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Both of tonight's teams played last exactly one week ago today on Thanksgiving day. Both teams also lost by a large margin. The Bears were trounced by the Lions in their annual Thanksgiving day home game. It was a game that was all but over at half time when the Lions took a 24 to 14 point lead in to the locker room after reeling off 21 unanswered in the second quarter. The Lions went on to win, doubling up on the Bears, 34 to 17. In Arlington it was the visiting team, the Eagles that won the day. In another game where the winner seemed to be running away with things early, Philly took a 23 to 7 lead in to the locker-room at halftime, ultimately winning 33 to 10.
The Dallas Cowboys arrive in Chicago this evening not having lost an away game all season long and are the only NFL team that can boast that to this point in the season. One the negative side of the coin for Dallas is the fact that by losing on Thanksgiving day the also handed the NFC East lead over to the very team that was beating them down that day. They are at present tied with the Lions and the Seahawks for the final wild card position at 8 and 4 but unfortunately for the Cowboys both of those teams currently hold the tie-breaker over Dallas. The Cowboys will face the Eagles again on the 14th of December with hopes of regaining the division lead. They must keep pace by winning this game tonight, although they may be helped by the fact that the Eagles must travel to take on the Seahawks at home on Sunday.
The Bears come in to tonight in a bad way. They are all but out of the playoffs and their only real shot at this point is to win out and hope that some other things fall their way. Given their up and down nature this season and the fact that their final four games are against the Dallas Cowboys, the New Orleans Saints, the Detroit Lions and their NFC North cellar mates the Minnesota Vikings, running the table would seem very unlikely. At worst the Bears can motivate themselves by possibly being a spoiler this week and down the road. It would also be a good time for the Bears players and members of the coaching staff that wish to retain their positions in to 2015 season.
TV: NFL Network
TIME: Thursday, December 4th, 8:25 PM EST
LOCATION: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
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