Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott Lead Cowboys To Easy, 31-17 Win Over Bears

Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott seemed more like veterans than rookies when leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 31-17 home victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.

Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott Lead Cowboys To Easy, 31-17 Win Over Bears

The Cowboys (2-1) dominated possession time (35:00-25:00) and scored on three drives five-plus minutes long.

With his second consecutive win, Prescott doubled the number of victories Dallas had in 14 games without injured quarterback Tony Romo over three seasons before the fourth-round pick began his pro career. Romo is expected to miss approximately one more month after breaking a bone in his back during the preseason.

Prescott finished 19 of 24 for 248 yards in the Cowboy’s first home victory since last year’s opener. His first TD pass was a 17-yarder to Dez Bryant for a 31-10 lead in the fourth quarter, and he is now 99 throws without an interception to began his career. Eagles rookie Carson Wentz is the only one ahead of him in that category with 102, and those are the two highest career-opening totals in NFL history.

Elliott, meanwhile, had his first 100-yard game for Dallas, recording 140 yards on 30 carries and a 14-yard run when he jumped over safety Chris Prosinski. 

Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer struggled to push his offense early, with Jay Cutler sidelined by a sprained right thumb, as Chicago trailed 24-3 at halftime and fell to 0-3 for the second time in two seasons under coach John Fox. 

Hoyer finished 30 of 49 for 317 yards– most of that with the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter– and threw for two TDs to Zach Miller. 

Dallas had two inactive players for Sunday’s game, nonetheless. Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith missed only the second game of his six-year career after his back tightened up during the week. Smith ended a string of 55 straight starts. His only other absence came in November 2012 when an ankle sprain kept him on the sidelines.

Cornerback Orlando Scandrick, meanwhile, has recently battled a pair of hamstring strains, and was limited in practice all week. Chaz Green replaced Smith at left tackle Sunday, while rookie Anthony Brown started at corner to fill in for Scandrick.

Since the Bears fell behind, they struggled with their running game. Chicago finished with just 15 carries for 73 yards, and lost leading running back Jeremy Langford to an ankle injury in the second half.

Bears rookie wideout Kevin White, in the third game of his first pro season, caught six passes for 62 yards, including an acrobatic sideline catch late in the fourth quarter.

Fifth-year Cowboys wideout Cole Beasley had his third consecutive 65-yard-plus receiving game of the season, and established himself as Prescott’s favorite target.

The Cowboys visit the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, while the Bears will host the Detroit Lions, also on Sunday.

ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 25: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys throws during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears at AT&T Stadium on September 25, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)