Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles: Preview, prediction and odds
The Philadelphia Eagles will be hoping to bounce back against a Chicago Bears team still seeking a true signature win in an enticing NFC clash.
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Preview for Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) will aim to get back to winning ways on Black Friday when they host the NFC’s surprise package, the Chicago Bears (8-3) at Lincoln Financial Field.
Philadelphia surrendered a 21-point lead last week as the Eagles were stunned by their NFC East rivals the Dallas Cowboys in a 24-21 defeat, a loss that knocked the defending Super Bowl champions off top spot in the NFC.
The Eagles may be happier for the shorter turnaround to this game as they seek to get the bad taste out of their mouths, and they will be expected to resume normal service despite the Bears’ strong season.
Six of the Bears’ eight wins under first-year head coach Ben Johnson have been by one score, and last Sunday’s 31-28 victory over Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) is their only one over a team that currently has a winning record.
The matchup with the Eagles marks the start of a gauntlet for the Bears over the final six weeks of the season.
All but one of their games across that span come against teams who currently have a winning record. In addition to the Eagles, the Bears face the Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) twice, the San Francisco 49ers (8-4) and the Detroit Lions (7-4).
A key matchup for the Bears as the aim to start that stretch on the right foot will be between their head coach and offensive play-caller Ben Johnson and Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who again has the Philadelphia defense performing at an extremely high level after his arrival last year played a key role in Nick Sirianni’s men claiming Super Bowl glory.
Johnson was extremely complimentary of veteran coordinator Fangio in his Wednesday press conference.
“He’s like the godfather in a lot of ways. He’s kind of taken the league over in terms of that scheme. It’s gone to another number of teams,” Johnson said.
“You see all of his disciples running it now. We already faced one in New Orleans this year, I know Carolina. It’s all over the place. The Rams are running it to a degree. He’s influenced the game significantly.
“They want to limit the explosives. I think when you have the horses up front [on the defensive line] like he does to where they can stop the run game while playing two-high, I think that’s a powerful combination.
“He does a phenomenal job with it. I never worked with Vic, but I have a lot of respect from afar obviously. Just the people that have worked with him speak so highly of how he calls a game and he’s usually a step ahead of the opposing play-caller.
“It’ll be a challenge here just to make sure that we’re trying to keep him as off balance as we possibly can. It really starts up front. This is a really good front seven and we’ve got to take it to them there and play on their side of line of scrimmage.”
The Bears may make a change on the line of scrimmage, with Johnson non-committal on whether left tackle Theo Benedet would reassume his role at that spot after second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo impressed in his absence against Pittsburgh.
Johnson has elicited clear improvement from 2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams after an up-and-down first year with the Bears.
And Fangio expressed admiration for the job former Lions offensive coordinator Johnson has done in that regard.
“They [the Bears] do a great job calling the game, mixing it up, marrying their run game and their pass game,” Fangio said. “They’re highly ranked in a lot of areas, and I don’t think it’s any accident. They’ve got really good players, and it’s a great scheme and a great play-caller.”
“Ben does a good job of mixing it up. They package things well together. They play multiple personnel groups, and they’re under center a good bit, probably more than most teams in this league. Kudos to him and his staff for bringing that young quarterback along, who I don’t think ever played under center in college.
“He’s doing a great job, and they have fought through any of the pitfalls of that, and now they’ve got a quarterback that is executing their offense the way they want to.”
The challenge for the Eagles will be to stop the Bears from executing while getting their own offense firing in what has been an inconsistent year for Jalen Hurts and Co.
If the Eagles fail to do so, then a lot more questions will be asked about their validity as contenders to repeat as champions.
Prediction for Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles
Few of the Bears wins this season have been convincing, and none have come against teams of the quality of the Eagles, who will bounce back in confident fashion.
Prediction: Chicago Bears 17 – 34 Philadelphia Eagles
How to watch Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Chicago Bears-Philadelphia Eagles matchup kicks off at 3pm ET on Friday.
It will be broadcast on Prime Video with the game also available on Fox in Chicago and Philadelphia.
The game can be streamed via NFL +.
Best betting offers for Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles
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