The Bears didn’t just beat the Cowboys, on September 21, they steamrolled them. Final score: 31-14. Caleb Williams, fresh off two straight losses, came into Soldier Field and looked like a man on a mission. He picked apart the defense, ran the offense with confidence, and made it clear: Chicago came to play.

Dallas, on the other hand, looked flat. Week 2’s overtime win felt like a distant memory. This time, there was no drama, no late-game heroics. Just a team that got outplayed from start to finish.

So what went wrong? Let’s break down five key takeaways from this Week 3 gut-punch. Starting with the most obvious one.

1) Missing Micah, losing Lamb: Cowboys collapse in Chicago

Let’s be real: Sunday’s game felt like watching a different team. No fire. No bite. After the blockbuster trade that sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay, Dallas looked like a defense without its heart. That’s on Jerry Jones.

In his place, the Cowboys started rookie edge rusher Tyrus Martin. He has got hustle, sure, but he is no Parsons. Martin finished with just two tackles and zero pressures. The Bears’ O-line barely broke a sweat keeping him out of Caleb Williams’ way.

With the defense already missing its anchor, things got worse on offense.

CeeDee Lamb with 222 yards in first two games, went down with an ankle injury. He tried to return early in the second quarter but couldn’t push off and checked himself out.

At that point, Dallas had cut Chicago’s lead to 7-3. They tied it 14-14 midway through later in the second, but without Lamb, the offense lost its edge. No catches, no deep threat, and the Bears took control.

This Week 3 loss was a wake-up call.

2) Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams finally click together

This was the breakout game Bears fans were waiting for. Caleb Williams looked totally in control. He threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns, didn’t take a single sack, and didn’t turn the ball over once. Chicago’s offense had a clear plan, and Ben Johnson finally called a game that let his young QB take control and shine.

Meanwhile, Dallas struggled to keep up. Dak had solid yardage, 251 on 31 completions, but most of it was short stuff. He tossed two picks and only found the end zone once. Late in the third, the Cowboys tried Joe Milton III, hoping for a spark. Instead, he threw another interception and finished with just 41 yards.

For the first time this season, the Bears looked like a team with a real identity.

3) Bears’ defense tackled the Cowboys’ offense well

Chicago’s defense came ready, and Dallas didn’t. The Bears shut down the run game early, forced two picks, and kept Prescott out of rhythm all night. Every time the Cowboys got close to the red zone, something broke down. Missed blocks, bad throws, stalled drives. It was frustrating to watch.

The defense didn’t help either. No pressure, soft coverage, and zero answers for Chicago’s play-action. Caleb Williams had time to throw, and the Bears moved the ball like it was practice. Dallas couldn’t carry any momentum into the second half, and by the fourth quarter, it felt like the game was already over.

It was a rough day for the Cowboys. If they want to bounce back, the whole team needs a reset.

4) Bears WR department performing as a unit

Chicago didn’t just rely on DJ Moore this time. He had a quiet game, only 4 catches for 21 yards, but still found the end zone. The actual damage came from Luther Burden III. The rookie wideout burned Dallas for 101 yards on just 3 catches, including a deep touchdown that flipped the momentum early. The Bears’ receivers gave Caleb Williams options all over the field. It was smart, steady football. Meanwhile, Dallas struggled to cover and couldn’t get off the field on third down.

Chicago’s final touchdown came on a 19-play, 76-yard drive that chewed up nearly 10 minutes, capped by a 4-yard TD to DJ Moore.

5) Bears adapting plays to overcome rivals

Chicago’s receivers helped Caleb Williams all game long. They ran good routes, made tough catches, and gave him options on every drive. Dallas had trouble covering and couldn’t get off the field on third down.

Chicago also handled third downs better. They converted 8 out of 14. Dallas only managed 3 of 11. That makes it hard to build momentum. The Bears stretched the field too. They averaged 10.6 yards per pass. Dallas only got 5.9. Caleb kept things moving.

Tremaine Edmunds sealed the win with two fourth-quarter interceptions deep in Bears territory.

Ben Johnson had a good game plan. Chicago looked ready. Both teams are 1-2 now, but only one of them feels good about it.