From The Reporter: https://tinyurl.com/4xv54csd
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles are calling for fans at Lincoln Financial Field to come out clad in black for today’s Black Friday game against the Chicago Bears — a matchup of division leaders.
The Birds will be in all black uniforms.
The resurgent Bears (8-3), who lead the NFC North, are transforming under first-year head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. They arrive to face an Eagles squad eager to bounce back on a short week after blowing a 21-point lead in Dallas on Sunday.
“In a week like this, it’s about preparing your best, learning from the last time we had a short week and doubling down on that,” quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “We’ve just got to give more. Everything demands more, so we all have to take that next step and raise our level of play, raise our level of focus.”
Chicago has already surpassed its 2024 win total and is off to its best start since 2018, but most of its victories have been against teams with losing records. Philly (8-3), which leads the NFC East, is still grinding for consistency on offense, even as its defense remains one of the league’s most reliable units.
The Bears’ turnaround has been driven by Williams, who has thrown for more than 2,500 yards with 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions, while adding mobility and off-script creation that have elevated a once-stagnant offense. Chicago is averaging more than 26 points per game and has won seven of its last eight after a 1-2 start.
“Ben does a good job of mixing it up,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “They package things well together. They play multiple personnel groups and they’re under center a good bit, probably more than most teams in this league.
“Kudos to him and his staff for bringing that young quarterback along who I don’t think ever played under center in college. He’s doing a great job, and they have fought through any of the pitfalls of that and now they’ve got a quarterback that is executing their offense the way they want to.”
The Eagles’ path has been steadier but less explosive. Hurts continues to guide the offense with efficiency, but the Birds have lacked their usual downfield punch and red-zone sharpness. They’re averaging just over 23 points per game and have leaned more on situational football and the strength of their front seven on defense.
Up front, one of the defining matchups will be the Bears’ quick-game attack versus the Eagles’ downhill pass rush. Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter anchor a defensive front that still collapses pockets, while recent addition Jaelan Phillips adds another edge threat. Chicago’s offensive line has stabilized after a rocky start, helping Williams deliver on schedule more frequently in recent weeks.
The Bears’ defense, while not dominant statistically, has been timely — especially late in games. Chicago is 5-1 in one-score contests this season and has tightened up in the fourth quarter during its midseason surge.
Philadelphia counters with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, still one of the league’s premier receiving duos, and the Eagles expect to lean on Saquon Barkley’s yards-after-contact ability against a Bears front that has been susceptible between the tackles.
Special teams could factor into a game expected to be played in chilly, windy conditions. Jake Elliott’s range gives the Eagles an edge in close contests.
History swings Philadelphia’s way. The Bears haven’t beaten the Eagles since 2011. The Birds have won the last six meetings, including 25-20 at Soldier Field three years ago, when Hurts rushed for three touchdowns.
Injury report
Eagles: OUT – WR Xavier Gipson (shoulder), T Myles Hinton (back), T Lane Johnson (foot)
Thursday practice report (walkthrough): DNP – WR Xavier Gipson (shoulder), T Lane Johnson (foot). FULL – RB Saquon Barkley (groin), S Reed Blankenship (thigh), G Landon Dickerson (knee), DE Brandon Graham (groin), T Myles Hinton (back), WR DeVonta Smith (shoulder/chest/illness).
G/C Willie Lampkin’s practice period expired Wednesday. He has no practice or game status and remains on IR.
Bears: OUT LB T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), LB Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder), OL Luke Newman (foot), DL Dominique Robinson (concussion), LB Noah Sewell (elbow), DB Tyrique Stevenson (hip).
QUESTIONABLE — DB Jaylon Johnson and DB Kyler Gordon
Thursday: OL Luke Newman was placed on IR.
Pregame position grades
Here’s how the teams match up heading into Sunday, based on health and how they’ve been playing recently. Performances will be evaluated postgame.
QB: Eagles B-, Bears C
RB: Eagles B, Bears B
TE: Eagles A-, Bears B+
WR: Eagles A-, Bears B-
OL: Eagles B-, Bears B-
DL: Eagles A, Bears C-
LB: Eagles A, Bears C-
CB: Eagles B-, Bears C-
S: Eagles B-, Bears C-
ST: Eagles A-, Bears C+
On the air
Eagles (8-3) vs. Bears (8-3), Today, 3 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field.
TV: Amazon Prime Video (and FOX 29 locally): Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung.
Radio/streaming: 94.1-FM WIP: Merrill Reese, Mike Quick and Devan Kaney. Tico: Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen and David Gerhardt. Westwood One: Scott Graham and Mike Mayock.
Betting odds
Spread: Eagles by 6.5.
Over/under: 45.5.
Money line: Eagles -300, Bears +250.
—
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc for the latest updates.