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          Micah Parsons, Dak Prescott, Tony Pollard have Cowboys rolling vs. Bears

          • Todd Archer, ESPN Staff WriterOct 30, 2022, 05:44 PM
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              Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010. You can follow him on Twitter at @toddarcher.
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          ARLINGTON, Texas -- In the first half on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys' offense carried the day to a 28-7 lead over the Chicago Bears. In the third quarter, the defense made sure to do its part.

          Micah Parsons' first career touchdown gave the Cowboys a 42-23 lead with 5:00 left in the third quarter.

          Parsons tracked down a David Montgomery fumble that was forced by Leighton Vander Esch. While Parsons was down, Bears quarterback Justin Fields jumped over him, which meant Parsons was free to get up and weave his way 36 yards for the touchdown.

          According to Next Gen Stats, Parsons ran 92 total yards for the 36-yard TD, the fourth-most by a defensive player on a play they scored a touchdown on this season.

          It was Dak Prescott who ignited a big first half for the offense. The Cowboys kept saying they felt like they were close in the passing game, despite ranking 27th in the NFL through seven games.

          Through their first two drives Sunday, the Cowboys had two touchdowns for a 14-0 lead, including one on a perfectly thrown Prescott pass down the seam to CeeDee Lamb for a 21-yard score, splitting Bears defensive backs Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker.

          After throwing for just 207 yards in his return from a fractured right thumb last week against the Detroit Lions, Prescott had 107 yards on 10-of-11 passing in the first quarter. After not catching a pass last week vs. the Lions, Michael Gallup had three catches. After converting just three third-down opportunities vs. the Lions last week, the Cowboys had four third-down conversions in their first two drives.

          All of this was without Ezekiel Elliott, who is battling a hyperextended right knee. One way the Cowboys get around Elliott's absence: Putting Lamb in the backfield. On the second possession, he lined up at running back on five of the eight plays before his touchdown catch.

          Prescott later threw a one-yard pass to Jake Ferguson as the Cowboys took control.

          Tony Pollard also had three touchdowns, including a 54-yarder in the fourth quarter.