nfl
Eagles-Bears Preview: Chicago’s Ground Game Meets Philadelphia’s 2-0 Start
Philadelphia will visit Chicago on Monday night with the Bears set to choose between Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum at quarterback and both teams focused on the line of scrimmage.
The Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) will visit the Chicago Bears (1-1) on Monday night at 8:15 p.m. EDT, with ESPN and ABC carrying the Week 3 matchup. Philadelphia will arrive after a 24-20 win at Tennessee, sealed when Jalen Hurts threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Darius Cooper with nine seconds remaining; Chicago will be coming off a 9-3 loss to Minnesota.
Chicago’s quarterback decision will frame the buildup. Caleb Williams will miss his first NFL game after sustaining a hamstring injury midway through the fourth quarter against the Vikings, ending a run of 36 regular-season and two playoff starts since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2024. Tyson Bagent will remain questionable while in the concussion protocol despite returning to unrestricted work Saturday, leaving the Bears to choose between Bagent and Case Keenum, neither of whom has started a regular-season game since 2023.
The Bears will lean into a running game that ranks first in the league at 212.5 yards per game. D’Andre Swift has rushed 34 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns through two games, while Chicago will carry the memory of its 24-15 win in Philadelphia on Nov. 28, when it rushed for 281 yards, held the ball for almost 40 minutes and limited the Eagles to 87 rushing yards.
That history will put Philadelphia’s front under particular scrutiny. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Chicago has “a really great (offensive line), great backs” and “a good” scheme, adding, “We’re going to have to play it a whole lot better.” Philadelphia will counter with a defense allowing 293.0 total yards per game, 10th in the league, while its pass defense ranks fifth at 166.0 yards per game.
Hurts will enter having thrown for 467 yards and five touchdowns in two games, and he has added 62 rushing yards on 12 carries. The Bears’ defense will bring five sacks into the matchup, while Philadelphia has allowed six sacks and Chicago has also allowed six; the series will resume with the Bears holding a 30-17-1 advantage.