Dallas @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2016 ) Chicago 17, Dallas 31

The Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys may own identical records -- each club sitting at .500 -- but their postseason hopes could not be more different entering the final quarter of the season. While Dallas remains in control of its playoff destiny, the Bears are two games out of the sixth and final spot entering Thursday's matchup versus the visiting Cowboys.

Chicago kept its postseason hopes alive with consecutive narrow victories over a pair of also-rans, outlasting the New York Giants (19-14) before rallying for a 24-20 win at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. “Is it perfect? No. Can we be better? Yes," coach Matt Nagy said. "We know we have our hands full with the coming games. But as long as we just home in on the Dallas Cowboys at home, who knows?” Dallas remains atop the NFC East despite scoring only 24 points in dropping back-to-back games to New England and Buffalo, surrendering 23 unanswered points to the Bills in a 26-15 defeat on Thanksgiving. "We know the type of team that we have," Cowboys offensive tackle La’el Collins said. "Just knowing when everybody’s clicking, we’re focused and locked in, if we don’t beat ourselves, nobody can beat us. That’s just the mindset.”

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, FOX/NFL Network. LINE: Cowboys -3. O/U: 43

ABOUT THE COWBOYS (6-6): Dallas has the No. 1 offense at 432.8 yards per game and Dak Prescott has passed for an NFL-best 3,788 yards, but he could not get his team in the end zone at New England and repeatedly came up empty after scoring on the opening drive versus Buffalo. Ezekiel Elliott, who is 10 yards shy of reaching 1,000 for the season, has rushed for only one touchdown in his last five games following a stretch of running for a score in four straight. Amari Cooper also has been held out of the end zone in three straight but did have eight catches for 85 yards last week. The Cowboys are stout against the pass, yielded 215.2 yards per game.

ABOUT THE BEARS (6-6): Mitchell Trubisky's inability to get the offense untracked has been an ongoing saga in the Windy City, but he threw for a season-high 338 yards to go with three scores and directed a winning 90-yard touchdown drive at Detroit. Anthony Miller had a breakout game with a career-high nine catches for 140 yards while fellow wideout Allen Robinson added eight receptions for 86 yards and a score. Rookie David Montgomery had 75 yards rushing on only 16 carries after he was limited to 40 yards or fewer in five of his previous seven contests. Khalil Mack and Chicago's defense rank seventh overall (319.7 yards) and against the run (97.5).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Prescott has thrown for at least two TD passes in six straight versus NFC North opponents.

2. Bears LB Roquan Smith became the third player to record at least 15 tackles and a pair of sacks last week.

3. Cowboys backup RB Tony Pollard did not practice Tuesday due to an ankle injury.

PREDICTION: Cowboys 23, Bears 20