Taking down speedy Eagles would show everyone Bears are for real
More than any game they've played this season, Sunday afternoon's matchup against the Eagles could be the toughest. It could also the most accurate measuring stick for a 7-3 Bears team that is tied for first place in the NFC North but has struggled for respect.
Despite a three-game winning streak, the Bears are 3-point underdogs at home against a team with an identical record. A victory would legitimize the Bears' playoff aspirations.
A loss could put the Bears in a tough spot. There are three other teams with identical 7-3 records in the NFC behind the 9-2 Falcons and 8-3 Saints, and all five of those teams have a better conference record than the Bears, which could be critical in tie-breaker situations.
“It's November, so every game is going to be important,” Bears nose tackle Anthony Adams said. “We've got to make a run, and it's going to start with this game.”
Coach Lovie Smith added: “You keep winning, you keep making the next game a little more important. Philly is a good football team. There's a reason they're leading their division.”
Defensively the Eagles lead the league with 26 takeaways, and they're No. 1 with a plus-15 turnover differential. They also have the No. 2 offense in total yards and scoring.
It's not just quarterback Michael Vick that has the Eagles in first place in the NFC East, although he's been a big reason.
“He's definitely the best quarterback we've faced,” Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris said.
The Bears consider their defense to be one of the fastest in the NFL, and speed is a major reason why they're tied for first in points allowed and No. 3 in yards allowed. That speed will be tested by an Eagles offense that features enough skill-position speed to challenge any team in the league in a sprint relay.
“It's like a track meet,” Harris said. “It's like they found all the guys that ran the fastest 40s and were the most athletic guys, and they put them all on one team. You don't see that very much, from a quarterback to wide receivers to a running back, everybody can go. They can stretch the field.”
One thing the Eagles haven't done well this season is protect the quarterback. They're 26th in sack percentage allowed, and the Bears are coming off their best pass-rush performance of the season, when they sacked Miami's Tyler Thigpen six times. Most of the Bears' pass-rush pressure has come from the line 13½ of their 19 sacks and they need the front four to bring the heat without help, so the back seven can focus on containing wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, running back LeSean McCoy and Vick, when he bolts the pocket.
“The cornerbacks, the whole secondary is depending on us to do that,” Harris said.
Jackson averages 19.8 yards per catch, and Maclin averages 15.0. They have already combined for 80 catches, 1,357 yards and 12 touchdowns. McCoy's 5.0-yard average gain per rush is higher than anyone in the NFC with more than 40 carries, except for Vick, who averages 6.8 yards per tote.
The Eagles have been held to less than 26 points just once in their last seven games, but the Bears have allowed more than 19 points just once in their past six.
“We feel like we're playing as well as anyone in the league right now defensively,” Smith said. “But it should be a challenge. It may be a slick field. I'm sure Philly is excited about playing on a surface like that. I know we are.”
It's debatable which team would benefit more if the footing at Soldier Field is less than ideal, but Eagles coach Andy Reid chooses to look on the bright side.
“I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing,” Reid said. “I (coached) there a million times, not only with the Eagles but with Green Bay (1992-98). Hey, it's a little soft, but whatever you lose in footing, when you land, it's a good cushion.”
Ÿ Follow Bob LeGere's Bears reports via Twitter@BobLeGere. Check out his blog, Bear Essentials at DailyHerald.com