The Dallas Cowboys are reeling after a humiliating 31-14 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 3, a game that exposed cracks in every facet of America’s Team. From questionable play-calling to defensive collapses and offensive miscues, the Cowboys’ performance in Chicago was a masterclass in self-destruction. With star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb limping off the field and fans venting their fury, the 1-2 Cowboys are now staring down a potential 1-3 start as they prepare to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 4. Here’s why Dallas is under fire after their Windy City disaster on September 21, 2025.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/FBInjuryDoc/status/1969868007586529292
The Cowboys’ decision to use CeeDee Lamb as a running back has ignited a firestorm of criticism, especially after the star wideout suffered an ankle injury during a rushing attempt. Lamb’s leg got caught under a Bears defender, forcing him out of the game early. He briefly returned for one play in the second quarter but was visibly hobbled, unable to run a proper route, and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
Former Cowboys wide receiver Jesse Holley didn’t hold back, blasting the team’s coaching staff on X: “On The CeeDee Lamb Injury… I Could See If You Needed A Spark On Offense Or It’s Been Some Time Since CeeDee Got The Ball But With The Way #33 (Javonte Williams) Has Been Running The Rock. There Seriously Was NO REASON TO BE GIVING CEEDEE A RUNNING BACK HANDOFF!!!! (DON’T) COMPLICATE GREATNESS🤦🏾♂️.”
Fans echoed Holley’s frustration, pointing to the success of starting running back Javonte Williams, who has been a revelation in his first season with Dallas. Averaging 5-6 yards per carry, Williams has given the Cowboys a reliable ground game, making the gadget play with Lamb all the more perplexing. “Javonte Williams averaging at least 5-6 per carry and they decide to put CeeDee at RB, make it make sense🤷🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️,” one fan fumed on X. Another simply stated, “Should have never happened.”
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s decision to deploy Lamb in the backfield has left fans and analysts questioning the team’s strategy. With Lamb’s status uncertain, it’s unlikely we’ll see the star receiver taking handoffs again anytime soon.
The Cowboys’ defense, expected to be a strength, was anything but in Chicago. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, facing his former team, watched helplessly as the Bears offense carved up Dallas for 31 points, averaging a staggering 6.8 yards per play. Chicago’s efficiency on third downs was particularly brutal, converting 8 of 13 attempts to keep drives alive and the Cowboys’ defense on its heels.
The defensive meltdown was a far cry from the unit’s usual swagger, leaving fans and analysts stunned at the lack of resistance. With former Cowboy Micah Parsons now suiting up for the Green Bay Packers, Dallas’s defense will need to regroup quickly to avoid another embarrassment in Week 4.
The offense was no better, with quarterback Dak Prescott throwing two costly interceptions that killed any chance of a comeback. As the game slipped out of reach, backup Joe Milton was inserted to protect Prescott from injury, but the rookie only added to the misery with a third interception. The trio of turnovers underscored a sloppy performance that left the Cowboys offense sputtering against a Bears defense that capitalized on every mistake.
At 1-2, the Cowboys are teetering on the edge of a disastrous start. The loss to Chicago highlighted a team struggling with injuries, questionable coaching decisions, and a lack of execution on both sides of the ball. With a daunting matchup against the Green Bay Packers looming in Week 4, Dallas faces a critical moment. A loss could drop them to 1-3, and with Micah Parsons eager to haunt his former team, the Cowboys’ margin for error is razor-thin.
The fallout from this blowout has fans calling for answers, from the head-scratching use of CeeDee Lamb to the defense’s inability to stop Chicago’s attack. If Dallas hopes to salvage their season, they’ll need to address these issues fast—or risk watching their playoff hopes fade before October.