Defense was optional for both the Cowboys and the Bears last week, setting up a potential shootout in the Cowboys vs. Bears game on Sunday afternoon.
Chicago gave up 52 points in a blowout loss to the Lions to fall to 0-2 for the season. Despite giving up 37 points to the Giants, the Dallas Cowboys won in overtime behind kicker Brandon Aubrey to level their season record at 1-1.
The Cowboys vs. Bears will face off in Week 3 at 4:25 p.m. ET in Chicago in a potential high-scoring affair. We'll break down our Cowboys vs. Bears prediction and highlight three player picks for PrizePicks, including projections to target for Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb and Bears RB D’Andre Swift.
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Cowboys vs. Bears Prediction, Preview for Week 3
The Cowboys and Bears both missed out on the playoffs last in 2024, finishing with a combined 12 wins in disappointing seasons — but they have revived hope in 2024. The Bears were only 1-7 on the road, but they were 4-5 at home. The road was no problem for the Cowboys, who went 5-3 away from Dallas.
The Cowboys and Bears are led by two much different QBs; Bears QB and 2024 first-overall pick Caleb Williams is just settling into the league with new head coach Ben Johnson, while Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is in his tenth season.
Dallas Cowboys Preview
After throwing for just 188 yards against the Eagles in Week 1, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott compiled 361 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT against the Giants in a Week 2 win. He attempted a whopping 52 passes, completing 38 of them.
It has been an accurate start to the season for Dak, completing 68.6% of his passes, higher than his career average. However, Prescott's brutal bad pass rate of 8.1%, per Rotowire, ranks in the 98th percentile in the league.
The problem for the Cowboys thus far has been the defense— particularly the pass defense, which is still missing CB DaRon Bland (out), with CB Trevon Diggs questionable to play vs. Chicago.
The Cowboys rank 27th in overall success rate allowed, per rbsdm, and 31st in expected points added allowed per dropback. The Cowboys injured secondary combined with a middling pass rush will make it tough to get stops, as seen vs. the Giants last week, where the Giants punted just three times.
Chicago Bears Preview
In Week 1, the Bears gave up 27 points to the Vikings in the first career game for Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy. While the former first-round pick didn’t rack up a ton of passing yards, he did produce 2 pass TDs and added a rush TD.
The Bears were torched by the opposing quarterback again last week, giving up 334 yards and 5 TDs to Lions QB Jared Goff.
Cowboys vs. Bears Picks for NFL DFS & PrizePicks
Here are three of the top player picks for NFL DFS on PrizePicks for Cowboys vs. Bears, including WRs CeeDee Lamb and D.J. Moore.
Use this analysis to build your Lineups on PrizePicks NFL for Week 3, where you can win real money with your picks.
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Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb Projection: 82.5 Receiving Yards
- After racking up 13 targets in Week 1, Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb followed it up with 11 more targets in Week 2.
- Lamb has an average depth of target of 12.4 yards, which is on pace to be the highest mark of his career. Last season, his average depth of target was 7.7 yards.
- Dallas’ star wideout has accounted for at least 28.7% of the team’s targets in two of the last three seasons.
- Through two games, Lamb has received 28.2% of the Cowboys' targets this year.
- The Bears are expected to be without top cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (groin) and Kyler Gordon (hamstring) for this matchup.
Bears WR D.J. Moore Projection: 55.5 Receiving Yards
- Bears WR D.J. Moore is off to a quiet start with 8 receptions for 114 yards through two games, as second-year WR Rome Odunze leads the team with 20 targets and 255 air yards vs. Moore's 132.
- Moore's target share is only 16.4%, which is down from 26.7% last season. In 2023, his target share was 28.8%.
- While his targets are down, the former first-round pick has an average depth of target of 12.1 yards.
- Moore has averaged 12.4 yards per reception in all but one season of his career.
- The Cowboys are expected to be without CB DaRon Bland (foot), who is currently labeled as week-to-week.
- Moore should see be matched up with an injured CB Trevon Diggs (knee) or backup CBs.
Bears RB D’Andre Swift Projection: 2.5 Receptions
- Bears RB D'Andre Swift has received at least 49 targets in every season of his career.
- In all but one of them, he posted at least 42 receptions.
- Swift finished with exactly 3 receptions in both games this season.
- Last season, Swift posted at least 3 receptions in five of his nine home games. In three of those games, he finished with at least 4 receptions.
- New Bears head coach Ben Johnson ran a Lions offense last season that saw RB Jahmyr Gibbs finish with 52 receptions on 63 targets.
- The Cowboys have allowed 11 receptions to running backs through two games.
- Swift played 81% of the snaps in Week 1, but dipped to just 57% in Week 2, as Kyle Monangai earned additional reps (41% snap share).
Make Cowboys vs. Bears Picks on PrizePicks
The Bears will try to avoid an 0-3 start under new head coach Ben Johnson when they host the Cowboys in Week 3. Both teams are dealing with key injuries to their secondary, which could lead to a pass-forward game.
WRs Lamb and Moore will be the keys to the passing game, while Swift has the potential to be active catching passes out of the backfield
A loaded NFL Week 3 schedule creates plenty of spots to make your NFL prediction on PrizePicks.
Just pick More or Less on at least two NFL player stat projections for Week 3 to build your Lineup on PrizePicks.
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