Eagles-Bears scouting report

Recent history: The Eagles lost to the Bears, 24-20, on Sept. 28, 2008. Chicago lead the series, 28-11-1.

Eagles: 352.2 yards per game (12th)

Bears: 334.3 yards per game (18th)

Eagles: Donovan McNabb's 95.1 passer rating is the third highest of his career. He's had just two clunker games this season – v. Dallas (16-for-30, 2 INTs) and Oakland (22-for-46, 0 TDs, 6 sacks). Completed 9 of 11 passes on third down last week, including his two TD throws to Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek

Bears: Jay Cutler has one of the strongest arms in the league, but too often makes poor decisions because of the confidence he has in his arm. He has a league-high 17 interceptions, 15 of which have come in his team's 5 losses. He's thrown 99 passes in the last 2 games.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: With Brian Westbrook out, rookie LeSean McCoy will get his fourth start of the season. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry in his previous 3 starts. The biggest concern with him right now is blitz recognition. He failed to pick up one last week and got McNabb sacked.

Bears: Matt Forte has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry behind the Bears' rebuilt line. The 6-2, 217-pounder is a hard-charging, one-cut runner with sub-4.5 speed. More productive this season as a receiver than runner. He had eight receptions for 120 yards in last week's loss to the 49ers.

PICK: BEARS

Eagles: The Eagles' big-play perimeter tandem, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, have combined for 65 receptions and eight touchdown catches. Slot receiver Jason Avant had eight catches for 156 yards vs. the Chargers last week. Sixteen of his 23 receptions this season have been for first downs.

Bears: WRs Devin Hester and rookie Johnny Knox both are burners, but neither is averaging more than 12.4 yards per catch. Hester, a converted DB, still is learning the finer points of playing the position. Jay Cutler relies heavily on TE Greg Olsen (34 catches, six TDs) and RB Matt Forte (38 catches) in the passing game.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: This unit already has given up 22 sacks, which is just one fewer than they allowed all last season. Their run-blocking problems were underscored last week when they couldn't punch the ball into the end zone from the 1-yard line.

Bears: Like the Eagles, the Bears rebuilt their line in the offseason, and have experienced growing pains. LT Orlando Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowler, isn't the dominant player he once was. They brought in Frank Omiyale to replace Josh Beekman at LG, but Omiyale has struggled and was benched.

PICK: BEARS

Eagles: 3-7.4 yards per game (9th)

Bears: 313.8 yards per game (10th)

Eagles: The Eagles desperately need a consistent pass-rush Sunday to protect their depleted secondary and linebacking corps. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has a plethora of versatile pass-rushing linemen that he can move around, stand up and even drop into coverage.

Bears: The Bears need pressure from their front four to make their Cover-2 scheme work. Ends Adawale Ogunleye and Alex Brown have combined for nine of the teams' 18 sacks. But no one else has more than one.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: Sean McDermott has made three moves in response to WLB Akeem Jordan's knee injury, moving MLB Will Witherspoon to Jordan's spot, SLB Chris Gocong to the middle and inserting penalty-prone rookie Moise Fokou on the strong side.

Bears: The Bears have lost two of their three season-opening starters to injuries. MLB Brian Urlacher (wrist) and SLB Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) both are on IR. WLB Lance Briggs is a four-time Pro Bowler who has the range to run down plays all over the field.

PICK: BEARS

Eagles: The Eagles are hurting at CB. They lost their depth 2 weeks ago when nickel corner Joselio Hanson was suspended and Ellis Hobbs suffered a season-ending neck injury. Now, they may be without one of their starters as well (Sheldon Brown, hamstring).

Bears: The Bears play a Cover-2 defense, which probably will limit the Eagles' deep opportunities on the outside. Bears are eight in the league vs. the pass, but have given up 16 passing TDs and have a .627 opponent completion percentage.

PICK: BEARS

Eagles: The Eagles' coverage units will have to be at the top of their game this week against Bears KR Johnny Knox (27.4) and PR Devin Hester (9.9). The punt coverage unit has been solid all season, but they're 21st in the league in kickoff coverage.

Bears: Both of the Bears' return men – Hester and Knox – are home run threats, though Hester hasn't been as effective as a PR since becoming a full-time WR. Knox has a 102-yard TD return this season. PK Robbie Gould has missed just six of his last 61 field goal attempts.

PICK: BEARS

Eagles WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin vs. Bears CBs Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman. Jackson and Maclin have combined for eight TD catches. Tillman and Bowman are bigger corners, who will try to jam Eagles wideouts at the line. Advantage: Eagles

Eagles RDE Trent Cole vs. Bears LT Orlando Pace. Pace once was one of the top left tackles in the game, but at 35, he's lost a yard off his fastball. Cole has developed into an outstanding every-down end. Advantage: Eagles

Eagles LCB Asante Samuel v. Bears WR Devin Hester. Samuel has a team-high five interceptions. Hester has 48 receptions, but just one TD in the last six games. Advantage: Eagles

HOT

Eagles: WR Jason Avant. Had a career game vs. Chargers, catching eight passes for 156 yards.

Bears: TE Greg Olsen. Has 12 catches for 146 yards and three TDs in the last two games.

NOT

Eagles: CB Asante Samuel. Gave up a third-quarter TD and got beat for an 18-yard completion on a key third-down play late in the game last week.

Bears: QB Jay Cutler. Threw five interceptions in last week's loss to the 49ers. Has league-high 17 interceptions this season.

Bears 24, Eagles 20