The Chicago Bears will visit the Philadelphia Eagles this Friday for a pivotal matchup between two division leaders, both holding an 8-3 record. The game is set to kick off at 3 p.m. EST and will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
According to BetMGM NFL odds, the Eagles enter as seven-point favorites. Both teams have performed well against the spread, with the Bears at 7-4 and the Eagles also at 7-4. Historically, the Bears lead the series with a record of 28 wins, 14 losses, and one tie. Their last encounter resulted in a 25-20 victory for the Eagles on December 18, 2022, in Chicago.
Offensively, the Bears rank sixth in the league overall, second in rushing, and eighth in scoring. They have a dynamic offense led by wide receivers Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore, who have combined for 1,138 receiving yards and nine touchdowns this season. Notably, Chicago has executed 87 plays with runs of over 10 yards or passes exceeding 20 yards, the highest in the NFL.
On the other hand, the Eagles” offense stands at 24th overall and 17th in scoring. Wide receiver A.J. Brown has been a key player, especially after expressing concerns about his role in the offense. In the last two games, he has accumulated 159 receiving yards. In a recent game against the Cowboys, he was targeted 10 times, catching eight passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.
The Bears” secondary will face a significant challenge against Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who boasts an impressive 25-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Bears” defense, however, has recorded five interceptions each from defensive backs Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright, contributing to a league-leading 24 takeaways.
Injury reports show that the Bears may be without linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, while defensive lineman Dominique Robinson is in concussion protocol. The Eagles will miss right tackle Lane Johnson and safety Andrew Mukuba, although safety Reed Blankenship is expected to play after leaving the last game with a hamstring injury.
Philadelphia has dominated the recent matchups, winning six straight against the Bears, although their record at home against Chicago is 9-13-1, including playoffs. The Bears are riding a four-game winning streak, currently leading the NFC North and positioned as the No. 3 seed in the NFC if the playoffs were to begin today.
Interestingly, this will mark the Bears” first regular-season game on a Friday since 1966. Quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns in Chicago”s latest win over the Steelers, while running backs D”Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai have combined for 1,110 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season.
Defensively, linebacker Montez Sweat leads the Bears with 7.5 sacks, while former Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson has added three sacks for Chicago. The Eagles, who are the reigning Super Bowl champions, would secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC if the playoffs started today. Despite a recent loss to Dallas, where they led 21-0 before allowing the Cowboys to come back, the Eagles have been a formidable force at home, winning 14 of their last 15 games at Lincoln Financial Field.
As the game approaches, both teams will be eager to solidify their playoff positions in this crucial division clash.
