Making their final preparations before closing out Week 14 of the NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears know plenty will be on the line when they meet for a Monday night showdown at Soldier Field in the Windy City. Coming off consecutive victories, while winning three of their last four, the Cowboys (7-5) hope to keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East division. After watching Philly get past the Detroit Lions to move atop the division at 8-5 overall, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones understands that the pressure is undoubtedly at a high level in the month of December but notes that back-to-back tight games have helped his team get ready for a possible postseason berth.
"I don't know how you can get any better practice with a lot on the line than to have a game like that," Jones said after his Cowboys defeated the New York Giants 24-21 and Oakland Raiders 31-24. "I think that's something our team can build on that's what you hope to have happen with three or four positive endings to maybe get ready to have a big year. We've always known that what they remember is what you do in December. We need to change that. That was our goal this year. And we've got a chance to do something about it this year."
Hoping to end recent December struggles with a needed win over the Chicago Bears, the Cowboys will look to utilize the strength of quarterback Tony Romo's passing game while balancing out their attack with the ground game of DeMarco Murray. Rushing for nearly five yards per carry this season, Murray continues to get better as the weeks move along and he will certainly have an opportunity to shine against a Bears defense that ranks 32nd overall in opponent rushing yards, with Chicago allowing over 150 yards per game to the opposition.
Dropping two-straight contests to fall to 6-6 overall, head coach Marc Trestman understands his Chicago team is still alive in the division since the first place Lions (7-6) fell Sunday afternoon in snowy Philadelphia. The offensive-minded coach said getting back on track -- even without injured quarterback Jay Cutler -- will be the key to staying in the divisional race and it starts with a win at home against Dallas.
"There's a whole lot of football to be played. We show signs of having enough to finish, of playing offensively well enough to finish, of doing things we need to get done," Trestman said. "But we haven't done it on a consistent basis over the last month. We've got to start on Monday night and do that. That was the message, let's worry about what we can control and that's being at our best on Monday night against the Cowboys."
Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys: DATE, TIME & TV INFO
DATE: Monday, December 9
TIME: 8:25pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: ESPN
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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