(Photo: Cosm)

NFC Game Of The Week

Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles

Bears (8-3):

Can I just say how happy I am for this city, this organization, and this fan base? They’ve gone through a lot and have struggled for years to get to this point. Around this time last year, they were in the middle of a losing streak after a 4–2 start, and the Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions ended up being the last for then–Head Coach Matt Eberflus. I’ve seen plenty of posts on social media from fans claiming Caleb Williams isn’t the guy and that he’s not living up to the hype. I even had to step in and tell people to be patient and trust the process because, one, he’s still young and learning, and two, he’s on his third Head Coach—which is more than the number of years he’s even been in the league. So far, I’m seeing a quarterback who is settling in, and they aren’t putting too much on his plate or asking him to shoulder every responsibility of the offense. I also love that they’re running the football more consistently. At 8–3, this is the best I’ve seen the Bears look since 2017 when Matt Nagy led them to a division title and won Coach of the Year. I do have one concern, though: their defense. This is an opportunistic group that thrives on forcing turnovers, and that’s great, but you can’t rely on that as your only means of dominance. When they aren’t creating takeaways, they give up chunk plays down the field that can hurt them. Outside of that, I like what I’ve seen, and most importantly, Ben Johnson has this team believing again. This Black Friday, they head to South Philadelphia for a showdown with the champs.

Eagles (8-3):

They made me so angry on Sunday, and honestly, I’m still mad. Let me get the facts out of the way: they’re going to win the NFC East again. That goes without saying—they have no real competition in the division. But I’ve been giving this team the side-eye all season because they haven’t played up to their standard. After ten games last year and ten games this year, they were 8–2 both times—but last season, they were consistently performing on both sides of the football. Now at 8–3, I have concerns. I’ve said this on the radio a few times: I’m getting that 2023 vibe from them again. I thought they had turned the page from that, but evidently not. Defenses are playing the Eagles the same way teams played the Chiefs after the Buccaneers beat them in the Super Bowl—two deep safeties, man coverage across the board, and forcing the offense to earn every yard instead of giving up big plays over the top. Last year’s offense had an identity: balance. What’s their identity this year? They aren’t taking what defenses give them, and they aren’t using Dallas Goedert nearly enough even though he’s the one weapon who consistently creates mismatches. I mentioned all of this to Cole Johnson the other day, and he agreed—especially regarding Goedert’s misuse. Outside of what happened against the Cowboys on Sunday, I have no issues with their defense. That unit has been the backbone of this team. The Eagles look to bounce back on Friday when the Bears roll into town.

Bears X-Factor: Montez Sweat

Montez knows this Eagles team well from his days with the Washington Commanders, and that familiarity matters. He’s a 6’6″ edge rusher with long arms and the range to bat down passes if he’s not getting home to the quarterback. He can apply consistent pressure on Jalen Hurts, which can disrupt the timing of Philadelphia’s offense. The Eagles also rely heavily on the run to set up their play-action game, so if Montez can dominate the line and collapse those gaps, he’ll force Jalen into one-dimensional, uncomfortable passing situations.

Eagles X-Factor: Jaelan Phillips

I loved the move to acquire him from the Miami Dolphins. The Eagles needed pass-rush help, and Jaelan brings that—but he also affects the game in ways that don’t always show up in the box score. Since joining Philly, he’s collapsed pockets, recorded hurries and hits, and kept quarterbacks under duress. I’ve enjoyed every second of watching him. If Jaelan gets it going on Friday, the Bears offense will struggle mightily.

Final Thoughts:

The Bears enter this game winners of five of their last six, including a current four-game winning streak. The Eagles, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back after blowing a 21-point lead to the Cowboys in Week 12. This will also be the first meeting between Jalen Hurts and Caleb Williams. This is the toughest defense the Bears have faced all season, and it’s essential for Chicago to sustain drives and avoid empty possessions. They must win third downs, control the clock, finish drives with points, and take field goals when necessary. Don’t be greedy. The Bears offense must be balanced, and they cannot ask Caleb to play hero ball—especially against this Eagles front. Establish the run early, mix in quick passes, RPOs, and play-action, and stay unpredictable to avoid feeding the Eagles pass rush. And winning the turnover battle is critical: get 1–2 defensive takeaways, protect the football, and understand the Eagles rarely lose when they win the turnover margin. For Philadelphia, it starts with keeping Jalen Hurts protected and neutralizing Chicago’s pass rush. This could also be a big Saquon Barkley game—the Bears struggle defending power rushing attacks. Feed Saquon early and force the safeties downhill. Lastly, let Jalen Hurts be Jalen Hurts. His mobility is a weapon. Use designed QB runs, bootlegs, moving pockets, and scrambles when the play breaks down. I expect the Eagles to enter this game with a chip on their shoulder. This is a real test for the Bears against the defending Super Bowl champs.

Prediction:

Eagles 28, Bears 17