The Chicago Bears are coming into Thursday's game with the Cowboys as a desperate team and names like Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte have the chance to step up for fantasy football owners and those are potential start options for Jay Cutler in the game, as the Bears need to win out for any chance to stay in the mix.
Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall are coming into the week a little banged up along with Martellus Bennett, but all are expected to start on Thursday night. According to ESPN.com, Jeffery is listed as questionable for the game on Thursday night, but so far all expectations is that he will play. Jeffery has been dealing with the injury for a few weeks and he was able to practice on a limited basis this week and that puts him on track to play on Thursday.
Jeffery comes in with 67 catches for 854 yards this season and seven touchdowns and while he is not on pace to do what he did last season, he has been very good once again. Jeffery has been playing well over the last stretch of games and while he is dealing with a hammy, the NFL Network reports that he will play. Over the past three games Jeffery has 23 catches and four touchdowns and that has been big for the Bears over the past few weeks.
Marshall has been dealing with an ankle injury, but he also set to play Thursday. Marshall has made 58 catches this season for 660 yards and eight touchdowns this year. The Bears come into the game at third in the NFC north and they are now 5-7 and in tough position after losing to the Lions on Thanksgiving. The defense is giving up tons of yards and points, but the team is still technically alive, but they will need a strong finish to sniff the playoffs. The NFC picture is tight and the Bears are nearly out of it, but a win against the Cowboys would be huge.
The Cowboys are in the wild card chase and they are alive in the NFC East chase, but right now this game could be the one that dictates how the team finishes the season. The Cowboys come in after a loss to the Eagles and now the bears are set for a long break after this game, as they will play on Monday night football against the Saints next. The Beats are ranked 30th in passing yards allowed per game and they gave up nearly 400 to Matthew Stafford last Thursday.
The Bears finish the season with four tough games, but they have another shot at the Lions and they could help bring down the Cowboys, who are one of the teams in front of them. The team has to hope for a bit of a collapse from the Seahawks and the Niners, but if they win out they have the chance to stay in the mix. The Bears are ranked 14th in passing yards per game this season and they need both Jeffery and Marshall to step up down the stretch.