If it were not for two late-game calls last Sunday, this week’s contest between the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears would probably have an entirely different feel.
The Cowboys seek to avoid starting 0-2 for the first time in nine years when they host their 51st home opener Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Bears at Cowboys Stadium.
Dallas comes in having thought they won the game with the Washington Redskins last Sunday after Tony Romo threw an apparent 11-yard TD pass to Roy Williams on the game’s final play. However, it was called back because right tackle Alex Barron was called for his fourth holding call (third accepted) of the game and the Redskins prevailed 13-7.
Chicago beat the Detroit Lions 19-14 last week, but only after an apparent 25-yard scoring pass from Shaun Hill to Calvin Johnson with 25 seconds remaining was ruled incomplete by the officials and upheld by the replay booth. Johnson appeared to have possession with both feet on the ground, but the ball popped loose when he hit the ground while holding it with one hand.
The Cowboys racked up 388 yards of offense, but 12 penalties and an inability to cash in on drives hurt. And a stupid swing pass 70 yards away from the end zone that was fumbled by Tashard Choice and run in for a TD by DeAngelo Hall on the final play of the first half cost Dallas the game.
Because the offensive line couldn’t protect its quarterback, Romo went to the short game and ended up with nine completions of two yards or less. He was 31-of-47 for 282 yards with one TD and no interceptions.
The Cowboys’ longest pass play was 30 yards, made possible only by a blown coverage, and their longest run was 12. Detroit gained just 21 yards on 20 carries against the Bears, led by linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.
Sack specialist Julius Peppers, who knocked Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford out of last week’s game with a separated shoulder, and the rest of Chicago’s pass rush will be looking to get after Romo again this week. Fortunately for the Cowboys, right tackle Marc Colombo and left guard Kyle Kosier are set to return from knee injuries.
The Bears got 372 yards passing from Jay Cutler – the second-highest total of his career and the fourth most this decade on opening day – and 201 yards of total offense from Matt Forte against the Lions.
The tandem hooked up for an 89-yard TD – the longest in Bears history for a running back - on a swing pass in the second quarter and a go-ahead 29-yarder down the left sideline with 6:14 to play in the game.
Forte caught seven balls for 151 yards and added another 50 on 17 carries for the second-most yards from scrimmage in franchise history.
Cutler, who led the NFL with 26 interceptions last season in his first with Chicago, threw one pick among four Bears turnovers and was sacked four times by a Lions team that was very poor in 2009. Cutler was sacked 10 times during the preseason.
Cutler will have to move the club against a Dallas defense that was ranked second in points allowed last season and held Washington to just two field goals.
Despite a pretty good pass rush, the Cowboys recorded just one sack by DeMarcus Ware, who left the game late in the fourth quarter because of a neck injury but is expected to play Sunday.
Dallas is 34-15-1 in home openers and has won three of the last four games against Chicago.