The most important part of the Eagles' game on Sunday against the Chicago Bears? The Eagles won, 22-14.
The best part? It is over.
The Eagles' win on Sunday is not one that will have them feeling good about where this team is at heading into their Bye Week, but it was a win nonetheless, and it improved the team's record to 5-4.
Here are some takeaways from the Eagles' win:
Opening of the game: The beginning of games have been an issue for the Eagles, to say the least, but they were able to avoid falling behind on Sunday. The defense forced the first of many Bears punts to start the game, then the offense followed it up by driving down the field on a 12-play, 70 yard drive that resulted in a field goal. It was not the ending the offense wanted, but given how this team has consistently fallen behind, taking a 3-0 lead was big. Overall the offense scored on their first three possessions, with the defense forcing a punt on the Bears' first three drives as well.
The Offense: The start to the game was good — the rest was not. The Eagles moved the ball on Sunday, but it is hard to believe anyone who watched that game came away feeling good about the Eagles' offense. The passing game continues to be an issue, due to both the quarterback and the wide receivers. The receivers, lead by two drops from Alshon Jeffery, didn't do much to help Carson Wentz on Sunday. Wentz, however, was also not exactly razor sharp. Ball placement continues to be an issue for Wentz, who at least twice had first downs there to be had and simply missed the receiver. Wentz also overthrew Jeffery down the sideline on what would have likely been a touchdown if he delivers an accurate ball.
The Eagles are better at running the ball right now — and it isn't even close. To make the playoffs, and to potentially make a run in the postseason, the Eagles are going to need more from Wentz and the passing game.
To their credit, the Eagles' offense did come away with a strong drive to end the game, killing eight minutes off the clock on a 16 plays, 69-yard drive that ended on a 38-yard field goal with just 23 seconds to play in the game, clinching the win.
Alshon Jeffery: It isn't a stretch to say that Sunday was the worst game of Jeffery's career with the Eagles. Jeffery dropped three passes, including a critical third-down pass with 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, that should have been a first-down for the Eagles at a point in the game where Chicago had momentum. Jeffery's day ended in the medical tent, after he limped off the field with just over five minutes to play in the game.
Eagles defense: The Eagles' defense completely shut down and dominated a bad Bears' offense for the majority of the game. Yes, the Bears offense is terrible, but at one point in the second quarter the Bears had just -10 yards of offense. In the first half the Eagles dominated each level of the defense — they were consistently in the backfield, their linebackers made tackles for losses and their secondary handled almost everything that came their way.
Then, the second half happened.
The breakdown from the defense started at the beginning of the third quarter, when receiver Taylor Gabriel got behind the secondary for a 53-yard gain. The Bears turned that into a touchdown, their only real successful drive of the game. Then, two drives later, the Bears offense drove 58 yards on eight plays for another touchdown, pulling to within 19-14.
It is hard to know exactly what to take from the performance, considering their opponent, but one very important positive for the Eagles was the play of defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Cox has improved each week and is playing his best football entering the second half of the season. The Eagles defense is completely different when Cox is playing at the level he is capable of.
Brandon Graham: Like Cox, defensive end Brandon Graham is playing his best football of the season right now. Graham brought down quarterback Mitchell Trubisky on the Bears' second drive of the game, putting them immediately behind the chain and into a 2nd-and-14 situation. Graham now has six sacks in the last five games and is quietly having the best season of his career.
Genard Avery: Howie Roseman's lone acquisition at the trade deadline made an immediate impacting, registering a sack in his first game with the team when he brought down Trubisky in the second quarter. Avery split the sack with safety Malcolm Jenkins, but he did a great job blowing up the play.
Andre Senedjo: Called for unnecessary roughness for a hit on quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with just under one minute to play in the first half. It was an easy call and a dumb play by Sendejo, who hit Trubisky when he was already on the ground. The play didn't end up hurting the Eagles, as the Bears punted, but it was still an unacceptable penalty.
DeSean Jackson: Perhaps bigger news than the win? Receiver DeSean Jackson's return from an abdomen injury was short lived, as he went into the locker room at the end of the first quarter after only playing a handful of snaps. Jackson did not return and the team announced it was indeed because of the same injury that has sidelined him since Week 2. The Eagles have the Bye Week, but his status for the remainder of the season should be considered very much up in the air.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
