At midfield of Texas Stadium, Thomas Jones gripped the shaved head of his little brother, Julius, and embraced the star of Thursday’s 21-7 Cowboys victory over the Bears.
Thomas then smiled through gritted teeth, Julius flashed a toothy grin, and the cameras clicked for the family photo album. The holiday was anything but picture-perfect for the Bears.
“We’re playing pretty terrible right now,” defensive end Alex Brown said. “It was tough out there.”
The small but vocal group of Bears fans in the crowd of 64,026 and a holiday TV audience can attest that it was just as hard to watch. Even more than the gaudy bright orange jerseys they wore, the Bears’ offense made fans want to cover their eyes.
The unit failed to produce a touchdown for the second time in three weeks and gained only 140 yards–the fourth game under 200 yards. “You have to be able to complete a couple passes, and we haven’t been able to do that lately,” said Bears coach Lovie Smith, his Texas homecoming ruined.
Bears starting quarterback Craig Krenzel was on the verge of being replaced by Jonathan Quinn before spraining his ankle early in the second quarter. Krenzel called it a high ankle sprain and left the locker room using a walking boot and crutches.
Quinn struggled in completing 10 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions for a rating of 19.2.
Smith left open the possibility that No. 3 Chad Hutchinson would get a look in nine days against Minnesota. “We’re looking at everyone,” Smith said. “Who gives us the best chance?”
Jones cut up a Bears defense that came in believing it was better than it showed. “If you’re looking at the game and thinking we’re regressing is the reason we’re losing, you’re not watching the same game I am,” defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said.
It bugged Ogunleye and the Bears because they knew that had they stopped the run better, the Cowboys did not look capable of beating them through the air. Coach Bill Parcells benched Henson, making his first NFL start, and turned to veteran Vinny Testaverde in the second half. Testaverde tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to fullback Darian Barnes to put the Cowboys ahead 14-7.
At least the defense kept the game respectable, again giving the Bears their best scoring potential.
With 5:57 left in the second quarter, Henson errantly threw off his back foot, and R.W. McQuarters easily plucked the ball out of the air and raced 45 yards down the sideline. It gave the Bears their NFL-high fifth touchdown on defense.
On another play, Testaverde floated a ball intended for wide receiver Terrance Copper, and McQuarters leaped to make his second interception. In a swing typifying the Bears of late, McQuarters fumbled it back to the Cowboys at the end of an exciting 45-yard return.
Smith named that play and Paul Edinger’s missed 48-yard field goal as two of the Bears’ biggest blown opportunities.
