As you may (or more likely, may not) have noticed, I’ve neglected this blog lately. It became too time consuming to write definitive previews for each Eagles game in addition to my work at The Good Phight. Instead of compromising on quality, I stopped doing them. Since the Eagles somehow managed to return to the playoffs, I figured I could suck it up for a few weeks and provide my loyal readers with a Definitive Preview of each playoff game.
The road back to the Super Bowl starts in Chicago, where the Eagles will take on the Chicago Bears in a late Sunday matchup.
About the Chicago Bears
The Bears won the NFC North division with a 12-4 record that earned them the conference’s third seed. Their 12th win came last week against the Minnesota Vikings. That victory happened to knock the Vikings out of the playoffs, allowing the Eagles to seize the final spot. The Eagles should be eternally grateful to the Bears, and show their appreciation by beating the crap out of them in the most polite manner possible.
The Bears have tried to copy the 2017 Eagles’ approach to success (Honestly, it’s not a bad idea), and like the Eagles of last year, they will be heading into the playoffs with a quarterback who is a huge question mark. However, unlike the Eagles, Mitchell Trubisky was the Bears’ Plan A, and not a backup playing only because the All Pro starter was injured.
Embed from Getty ImagesFortunately for the Bears, the team’s strength is their defense, and they mostly ask Trubisky not to mess things up too badly. Based on their 12-4 record, it’s safe to say that he has succeeded at this most of the time. Unfortunately for him, the Bears have not had to face the reigning Super Bowl champions and a quarterback capable of defeating even the most powerful defenses.
The Bears on Offense
Bears fans have talked themselves into Trubisky, despite real concerns that he might not be very good. He was extremely not good in 2017, when the coaches apparently instructed him to never attempt a pass longer than ten yards. He was less not good in 2018, but there are still reasons to think he’s doesn’t have a Pro Bowl in his future.
Trubisky’s overall stats look okay, but that’s largely fueled by a six(!) touchdown game against the Buccaneers back in September. (Sometimes you can play a team at the wrong time. The Eagles definitely played the Bucs at the wrong time.) I don’t like playing the “if you ignore the times he was good, he was bad” game, but considering he hasn’t come close to playing that well before or since that game, I think it’s fair to write that game off as an outlier.
With the Eagles’ defensive backfield decimated by injuries, there are concerns that a good receiving group could take advantage. But as the kids say, “this ain’t it, chief.” Allen Robinson has a Pro Bowl season on his resume, but that came three years ago. Still, that’s likely one more Pro Bowl than the Bears’ other starting receiver Taylor Gabriel will ever see.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Bears try to take pressure off Trubisky by running the ball, but they don’t do an especially great job of it, ranking 27th in yards per attempt. The Eagles have been very good at stopping the run lately, so I am skeptical that Jordan Howard or Tarik Cohen are going to be able to pick up big yardage.
The Bears’ offensive line is regarded as good, but not great. Against the Eagles’ ferocious pass rush, good likely won’t be good enough. Michael Bennett, Chris Long, and Brandon Graham have come on strong down the stretch, so there should be plenty of pressure on the quarterback. And then there’s defensive tackle Fletcher Cox who just wrapped up another All Pro caliber season. Cox is likely angry about all the publicity that Bears’ end Khalil Mack has received this season. An angry Cox is a productive Cox, so there’s a good chance Trubisky will have Cox in his face all evening long.
The Bears on Defense
Supposedly the Bears have a great defense. All season, I’ve heard talk that the Bears D is the best in the NFL, and has drawn comparisons to the Buddy Ryan-led units of the mid-’80s. Well, let me assure you that Bears’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is no Buddy Ryan (I mean, how could he be?), and while this year’s edition may be good, there’s one thing they’ve never had to face: Playoff Nick Foles.
Embed from Getty ImagesSince coming in for the injured Carson Wentz in week 15, Nick Foles has been firmly in playoff mode. In case you’ve somehow forgotten how good Playoff Nick Foles is, just remember one simple fact: Foles has started four playoff games, and he’s left the field with the lead in all of them.
The Bears’ defensive line is indeed formidable, but the Eagles’ offensive line is up to the task of stopping them. Khalil Mack is a great pass rusher. He was also a great pass rusher when they faced him last season, and the Eagles’ kept him in check. Akiem Hicks is good too, but how many times did he have to face the likes of Jason Kelce and Brandon Brooks?
The Bears’ cornerbacks are Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara. Fuller had a good season, but as recently as last year, the Bears were shopping him around the league. Teams rarely try to trade cornerbacks who they think are elite. As for Amukamara, the Eagles torched him so many times when he was on the Giants, it’s hard to take him seriously.
Embed from Getty ImagesThose guys will be tasked with stopping former Bear Alshon Jeffery, who has played as well as any receiver in the league over the past few weeks. Jeffery is another player who ups his game in the playoffs (Remember this?), and based on his recent quotes, he REALLY wants to take his old team down.
Supposedly, the Bears’ linebackers are really good at stopping opposing tight ends. But there’s a difference between stopping tight ends and stopping Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. While the linebackers are busy trying to keep up with them, Darren Sproles will likely be gashing them for big gains underneath.
Special Teams
Remember when Cody Parkey was the Eagles kicker and he had a Pro Bowl season? Those were good times. He’s on the Bears now, and it would be an understatement to say that Bears fans are not confident in Mr. Parkey’s ability to make a clutch kick.
On the other hand, Jake Elliott may have been a little inconsistent (just like 99% of the kickers in the league) but if the game comes down to a game-winning field goal, Elliott has proven he can make the kick.
The Bears’ special teams have been a weak spot for them all year. It feels like this may be the week we see Darren Sproles break loose for a long punt return.
What Kind of Bears are the Chicago Bears?
They are black bears.
Why are the Bears Held in Such Esteem?
While the Dallas Cowboys are the clear leaders in the “Team that the media loves to fawn over despite not being relevant for a long time” competition, the Chicago Bears are also a strong contender for that title. Announcers and pundits love to praise the Bears organization and their long history of success, even though most of their titles came in the 1940’s, and they’ve appeared in a grand total of two Super Bowls. (One of which was a loss, and one of the most boring games in Super Bowl history.)
Much of the reverence comes because of Mike Ditka and the 1985 Bears, who are often mentioned when people discuss the “best team ever.” Sure, they beat up on the Patriots in the Super Bowl (Not that beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl is that hard to do), but overall, they weren’t that great on offense.
I’m starting to believe that the media loves the Bears, simply because they really enjoyed the old Bill Swerski’s Super Fans skits on Saturday Night Live:
Eagles vs. Bears in the Playoffs: A Brief History
The Bears have a slight advantage in head-to-head matchups over the years, but does anyone really care about that? What really matters is the playoffs, and the Eagles are 2-1 in playoff games against the Bears.
The only time the Bears beat the Eagles in the postseason was because the players couldn’t see what was going on in the second half. (Also because Buddy was a bad game day coach.) The most recent matchup was much more fun from an Eagles fan’s perspective:
I have a feeling that Jim Miller still remembers that game. Being carried by your throat down a football field and then choke slammed tends to leave an impression.
That game should also provide another reminder that no matter how much the announcers talk about the “mystique of Soldier Field,” the Eagles have won a playoff game there before.
The Gambling Line
For some reason, the Las Vegas bookmakers have made the Bears a six point favorite. I’m not sure why they think the defending champions should be an underdog to anyone, but ultimately, I’m okay with it. I mean, it’s not like the Eagles have ever won games as underdogs before.
Prediction
The Bears are a good team with a great defense and a questionable quarterback. Will that be enough to take down Playoff Nick Foles, Alshon Jeffery, Fletcher Cox, and the rest of the defending Super Bowl champions? Of course not.
Eagles 20, Bears 13
Cheesesteaks and Rocky 