The Chicago Bears are 8-3, and heading into a massive Week 13 matchup against the NFC East division-leading Philadelphia Eagles. While the Eagles and Bears are both 8-3, the two teams are heading in different directions.
Chicago is on the rise, while Philadelphia is struggling. If the Bears can get a win in Week 13, it would be a huge boost not only to their playoff and NFC North odds but to their confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.
Unfortunately, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, the Bears got some bad news on their linebacker corps. Against the Eagles and Saquon Barkley, the Bears will have to rely on backup linebackers for the second straight week.
Bears down top-three linebackers vs. Saquon Barkley and Eagles on Black Friday
"Bears ruled out three LBs for Friday's game vs. the Eagles: T.J. Edwards, Ruben Hyppolite II, and Noah Sewell," Raporport reports.
It's not all bad news, however, as Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson are both expected to be back for Chicago's defense.
However, facing the Eagles, Barkley, and Dallas Goedert, it will be a tough matchup for the Bears' backup linebackers.
Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12, down the majority of their linebacker room, they allowed the Steelers to run for 182 yards on 36 attempts.
Former Eagels running back Kenny Gainwell ran for 92 yards on 10 attempts, while Jaylen Warren ran for 68 yards on 18 attempts.
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While the Steelers' tight ends didn't play a big role, facing Goedert and the Eagles, it might be a more challenging matchup. The depleted linebacker room is one to watch, as the Bears might have a tough time against Barkley and Goedert in the Week 13 matchup.
While the Eagles' running game hasn't been great this season, with a depleted linebacker room, and against Jalen Hurts, Barkley, and the offensive line in Philadelphia, Week 13 could be decided on whether the Bears can stop the run.
T.J. Edwards won't get to face his former team, and Noah Sewell misses another week. With Tremaine Edmunds on Injured Reserve, the Bears are down to Carl Jones Jr., D'Marco Jackson, Daniel Hardy, and Amen Ogbongbemiga in Week 13.
Chicago will be without their top three linebackers, as the Bears and Eagles face off on Black Friday at 3:00 EST, as the two 8-3 teams atop their divisions look to secure a win to put themselves in great positioning to make the playoffs and win their respective division.
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