Philadelphia Eagles looking to go 3-0
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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears made a memorable trip to Philadelphia in November, rushing for 281 yards in an impressive 24-15 victory over the Eagles.
Philadelphia is hoping to return the favor tonight, when it visits Chicago in search of a second straight road win.
"They are one of the better running teams in the league," Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "They've got a really great (offensive line), great backs. Their scheme is good. We're going to have to play it a whole lot better."
It would be difficult to play it any worse than they did in their matchup last season. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai both went over 100 yards rushing as Chicago possessed the ball for almost 40 minutes in its fifth consecutive victory -- a streak that helped propel the Bears to the NFC North title. Philadelphia gained just 87 yards on the ground in the loss.
Swift and Monangai led the way again as Chicago rushed for 291 yards in this year's season opener at Carolina on Sept. 13. But the Bears' ground game was held in check during Sunday's 9-3 loss to Minnesota, finishing with 134 yards on 31 attempts.
Chicago has an uncertain situation at quarterback with Caleb Williams dealing with a right hamstring injury and Tyson Bagent just out of the concussion protocol. But Fangio doesn't think it will have much of an effect on the Bears' rushing scheme.
"They're an under-center offense a good bit, so it's not like it's a lot of gun zone-read, QB-generated runs," Fangio said. "They're under center, handing it off. They do a great job of blocking."
Philadelphia is coming off a dramatic 24-20 victory at Tennessee. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Darius Cooper with 9 seconds left.
"It's a really good team coming in. … They make it really difficult for you and it's sound, both sides of the ball," Bears coach Ben Johnson said. "Special teams a good unit as well, so we'll have our work cut out for us."
If Williams and Bagent are unable to play, Case Keenum is expected to start for Chicago. The 38-year-old Keenum has made 66 starts in 80 career games, but he hasn't thrown a pass in a regular-season game since Dec. 24, 2023, for Houston against Cleveland.
"I feel really good," Keenum said.