Bears-Eagles takeaways: Chicago bullies Philly with defense, ground game in win


By Kevin Fishbain, Dan Wiederer, Zach Berman and Brooks Kubena

The Chicago Bears stifled the Philadelphia Eagles in a battle of division leaders Friday, pulling away for a 24-15 road victory at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Bears (9-3), who have won five straight games and nine of their last 10, stayed ahead of the Green Bay Packers (8-3-1) in the NFC North race. Chicago dominated with its rushing attack, outgaining the Eagles 281-87 on the ground and 425-317 in total yards.

Kyle Monangai rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, while D’Andre Swift added 125 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. It was the first time two Bears rushed for 100-plus yards in a game since Walter Payton and Matt Suhey did it in 1985. That Chicago team went 15-1 in the regular season before romping through the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia dropped to 8-4 with a second consecutive defeat and saw its NFC East lead over the Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) shrink to 1 1/2 games. The Eagles have not scored more than 21 points in a game since a Week 8 win over the New York Giants, and they have scored fewer than 17 points in three of their last four games.

About that rushing attack …

It’s impossible not to love what Swift and Monangai gave the Bears offense Friday afternoon, combining for 255 rushing yards while averaging 6.4 yards per carry in a statement road victory. On a day when the wind was whipping at Lincoln Financial Field, and quarterback Caleb Williams and the passing game sputtered, the Bears leaned hard into their running game and saw a huge return on investment.

Swift bounced back from his 15-yard rushing output in Week 12 with an 18-carry, 125-yard game, including his 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Not to be outdone, Monangai went for 130 yards on 22 carries and ripped off the Bears’ longest play from scrimmage, a 31-yard run that came one play after Nahshon Wright forced and recovered an Eagles fumble inside the red zone. Monangai later capped that 12-play, 87-yard drive with his own touchdown from 4 yards out.

Suddenly, Chicago owns the NFL’s most productive rushing attack and can ride it in December and January. — Dan Wiederer, Bears senior writer

Chants of ‘Fire Kevin’

If you couldn’t tell by the “Fire Kevin!” chant captured by television cameras, the Eagles’ offense continues to underachieve, and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s approval rating continues to dip. The Eagles had one touchdown through three quarters. They had four three-and-outs and punted five times. On an afternoon when the Bears had two 100-yard rushers, Chicago limited Saquon Barkley to 13 carries for 56 yards.

There were two impressive touchdown drives — including one late in the fourth quarter — but it was hard to watch the Eagles’ offense and leave inspired. They went into halftime with 72 consecutive minutes without scoring a touchdown.

Before the final drive, the Eagles were 1 of 8 on third downs. And the comparisons between the Eagles and the Bears’ offense overseen by coach Ben Johnson made the Eagles’ problems even more evident. They haven’t improved this season, and they don’t appear to have a schematic advantage. That’s a bad combination entering December. — Zach Berman, senior writer, Eagles

Bears turn tide after stopping tush push

For a moment, it looked as though the Eagles would take the lead and the Bears would squander an opportunity for an upset. But then came the tush push stop for the ages — it wasn’t only the defense stuffing the Eagles’ signature play. It was Wright taking the ball away from Jalen Hurts. That play sparked a 14-point Bears run and was the biggest moment for a defense that, without its starting linebackers, found a way to contain Barkley, Hurts and the Eagles.

Sure, it’s not the Super Bowl-winning Eagles offense, but the way Barkley had been running the ball, and the plays Hurts made to A.J. Brown on the previous drive, made it seem like this could’ve been the get-right game for Philadelphia. Dennis Allen’s scheme is at its best on third down, and before the Eagles’ last touchdown drive, they were 2-for-9 on third down.

The return of Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon buoyed the unit, which could get linebacker T.J. Edwards back next week for the homestretch. — Kevin Fishbain, senior writer, Bears

Eagles’ defense shockingly pushed around

The Eagles’ defense surrendered 400-plus yards for the second straight game. The Bears, who outgained the Eagles 425-317, owned the line of scrimmage in one of the most shocking developments of Friday’s game. They averaged 6.0 yards per carry, the most by an Eagles opponent this season.

Chicago began the game 7-for-8 on third-down conversions and finished 10-for-17. The Bears dominated time of possession (39:18-20:42). They came into Lincoln Financial Field and pushed around the defending Super Bowl LIX champions, who topped the NFC standings before beginning their two-game losing streak against the Dallas Cowboys last week.

The Eagles’ defense supplied a few opportunities that the team didn’t fully cash in. They stopped the Bears on downs to open the game; the Eagles punted. Jalyx Hunt picked off Williams near the end of the third quarter, but Hurts lost a fumble at Chicago’s 12 while attempting a Brotherly Shove.

Ghosts of 2023 linger as December begins. The Eagles have extended time to reverse course. They next play the Los Angeles Chargers on the road on Dec. 8 on “Monday Night Football.” — Brooks Kubena, Eagles beat writer

Despite playoff buffer, Eagles don’t look like contenders

The Eagles’ fast start to the season gave them a big advantage in the NFC East, so the odds are strong that they remain a playoff team, but they don’t appear to be the Super Bowl contender that outlasted Green Bay and Detroit after the bye week. Back-to-back losses to Dallas and Chicago would do that.

The Eagles are 8-4, exceeding their loss total from last season. There’s still time to rebound with three of their final five games against opponents with losing records. But at this point in the season, the Eagles are leaving fans feeling as if they’re closer to the 2023 team that collapsed down the stretch than the 2024 team that won the Super Bowl. — Berman





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