(670 The Score) This Bears team is for real.
Black Friday in Philadelphia proved that point, revealing that Chicago has a legitimate contender as the Bears beat the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, 24-15, on the road to improve to 9-3.
Before kickoff Friday afternoon, one could poke holes in the Bears’ success in their 8-3 start. They had won six games by one score, and there were fortunate breaks in some of those that led to victories. The matchup with the Eagles could’ve been one that exposed the Bears as a fraudulent team. Instead, it proved their place as legitimate contender.
The Bears outclassed the Eagles in a manner the scoreboard didn’t even fully reflect. On a windy day that made it difficult to throw the ball, the Bears leaned on their running game. They averaged 6.0 yards per carry in rushing 47 times for 281 yards while amassing 425 yards of offense compared to the Eagles’ 317 yards.
The Bears had multiple 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since Walter Payton and Matt Suhey did so in the Super Bowl-winning 1985 season. Philadelphia native D’Andre Swift carried 18 times for 125 yards, and rookie Kyle Monangai rushed 22 times for 130 yards. Both found the end zone as well.
The exclamation mark came with 6:19 remaining in regulation as Bears head coach Ben Johnson drew up the ultimate con. He went away from the run with a play-action fake on which the Eagles bit, and quarterback Caleb Williams threw a 28-yard touchdown across his body to tight end Cole Kmet to give the Bears a 24-9 lead after the ensuing extra point.
For all the close games the Bears have won this season, they imposed their will against the Eagles. Philadelphia fans rained down boos throughout the game. By the final minutes, Lincoln Financial Field was nearly cleared out.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw just his second pick of the season as Bears veteran safety Kevin Byard – another Philadelphia native – dove for his NFL-leading sixth interception early in the third quarter. With just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright made one of the biggest plays of the game while Chicago held a 10-9 lead. On third-and-1 from the Bears’ 12-yard line, the Eagles attempted a tush push, but Wright ripped the ball away from Hurts and recovered it himself. It marked the first time in 18 games that Hurts committed multiple turnovers in a contest.
If ever there was a sign it wasn’t the Eagles’ day, it was when their seemingly automatic play faltered.
National narratives will likely focus on Philadelphia, pointing out the reigning champions’ struggles and calling out their flaws. But no one should dismiss what the Bears did Friday.
The Bears asserted themselves with physicality on both sides of the football. They outclassed a deep Eagles defensive front with stellar offensive line play all day. Meanwhile, Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley was held to 56 rushing yards on 13 carries. Without their top four linebackers, the Bears hardly allowed Barkley past the first level of their defense.
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen deserves credit for what he has accomplished with a shorthanded unit. On Friday, his defense got two standouts back in star cornerback Jaylon Johnson and nickelback Kyler Gordon, who were each activated from injured reserve a day prior.
The Bears have good reason to believe they’ll keep improving as their defense gets healthier. A unit that was a liability early this season was a great strength Friday.
In his first year leading the Bears, Johnson has directed a tremendous turnaround. Chicago has won nine games for just the second time since 2012, after which the Bears fired then-head coach Lovie Smith. With five games remaining in this regular season, there’s plenty of opportunity to accomplish more.
After a victory like this one, Chicago can dream of what’s to come this season. Johnson has changed the culture. The results prove it as his team secured a winning season.
The Bears are a winner, and they could have so much more ahead.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.