Windy City Gridiron
The Bears have been so stressful this season. I am glad they don’t play on Thanksgiving.
I don’t know that I could handle these late-game close score situations on a full stomach.
Hopefully, with the game being on Friday, you can be nice and digested and not have to handle any family dynamics that crop up when the team plays on the actual holiday.
Friday’s game is intriguing for many storylines. Obviously, the Bears haven’t played a ton of opponents with winning records. Many outsiders are considering Friday’s game a big test for Chicago.
But the Eagles, while sitting high in the standings, aren’t a team without flaws. They’ve struggled offensively and are banged up in the secondary and along their offensive line.
Saquon Barkley looks like most post-2,000 yard season running backs. Their top 1,000-yard receiver is unhappy.
But that doesn’t make the game any easier.
Philadelphia Eagles
SB Nation site: Bleeding Green Nation
Record: 8-3, first in NFC East
Last week: 24-21 loss to the Cowboys
Game day, time, TV: Friday, 2 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime Video
Spread: Eagles -6.5
Bears all-time record against: 30-17-1 including postseason
Historical meetings: Nov. 28, 2010, week 12.
The 7-3 Eagles came to Soldier Field to face the 7-3 Chicago Bears.
As 3.5-point home underdogs, the Bears came out firing. Jay Cutler hit Earl Bennett for a 10-yard score following a 61-yard Matt Forte run. Following an Eagles punt, he hit Devin Hester for 39 yards and then a 20-yard score to Johnny Knox.
Michael Vick took the Eagles down for a touchdown of their own, hitting Jeremy Maclin for eight yards.
The Eagles then tacked on a field goal and forced another Chicago punt, but Vick threw a pick to Chris Harris, setting up Earl Bennett’s second touchdown of the game in the final minute of the half.
Hester returned the second half’s opening kick 46 yards. Then, Hester caught a 34-yard pass with a horse collar tackle penalty tacked on, setting up Greg Olsen for a 9-yard touchdown on the next play.
After another Eagles punt, the Bears went on an 17-play, 83 yard drive, taking 10 minutes off the clock in the third quarter, ending in a field goal.
The Bears wouldn’t score again, but the Eagles could only add two field goals and finally another touchdown with just under 2 minutes left in the game.
Chicago won 31-26.
Last meeting: Week 16, 2022 season. The 3-10 Bears were limping to the finish line but looking for anything positive under first-year coach Matt Eberflus.
The Eagles came to town as 8.5-point favorites at 12-1.
But a beatdown did not ensue.
The Bears scored a touchdown first, taking a 6-3 lead on a David Montgomery run, but Cairo Santos mixed the extra point.
Jalen Hurts scored the first of what would ultimately be his three touchdowns int ehs second quarter.
Justin Fields found David Montgomery for a 10-yard score in the third quarter, between two Hurts one-yard runs.
In the...
