Shootout at the Chicago Corral: Windy City Gridiron picks Bears-Cowboys

It’s funny what beating a few teams you’re supposed to beat can do to the psyche and perception of a team. After winning three of four games against the Lions (twice) and Giants, the Bears technically remain in the playoff hunt. Anything can happen. However, at .500 and with a metric ton of help needed from other competitors to falter down the stretch, their aspirations for meaningful January football can be characterized as naive at best.

But Akiem Hicks is suddenly healthy and prepared to join a top-10 defense. Mitchell Trubisky, after weeks of ineptitude, looks like a competent quarterback for the time being. And the Bears, despite the firestorm of controversy that has engulfed most of a disappointing 2019 season, are still alive. They will remain alive and well and relevant at least until (or if) that darned reality of math comes crashing in.

The next month will see the Bears face four teams currently in the playoff picture. Each squad has a current top-10 quarterback, in terms of ANY/A, at the helm. The Bears could win six straight to cap their year, but they would have to play spectacular, mistake-free football to do so. Any one defeat wouldn’t make their demise official, but it would manifest a few more nails in the coffin as someone begins writing their obituary in earnest.

It’s a crazy thought. It’s not rational in the least. If anything, having signature villain Aaron Rodgers driving the final dagger in the Bears’ heart is a far more realistic vision. Seeing Pat Mahomes play football judge, jury, and executioner in front of a national audience is also a distinct and strong possibility.

And yet, crazier things have happened before.

All the Bears have to do is stave off the crushing weight of reality and ignore the odds for as long as possible. When you keep winning, naivety becomes genuine belief.

Windy City Gridiron’s staff picks for Bears-Cowboys.

Robert Zeglinski: Cowboys 20, Bears 16

The Bears are an afterthought leading a pack of afterthoughts. I see no reason to trust them after beating the worst teams in their conference.

Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: Cowboys 17, Bears 13

Until Trubisky shows he can move the ball against a decent pass defense in 2019, I’ll have to pick against the Bears’ offense.

Sam Householder: Cowboys 22, Bears 16

This game is hard to get a read on, but I have to go with the visitors. Don’t let the weather fool you: the Cowboys are 7-5 in their last 12 games with a temperature below 40, and are 1-1 in their last two in Chicago in December.

Erik Duerrwaechter: Bears 27, Cowboys 17

Mitchell Trubisky has played his best ball in the final four games of each year of his career. Plus, the Cowboys look like a hot mess.

Robert Schmitz: Cowboys 17, Bears 13

I don’t expect the Cowboys to score much (they’ve had their own struggles against stout defenses), but I can’t trust the Chicago offense against Rod Marinelli’s defense.

Bill Zimmerman: Bears 44, Cowboys 0

The only season the Bears won the Super Bowl, they crushed the Cowboys. Clearly the Bears are winning the Super Bowl this year, so this makes too much sense.

Ken Mitchell: Bears 24, Cowboys 21

The Bears open as three-point underdogs, and I’m definitely taking the points on this one. Dallas has lost two in a row, albeit to good teams. A good game to watch.

Robert appreciates the Cowboys’ perpetual monument to incompetence, if only to draw away from the dark void the Bears always create.

WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like us on Facebook.