12 key numbers to know as the Chicago Bears prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8

After a resounding 33-14 blowout of the New England Patriots on Monday night, the Chicago Bears head back on the road to face the 5-2 Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.

It will be a daunting task to pull off back-to-back upsets as big road underdogs. But the Bears should see Sunday’s game as a golden opportunity to inject surprising relevance back into their season, particularly with six of their final nine games at home. (Can you say, “In the hunt”?)

In the lead-up to Sunday’s game, here are 12 eye-catching facts and figures.

Rushing yards per game by the Bears through seven games, best in the NFL. The New York Giants rank second at 173.4, while the Cleveland Browns lead the AFC at 163.6. The Bears rushed for 243 yards against the Patriots, the third time this season they have topped 200.

Rushing yards by the 1984 Bears, a single-season franchise record. Walter Payton led the way with 1,684 yards, the second-highest total of his career. This year’s Bears are on pace to rush for 2,896 yards through 16 games (the length of the 1984 season) and a franchise-record 3,077 for the 17-game season.

Touchdowns and interceptions recorded by the Bears on Monday. (The defense also had a fumble recovery late in the first half.) The last time the Bears scored at least three touchdowns with three interceptions in the same game was during a 31-15 defeat of Washington in Week 3 of 2019. Over the last 10 seasons, the Bears have had at least three touchdowns and at least three takeaways 19 times, including five games during the 2018 NFC North championship season.

Second-half points allowed by the Bears defense in their three victories. They pitched a 13-0 shutout after halftime Monday. Through seven games, the Bears have allowed 35 second-half points and just two touchdowns.

Sacks by the Cowboys this season, most in the NFL. Linebacker Micah Parsons is tied for the NFC lead with seven sacks, and defensive end Dorance Armstrong is tied for fifth in the NFL with six.

Sacks allowed by the Bears this season, most in the NFL. Justin Fields was sacked four times by the Patriots and has been sacked 63 times in his first two seasons.

Designed runs by Fields in Monday’s victory. Fields turned those 10 attempts into 56 yards and a touchdown with a combination of zone-read runs, draws, sneaks, sweeps and fake jet-sweep keepers. His total against the Patriots, including scrambles: 14 rushes for 82 yards and a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Bears players with at least one run longer than 20 yards this season. Running back Khalil Herbert owns the offense’s longest play from scrimmage, a 63-yard run against the Washington Commanders. Herbert has three runs of at least 20 yards. Fields also has three such runs, including a 39-yard scramble against the Commanders. Running back David Montgomery and wide receivers Dante Pettis and Equanimeous St. Brown each have one run of at least 20 yards.

Career interceptions by Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs in 35 games since entering the league as a second-round pick out of Alabama in 2020. The only player in NFL history to record more interceptions in his first 35 games was Everson Walls of the Cowboys. Diggs’ haul this season includes interceptions off Daniel Jones, Carson Wentz and Jared Goff. He also ranks second in the NFL with 11 pass breakups.

Receptions of at least 15 yards by Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb. Only the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill has more with 18. Lamb ranks 14th in the NFL in receptions (37) and receiving yards (479) and has scored two touchdowns.

NFL kickers with at least five field-goal attempts who have yet to miss this season. That includes the Bears’ Cairo Santos, who is 11 of 11 and 4 of 4 from 50 yards or longer. He made all four of his tries Monday plus three extra points to earn NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The others are Daniel Carlson of the Las Vegas Raiders (16 field goals), Matt Prater of the Arizona Cardinals (six) and Michael Badgley of the Detroit Lions (six). Prater has missed the last three games with a hip injury. Badgley, meanwhile. made four of his field goals with the Bears in Week 4 against the Giants while filling in for Santos because of a family emergency.

Average punt return in yards by Cowboys receiver KaVontae Turpin, who ranks third in the NFL behind Avery Williams of the Atlanta Falcons (20.6) and Devin Duvernay of the Baltimore Ravens (17.4). Turpin had a 52-yard return, his longest of the season, Sunday against the Lions. He also ranks third in the NFL in kickoff return average (24.6) among players with at least five returns.