Bears at Cowboys
The Chicago Bears lost their starting quarterback in Monday night's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but don't expect to garner much sympathy from their next opponent. Journeyman Brian Hoyer will step in for the injured Jay Cutler for the Bears, who attempt to avoid an 0-3 start when they visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
With starter Tony Romo sidelined by a back injury, the Cowboys were forced to start the season with rookie Dak Prescott, who earned his first victory last week by guiding a late touchdown drive in a 27-23 win at Washington. "He exudes confidence," Dallas owner Jerry Jones said about Prescott, a fourth-round draft pick out of Mississippi State. "He's got a great supporting cast, but he's using it." Hoyer is with his fifth NFL team but has ample experience in pressure situations, starting nine games for Houston last season and 13 games for Cleveland in 2014. "Whether you're the starter or the backup or the third guy, you prepare every week like you're the starter," Hoyer said. "Just prepare like you're going to play and take it one day at a time and come Sunday, we'll see what happens."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Cowboys -7. O/U: 44.5
ABOUT THE BEARS (0-2): Chicago not only flat-lined in the 29-14 home loss to the Eagles on Monday night, but came away with a slew of injuries on both sides of the ball. In addition to Cutler (thumb), leading wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (knee) did not practice Thursday while the defense is expected to be without nose tackle Eddie Goldman and linebackers Danny Trevathan and Lamarr Houston, who was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Hoyer has a career 15-11 record as a starter but could use a boost from the running game after Jeremy Langford was held to 28 yards on 11 carries Monday. Chicago ranks ninth overall in total defense despite allowing 52 points in two games.
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (1-1): Prescott drew rave reviews during the preseason and has not looked out of place while subbing for Romo, setting an NFL record for the most passes without an interception (75) in a player's first two games. Prescott threw for 292 yards and ran for a touchdown while finding a steady connection with start wideout Dez Bryant, who had seven receptions for 102 yards against the Redskins after opening the season with one catch for eight yards. Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown last week, but found himself on the bench during crunch time after fumbling. The Cowboys' defense has been vulnerable to the pass, giving up an average of 276.5 yards.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Bryant needs one touchdown to become the fourth player in franchise history to score 60.
2. Jeffery has a touchdown catch in his of his two matchups with the Cowboys.
3. Cowboys WR Cole Beasley, who scored twice in Dallas' 41-28 win over Chicago in 2014, has 13 catches in the first two contests.