Matt Eberflus returned to town only to be run out of town again.
The Cowboys defensive coordinator, who served as the Bears’ head coach from 2022 until being fired after 12 games last season, watched his former quarterback throw all over his defense. Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, passed for 298 yards and tied a career high with four touchdowns in arguably the best game of his career.
The Bears won easily, 31-14, for their first victory of the season. Both teams are 1-2.
Chicago gained 385 yards. Williams completed 19 of 28 passes and his touchdowns covered 35 yards to Rome Odunze, 65 yards to Luther Burden, 10 yards to Cole Kmet and 4 yards to DJ Moore. Burden caught three passes for 101 yards, Odunze three for 62 and running back D’Andre Swift three for 45.
Swift also ran for 33 yards on 13 carries.
The Cowboys gained 396 yards, with Dak Prescott going 31-of-40 for 251 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before Joe Milton replaced him late. Tremaine Edmunds had both interceptions of Prescott, with one coming on a George Pickens drop and the other on a fourth-down play into the end zone late.
Kevin Byard intercepted Milton with 52 seconds left.
Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had 76 yards on 10 carries but lost a fumble early in the game when Tyrique Stevenson pulled it out of Williams’ arm.
The Cowboys lost CeeDee Lamb on a running play in the first half as he injured his left ankle. It was only the second time in his career he finished a game without a reception. Cornerback Trevon Diggs left with a shoulder injury in the second half.
Caleb Williams has 275 passing yards, with the last 4 yards giving him his fourth touchdown pass. The Bears quarterback has thrown four touchdowns only once before, which came in a 35-16 win over the Jaguars in Week 6 last season.
The Bears’ most recent drive was 19 plays and 76 yards and used 9:54 of the third quarter.
Chicago leads 31-14 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Williams has completed 15 of 23 passes, with Luther Burden catching three for 101 yards and a touchdown. DJ Moore caught the most recent touchdown, with Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet also scoring.
The Bears have 351 yards.
With such a big lead, Williams might not get a chance to throw much more. His career high for passing yards is 340 in an overtime game against the Vikings last season.
On Sunday, Williams had more passing yards at halftime than he did in either of the first two games. He had three touchdown passes in the first two weeks combined.
Caleb Williams threw for 207 yards and 210 yards in the first two weeks, respectively, with three total touchdown passes. Against a depleted Cowboys secondary, missing DaRon Bland, and a pass rush without Micah Parsons, the Bears quarterback is having his best game of the season.
Williams completed 10 of 16 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
The Bears, who have 275 yards, lead the Cowboys 24-14 at halftime.
Rome Odunze scored the Bears’ first touchdown on a 35-yard reception, beating Trevon Diggs, who slipped. Diggs was questionable to play with a knee injury. On the Bears’ next possession, Luther Burden scored a 65-yard touchdown on a flea-flicker pass from Williams. The Bears’ final touchdown of the first half came on a 10-yard Williams pass to Cole Kmet with 25 seconds left.
Burden has two catches for 94 yards and Odunze two for 48.
The Cowboys have 200 yards, but a Javonte Williams fumble, which was forced by Tyrique Stevenson, was costly.
Dak Prescott is 16-of-19 for 115 yards, with a 2-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens and a 2-point conversion pass to Jalen Tolbert. Jake Ferguson has eight catches for 47 yards. Williams has rushed for 67 yards on nine carries.
CeeDee Lamb left in the first quarter with a left ankle injury. He returned for the first play of the second quarter before pulling himself out.
The Bears list rookie tight end Colston Loveland (hip) as questionable to return. Right tackle Darnell Wright went off with a right hand/wrist injury late in the first half, with Theo Benedet replacing him.
The last thing the Cowboys needed was to lose their biggest offensive weapon, but it appears they will play the rest of Sunday without CeeDee Lamb. They have to hope the injury doesn’t keep the wide receiver out longer.
With 8:39 left in the first quarter, Lamb lined up in the backfield and lost a yard on a play that didn’t count with offsetting penalties. Bears linebacker Noah Sewell inadvertently rolled over Lamb’s left ankle on the tackle.
Fox showed an up-close view of Lamb’s swollen ankle.
The team initially listed Lamb as questionable to return, and he did. For one play.
Lamb lined up outside on the first play of the second quarter and ran a route to the end zone before pulling up. He wagged his finger and shook his head no before signaling to the sideline for a substitution as he limped off.
Lamb had no stats before leaving, and he has made no move to return to the game.
George Pickens caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott with 7:57 remaining until halftime, and Jalen Tolbert caught the two-point conversion, tying the game 14-14.
UPDATE 6:15 P.M. ET: The Cowboys officially have ruled out Lamb for the second half.
Bears coach Ben Johnson is known for his trick plays. He did it again in the first quarter Sunday.
Only 11 seconds after a Cowboys’ field goal, which cut Chicago’s lead to 7-3, Johnson called a flea flicker. Caleb Williams handed the ball off to running back D’Andre Swift, who had an ally-oop-type flip back to Williams. Williams had to jump to catch the high throw but still had time to find Luther Burden.
Burden was running free and caught a 65-yard touchdown pass.
The Bears’ first touchdown went for 35 yards as Rome Odunze scored.
Chicago leads 14-3.
If that wasn’t bad enough for the Cowboys, receiver CeeDee Lamb injured his left ankle when linebacker Noah Sewell inadvertently rolled over it on a running play by Lamb that didn’t count because of offsetting penalties. Lamb returned for the first play of the second quarter but lasted only one play.
