(670 The Score) It’s Week 15. The Bears have returned from their beautiful, wonderful, peaceful, serene, productive, refreshing bye week – and once again find themselves in the hunt for their 11th loss of the season. It shouldn’t be too difficult – the 12-1 Eagles are in town this weekend, which means that not only will the Bears probably take a bad L but you’re going to hear about it in a distinctly loud way from their fans on your way home. Hope you spent some time meditating last week! There are, admittedly, some intriguing matchups to watch for two-and-a-half quarters Sunday, so let’s dive into it.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts vs. Bears CB Kyler Gordon and Bears S Jaquan Brisker
Here we are, together on the world wide web, feeling grateful and optimistic that Gordon will be available to go up against one of the best quarterbacks in football and the presumptive NFL MVP. I’m certain it will go fine. Gordon and Brisker, both of whom have been sidelined with concussion issues over the past month, were full participants in practice Wednesday – which is typically a good sign for their gameday status. The Build-a-Bears secondary held up admirably for 80% of the loss to the Packers, but still, it never hurts to have the players you prioritized over wide receiver help (it’s a joke) (kind of) on the field. Hurts has been spectacular this season – he’s throwing interceptions at a historically low rate, is on pace to break the Eagles’ franchise touchdown record and is the second quarterback in NFL history to lead a team to a 12-1 record before turning 25. That last one is less of a statistic and more of a fun fact, but you get the point. If the Bears must be forced to finish their schedule and play all these good teams over the next month, at least they get their starters back for it.
Bears QB Justin Fields vs. Eagles CB Darius Slay and Eagles CB James Bradberry
As it turns out, “quarterbacks vs. the secondary” tends to be an interesting matchup! Now officially eliminated from postseason contention, the Bears are playing with house money for the next month – there’s plenty to watch and analyze, but the final four games are kinda sorta just about seeing how much more Fields can progress while keeping every knee and shoulder ligament intact. The Eagles have one of the best pass defenses in the league – as a whole, the unit ranks second in pass defense DVOA, and Bradberry and Slay have been, respectively, the 12th- and 13th-most productive cornerbacks this season, according to Pro Football Focus. I legitimately have no idea who Fields is going to throw the football to Sunday – Chase Claypool sat out of practice Wednesday with a knee issue, and the fact that he’s even the first name mentioned says it all. This feels like it’s shaping up to be another 170-yard passing, 130-yard rushing game for Fields, except for the fact that, like, everyone else on the Eagles’ defense is also very good. Should be fun!
Eagles C Jason Kelce vs. the Bears' painfully obvious need for defensive line help this offseason
Credit where credit’s due: Justin Jones has been a guy for the Bears this season. He’s not "just" a guy, but he definitely hasn’t been a dude for them. He could, in some future exciting world, be a great backup to Jalen Carter. And now, here’s how Pro Football Focus ranks everyone on the Eagles’ offensive line, from left to right: No. 18 overall, No. 27 overall, No. 1 overall, No. 5 overall and No. 6 overall. Kelce’s dominance is no secret, and the Bears have shown that you don’t even need to be the best center in football to “completely dominate” the line of scrimmage “literally every play” against them. Kelce hasn’t allowed a sack in more than two years, but hey, maybe this Sunday is when it all changes. I don’t know what Vegas has for the over/under on Bears’ sack total this weekend, but I certainly know which way I’d bet it.
Cam Ellis is a writer for 670 The Score and Audacy Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KingsleyEllis.
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