Eagles-Bears preview

352.4 yards per game (9th)

Bears

287.7 yards per game (28th)

Quarterback

Eagles: Opposing QBs have a 94.6 passer rating and 67.7 completion percentage against the Bears, which bodes well for Donovan McNabb. He doesn't have the mobility he had before his '06 knee injury, so it's more important than ever that he make quick decisions and get the ball out.

Bears: Even though he has six interceptions in his three starts since replacing Rex Grossman, Brian Griese doesn't make the blockhead throws Grossman did. He's good at finding a favorable matchup and exploiting it. He has relied heavily on his tight ends since replacing Grossman.

PICK: EAGLES

Running back

Eagles: Brian Westbrook shrugged off his abdominal strain and notched 156 rushing and receiving yards against the Jets. He's not as big, but every bit as elusive in space as the Vikings' Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 224 yards and three TDs against the Bears last week.

Bears: The Bears felt confident enough in Cedric Benson to trade away 1,200-yard rusher Thomas Jones in the offseason. But Benson has averaged a puny 3.1 yards per carry. Absence of a vertical passing game has allowed safeties to move up in the box and help with the run.

PICK: EAGLES

Receiver

Eagles: Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown combined for 11 catches and 210 receiving yards last week. With L.J. Smith still nowhere near 100 percent, the Eagles have gotten little production from the TE position (15 receptions, 123 yards and no touchdowns).

Bears: Bernard Berrian has been slowed by a sprained big toe and hasn't been the vertical threat he was in '06, when he averaged 15.2 yards a catch. The Bears finally are giving return man Devin Hester more offensive reps. He had an 81-yard TD catch last week. TEs Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen have been go-to guys.

PICK: EAGLES

Offensive line

Eagles: Teams that have been able to run the ball well against the Bears, including the Vikings last week, were able to consistently get a blocker on MLB Brian Urlacher. Eagles must do the same. Eagles' 22 sacks allowed are just six fewer than they gave up all of last year.

Bears: The biggest problems with this unit have been outside, where LT John Tait has been slowed by a groin injury and RT Fred Miller just hasn't played very well. After giving up six sacks in Brian Griese's first start, they've allowed just three in the last two games.

PICK: EAGLES

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DEFENSE

Eagles

292.6 yards per game (7th)

Bears

361.3 yards per game (27th)

Defensive line

Eagles: The Eagles have been remarkably healthy up front, which has allowed Jim Johnson to use an eight-man rotation and keep players fresh. Two of their three sacks of Jets QB Chad Pennington last week came in the fourth quarter.

Bears: Tampa-2 disciple Lovie Smith doesn't blitz a lot, relying mainly on his front four for pass-rush pressure. Led by DE Mark Anderson, the Bears are ranked fifth in sacks per pass play, but are allowing 4.6 yards per carry. Pro Bowl DT Tommie Harris has been slowed by a hamstring injury.

PICK: BEARS

Linebacker

Eagles: Chris Gocong gives the Eagles a physical presence at SLB that they haven't had since Carlos Emmons played the position. He has shown excellent recognition skills reacting to the run or pass. He'll be busy vs. a Bears offense that relies heavily on the tight end.

Bears: The Bears shut down LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson in Weeks 1 and 2. Since then, they've been gashed for 5.7 yards per carry. MLB Brian Urlacher's play has dropped off dramatically. For only the seventh time in his career last week, he had five or fewer tackles as he struggled to get off blocks.

PICK: BEARS

Secondary

Eagles

Despite the absence of Pro Bowlers Lito Sheppard and Brian Dawkins, this unit has played exceptionally well, holding opposing quarterbacks to a 73.3 passer rating and 56.7 completion percentage. Sheppard, out since Week 1, could return Sunday.

Bears: Injuries have forced the Bears to use nine different starters in the secondary. Fearful of giving up the deep ball, they've played very little press coverage. Opposing QBs have a 94.6 passer rating and 67.7 completion percentage against them.

PICK: EAGLES

Special teams

Eagles: The pressure will be on PK David Akers and P Sav Rocca to keep the ball out of the hands of the Bears' dangerous return man, Devin Hester. Eagles are 28th in kickoff coverage. Akers has five touchbacks in his last 19 kickoffs, but seven of the other 14 have been returned 29 yards or more.

Bears: Devin Hester is the league's best return man and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He already has three returns for touchdowns. PK Robbie Gould has missed just five of his last 46 field-goal attempts. P Brad Maynard has had just eight of 28 punts returned.

PICK: BEARS

Who's hot, who's not

HOT:

Eagles: RB Brian Westbrook. Had 156 rushing and receiving yards vs. Jets and is averaging 7.0 yards per touch this season.

Bears: PR/KR/WR Devin Hester. Had an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown and an 81-yard TD catch vs. Vikings.

NOT:

Eagles: PK David Akers. Has missed three of his last seven FG attempts, including two of five vs. Jets.

Bears: RB Cedric Benson. Is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry in the first 6 games.

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What we're watching

Each week in the Eagles Playbook, Daily News football writer Paul Domowitch provides five keys that fans should be keeping their eyes on:

1. Devin's impact: Any time Devin Hester touches the ball, he's a threat to take it to the end zone. He already has three returns for touchdowns, including an 89-yard punt return last week against Minnesota. The Bears also are increasing his reps at wide receiver. He had an 81-yard TD catch last week.

2. Brian's song: The Vikings' Adrian Peterson torched the Bears' defense for 224 yards and three TDs on just 20 carries last week. Now it's Brian Westbrook's turn. He notched 156 rushing and receiving yards against the Jets last week and is every bit as elusive in space as Peterson. The Bears, who finished sixth in the league in run defense last season, are 26th through 6 weeks.

3. Eagles' red-zone production: Last season, the Eagles owned one of the best red-zone offenses in the league, converting more than 50 percent of their trips inside the 20 into touchdowns. After going 0-4 against the Jets (three field goals), they currently rank 14th in the NFC in red-zone production. Last week, they had 12 offensive plays inside the 20 and ran it only three times.

4. The Bears' struggling ground game: Brian Griese isn't good enough to be a 35-pass-a-game quarterback. He needs to be complemented by an efficient running attack, but the Bears are averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. The Bears were 10-1 last year when they had 30 or more rushing attempts. But they're averaging just 26 per game this year.

5. Bears tight ends: Brian Griese has relied heavily on tight ends Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen since replacing Rex Grossman. Twenty-two of their 33 receptions have come in Griese's three starts. In the last 2 weeks, they've combined for 230 yards and two touchdowns. So far this season, the Eagles have done an effective job against opposing tight ends.

Domo's pick

Eagles 24, Bears 20