Hello Bears Fans! Well, the alliance is off for this week, as the Chicago Bears face off against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have the best record for a Bears opponent this season, and they represent the toughest challenge yet for this young Chicago Bears team, its second-year quarterback, and its rookie head coach. To put the cherry on top, the Bears must face the Eagles on a short week on Black Friday and on the road in Philadelphia. Vegas doesn’t think much of the Bears’ chances, as the line is -7 as of Thursday night, with the moneyline at -360 for the Eagles, and the Bears are at +260.
But what do our WCG contributors think about this matchup? Read and find out below!
GOOCH: Bears 34, Eagles 32. I have predicted a Bears victory every week this season, but this week I am sorely tempted to pick against the Bears. The odds seem thoroughly stacked against this young and promising team. But when I sat down to make my prediction, I just couldn’t do it. As Ben Johnson says, when its close and late, this Bears team finds a way. And so I predict the Bears will be down yet again in the 4th quarter, yet somehow find a way past the Eagles in the end. I think the Eagles’ strong defense will limit the Bears’ rushing attack, but they will still find a way to grind out 150 yards on the ground, with a KM touchdown. The Bears secondary plays well, but the Bears yet again struggle to stop the run, and they have an inconsistent pass rush. Booker and Sweat notch sacks, along with Kyler Gordon. And Wright picks off Hurts to lead the NFL in interceptions. Caleb puts up 250 yards passing and two touchdowns passing, one touchdown rushing. He is, however, picked off in the first half. The comeback Bears do it again in the 4th quarter with a big punt return and some key runs that set up a Cairo Santos field goal to win the game.
Josh: I can see this getting away from Chicago in a hurry, and so I’m glad Caleb took his lumps on this last game. Chicago isn’t stopping the Eagles’ run game, which means Williams is going to need to make up the difference in the air. I’m not sure he’s there yet against a defense this solid. I think it’s 31-20 Eagles with Chicago having had chances.
TJ: 33-24, Eagles. I’m writing this without much knowledge of the Bears’ defensive health, so that’s could potentially shift things a bit closer. Still, I think this will be an opportunity for Philly to run all over the Chicago defense while Vic Fangio takes advantage of a still-developing Caleb Williams on the opposite side.
Jack R Salo: 34-23 Eagles. I think field goals keep this one somewhat close until the Eagles pull away in the 3rd quarter. There won’t be enough chances for the Bears in the 4th for their usual heroics.
Sam: While I am not the one to pick the upset, I just want the Bears to keep it close if they can. The Eagles have too much talent for where the Bears are right now. Eagles 31, Bears 27
Lester: I was all set to pick the Eagles, and then I did a Philly podcast where the host was concerned about this game. He said their secondary was all beat up, and their much vaunted offensive line was nowhere near what we’ve all been used to seeing. So then I flipped and saw a path to a Chicago win, and even made that prediction on another podcast. But then the injury report came out, and the Bears were missing all their linebackers again, and the more I thought about it, the more I could see the Eagles running the ball 30 times and grinding out a win. That said, I have a prediction on record, so I’m sticking to that: Bears 24, Eagles 21.