PHILADELPHIA (94 WIP) — It is time for Philadelphia Eagles fans to pull out the dogmasks yet again — and maybe throw a ski-mask over top as well.
The Eagles are in the playoffs, and just like last season, they will open their postseason run as underdogs. The initial lines for the NFL Wild Card games have the Eagles as 5.5-6-point underdogs against the Bears next Sunday in Chicago.
The line makes the Eagles the biggest underdog of the weekend; no other team is more than a three-point underdog.
The Eagles are no stranger to having to play spoiler. They were underdogs in each of their playoff games last season on their way to winning the Super Bowl.
A Super Bowl run this season might be even more improbable than last year's run. The Eagles were 4-6 after 10 games, and at one point their chances of going to the postseason was hovering around 5 percent on the website FiveThirtyEight.com.
After quarterback Nick Foles took over for an injured Carson Wentz, however, the Eagles ripped off three straight wins, including back-to-back wins over playoff opponents. The main turnaround has been on offense. They are averaging 28.6 points over the past three games after averaging 21 points in the first 13.
Foles was forced out of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Washington Redskins due to a chest injury sustained on a second-half sack, but has been cleared to make the playoff start. Wentz's status with his back injury has not changed.
Keeping things going on offense against the Chicago Bears, who have one of the best defenses in the NFL, will not be easy. The Bears have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL, led by potential MVP candidate Khalil Mack. Their defense is giving up an NFL-best 17.7 points per game.
The Bears are still a very young team without much big-game experience — especially compared to the Eagles. Of the starters/key players on the Bears -- so not including backups that barely play -- only eight have played in the postseason, according to Pro Football Reference. Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will be making his playoff debut.
The Eagles have played their best over the past few seasons with their backs against the wall. That will certainly be the case against Chicago, and could be a good sign for how things will turn out unday at Solider Field.
By Eliot Shorr-Parks
