñeiro has quietly bounced back well since the debacle in Los Angeles. Over the last two games he's 3-3 in field goals and 4-5 on extra points. Did you know he's still perfect (2-2) from 50+ yards this season? I did not know that! The Bears offense is moving the ball better of late, but red zone efficiency has still been an issue. Piñeiro's going to get his chances, and an unseasonably warm night in Chicago, on national TV, is about as good a hand as a Bears' kicker looking for some redemption in December can be dealt. Eddy P has a big night, and Halas Hall finally replenishes their supply of media room Snickers bars once again.