The Dallas Cowboys entered Week 3 with hopes that their defense, led by former Chicago Bears head coach and current defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, could hold up against Caleb Williams and the new-look Bears.
Instead, Dallas walked out of Soldier Field with a 31-14 loss, and a lesson Chicago already knows well: Eberflus is not the man to count on when it comes to leading a defense or a football team.
In his first game back in Chicago since being fired after the 2024 season, Eberflus was thoroughly outcoached by his successor, Ben Johnson. Williams torched his former coach’s predictable zone-heavy defense, throwing for 298 yards and four touchdowns while posting a career-best 142.6 passer rating. The Bears put up 385 total yards, won in situational football, and closed the game on a 17-0 run.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ defense collapsed in nearly every key moment. What the Bears showed on Sunday was a complete performance rooted in adaptability and toughness. What the Cowboys showed was the same old issue Chicago fans grew tired of under Eberflus: a coach who refuses to make meaningful adjustments.
Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson Expose Matt Eberflus’ Defense
GettyDallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
The story of the game was Williams’ dominance. He connected with rookie wideout Luther Burden III for a 65-yard flea-flicker touchdown that left Dallas defenders chasing shadows.
By halftime, Williams already racked up 239 yards and three scores, carving up the Cowboys for chunk plays while facing little pressure. Per PFF, he was kept clean on 75% of his first-half dropbacks.
This wasn’t just about a quarterback playing lights out; it was about how easily Johnson identified and exploited Eberflus’ defense. Chicago’s offense thrived on third down (57.1% conversion rate), scored touchdowns on two of three red zone trips, and executed a flawless two-minute drill before halftime.
The Bears even ran the ball 11 straight times at one point, with Williams capping it off with his fourth TD pass to DJ Moore. Eberflus’ defense simply had no answers.
As Jerry Jones bluntly admitted postgame, “Those big plays…will take it out of you.” And yet, under Eberflus, Dallas kept giving them up.
Chicago Knew Before Dallas Did
If this feels familiar, that’s because Bears fans have already lived through it. Eberflus’ time in Chicago was marked by the same stubborn schemes, lack of adaptability, and tendency for his defenses to fold in critical moments.
On the other hand, Johnson emphasized all week the importance of situational football, and his team delivered. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds was everywhere, piling up 15 tackles and intercepting Dak Prescott twice in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Tyqrique Stevenson forced a fumble on Dallas’ opening possession, setting the tone.
And when Williams handed Johnson the game ball after his first win as a head coach, it was clear Chicago had already moved on from the Flus era.
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