When the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys kick off at Soldier Field on Thursday evening, it will officially mark the beginning of the fourth quarter of the 2019 NFL season.
Each sitting at 6-6, the Bears and Cowboys still eye a spot in the postseason, although the Cowboys’ road to the playoffs is much smoother than the Bears’. Nonetheless, neither team can afford a loss in December and will look to inch closer towards securing a playoff berth.
With injuries sidelining impactful players on both teams, this game will come down to a few key matchups. Here are three of the biggest:
1. OLB Khalil Mack vs. LT Tyron Smith
A (literal) battle of the heavyweights, Mack and Smith are perennial Pro Bowl players who will go head to head for a significant portion of the game. Statistically, Mack hasn’t reached his totals from 2018 and is in danger of missing out on double-digit sacks for the first time since his rookie season. But he has five forced fumbles and is still a game-changer when coming off the edge. He’ll line up on both ends of the line but will face a major test when lining up across from Smith.
Smith has only surrendered one sack this season, and the offensive line as a whole has given up 19 total, tied for third-best in the league, according to Football Outsiders. Getting to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will be paramount when it comes to winning this game.
2. RB David Montgomery vs. LB Jaylon Smith
In the win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, Bears coach Matt Nagy discovered good things happen when he involves rookie running back David Montgomery in the game plan. Now, however, the rookie faces stiffer competition with Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith patrolling the middle of the field.
Smith, in his fourth NFL season, is the captain of the Cowboys defense and will be tasked with defending Montgomery both in the running and passing games. Coming off a season-high 14 tackles in their loss against the Buffalo Bills last week, he’ll try to stop Montgomery, who in Week 13 had his best game since Week 8 with 75 yards on the ground and one touchdown. Utilizing the running game will go a long way in setting up opportunities in the passing game.
3. WR Amari Cooper vs. CB Kevin Toliver
The Bears may be tested in the secondary on Thursday night with starting cornerback Prince Amukamara battling a hamstring injury and officially doubtful against the Cowboys. Second-year cornerback Kevin Toliver would be the next man up and would start opposite All-Pro cornerback Kyle Fuller. His first assignment? Stopping Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper.
While Cooper moves around the field, he does line up on the left side 38% of the time, according to 670 The Score’s Joe Ostrowski. Toliver has played a total of three snaps on defense this season and gave up 12 completions on 18 targets last season. He will be tested by Cooper, who has feasted on NFC North teams this season. In three games against the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions, Cooper totaled 25 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns. With Toliver now in the mix, another banner day could be on the horizon.
