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The Chicago Bears are set to welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to Soldier Field for a Monday night showdown, though the game may not feature the star power many anticipated. With Bears quarterback Caleb Williams appearing likely to sit out, the matchup loses some luster, but both franchises remain NFC contenders when at full strength.
Unfortunately, neither team is anywhere near full health. Chicago is expected to start its third-string quarterback and could be without two starting cornerbacks, including Kyler Gordon, whose status as a starter is now questionable. On the other side, Philadelphia will be missing starting tight end Dallas Goedert and Pro Bowl-caliber guard Landon Dickerson. Additionally, running back Saquon Barkley has been limited in practice due to a stinger, and his backups, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley, both missed practice entirely.
Most experts predict that the banged-up Eagles will stay undefeated and exact a measure of revenge against the team that dominated them in a Black Friday game last season. However, several factors could tilt the odds in Chicago's favor.
Key Analysis
What are the most critical elements that could determine the game's outcome? Let's examine three.
1. The Bears' rushing attack
At this point, it seems almost certain that Case Keenum will start at quarterback against Philadelphia. Neither Caleb Williams nor Tyson Bagent has been ruled out, but their chances of playing appear slim after being held out of practice all week. Fortunately for Chicago, Keenum is a more than capable third-string option, having started 66 games over his 14-year career. The Bears don't need to simplify the offense for him, but they would benefit from not overloading his plate. That's where the running game comes in.
Last season, Chicago gashed the Eagles' defensive front for 281 yards, one of their most dominant performances of the year. Rushing for even half that total would go a long way on Monday night, and the Bears surely aim to replicate that success. A strong ground game would also create opportunities for other offensive playmakers. If the defense bites on play-action, the intermediate passing game could open up, potentially helping the offense surprise many by fielding a respectable passing attack with its QB3.
2. Keep Jalen Hurts in the pocket (and apply consistent pressure)
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is one of the league's most underrated scramblers. While he doesn't run as often as he once did, he can still beat defenses with his legs, as he's shown over the past two weeks. His rushing stats (12 attempts for 62 yards, including two kneel-downs against Washington) don't jump off the page, but four of those attempts moved the chains on third down, and another converted a fourth down via Philadelphia's trademark tush push (which we won't count). Hurts is hyper-efficient when he chooses to run, so the Bears must eliminate that option before he can exploit it.
Hurts also struggles when opposing defenses generate quick interior pressure, as seen against Tennessee. Both of his interceptions came when the Titans' pass rush heated him up the middle. Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo need to maintain edge containment, and the defensive line as a whole must work in unison. They have a chance to make a massive impact with a strong showing.
3. Don't let DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks take over
Bears fans won't be surprised to see DeVonta Smith on the scouting report. He's a proven talent thriving in a post-A.J. Brown landscape, coming off a 10-catch, 117-yard performance against the Titans. Dontayvion Wicks may not have the same name recognition, but he's developed a strong rapport with Hurts over the first two games. He ranks second on the team in every major receiving category and has topped 70 yards in both contests.
Meanwhile, Chicago has a glaring question mark at cornerback this week. Tyrique Stevenson's status is up in the air. If he's out, the starting lineup is uncertain, but the two players the Bears must pinpoint in the passing game are clear. If they can contain Smith and Wicks as they did Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison last week, they'll be in good shape.
Jerry Markarian has been an avid Chicago Bears fan since 2010 and has been writing about the team since 2022. He has survived the 2010 NFC Championship Game, a career-ending injury to his favorite player (Johnny Knox), the Bears' 2013 season finale, a Double Doink, Mitchell Trubisky, Justin Fields, and Weeks 8-17 of the 2024 NFL season. Nevertheless, he still Bears Down! Follow jerrymarkarian.