Tonight's Cowboys-Bears TNF game could be one beautiful mess
Buckle up, football fans.
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When the NFL schedule-makers originally gave us this Cowboys-Bears Thursday Night Football game to kick off Week 14 they must have smiled, knowing what a treat this should be, especially so late into the season.
And boy is it a treat, but for far different reasons than those that must have gone into this decision last April when the schedules were finalized.
The Bears and Cowboys entered this season with high hopes. Mitch Trubisky came in getting some MVP talk. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys came in with the thoughts of being one of the favorites in the NFC.
Now, however, both teams are 6-6 and enter tonight’s game at Soldier Field with far more questions and concerns than any of us could have imagined back when the season kicked off.
This game tonight could be the type of laughable mess that will have everyone who doesn’t have a dog in this fight giggling in their living rooms for many different reasons.
First, “Jerry Jones Watch” is going to be a thing of beauty. The Cowboys have lost two straight games, including an ugly loss at home to the Bills on Thanksgiving. Every little thing that goes against the Cowboys tonight will have FOX Sports producers queuing up the camera that’s locked in on Jones’ suite. Great ready for some magical Jones reactions moments.
Second, Jason Garrett’s employment status has been the main topic of discussion in Dallas ever since he opted to kick a field goal against New England two weeks ago. Now he gets to go out on another nationally televised game and have all of his moves scrutinized at a maximum level. There will be an opportunity for him to screw up and if he does… Twitter will be on fire.
Third, Trubisky has another shot to win back some fans… or totally throw his career in Chicago away. What fun! The No. 2 pick for the 2018 NFL Draft has struggled mightily in his second season. However, he is coming off his best game of the season in last week’s win over the Detroit Lions on Turkey Day. But now the lights will be on the QB and if he slides back and has a woeful performance against the Cowboys the boo birds are going to be reigning down inside Soldier Field.
Fourth, if the Cowboys lose the NFC East becomes even more of a dumpster fire. They’re currently in first with a 6-6 record, followed by the Eagles, losers of three straight, at 5-7. This once storied division is a joke right now and that joke could get even more laughs if the Cowboys lose this game or, better yet, are blown out of it.
Fifth, both teams are 6-6 and while the Bears’ playoff hopes are very slim, this game is a must-win for both teams. The Cowboys do get some help being in the NFC East but still, a third straight loss would be crushing for a club that looked really darn good in the first few weeks of the season. The Bears, who expected to contend this year, just want to keep things still slightly alive. So one of these teams is gonna be really sad at the final whistle.
Kick back and enjoy the show. It should be a fun one.
Wednesday’s big winners: P.K. Subban and Lindsey Vonn.
My colleague and friend, Mike Sykes, said it best when he wrote: “Nothing says “I love you” quite like allowing your fiancee to fire off hockey pucks at you.” Subban and Vonn, who are happily engaged, did just that in Bryant Park in NYC. What a date night for these two. Vonn has some moves, too.
Quick hits: Angry USC fans… Fantasy football advice… Tiger trolls Thomas… And more!
– USC fans were IRATE when they found out Clay Helton would be staying on as the head football coach next season.
– Are you in your fantasy football playoffs? Check out Charles Curtis’ studs, duds, and sleepers for a big Week 14.
– Tiger Woods had fun trolling Justin Thomas during their first round in the Bahamas on Wednesday.
– Clemson’s Dabo Swinney had a great take on naps.
– Nick Schwartz gets you ready for the XFL by ranking each team’s home and away uniforms.
(Follow me on Twitter at @anezbitt. It might change your life. Just don’t tell me about your fantasy team.)