Eagles O-line will be tested by Bears, and vice versa
Here are some things to look for when the Eagles play host to the Bears on Monday night. Premier pass rush
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Here are some things to look for when the Eagles play host to the Bears on Monday night.
Premier pass rush
With Trent Cole, Jason Babin, Julius Peppers, and Israel Idonije, the pass-rushing talent this week will be enough to make Buddy Ryan smile. (The former Eagles coach will be on hand to be honored in a halftime ceremony.) The Eagles offensive line has played better than its counterpart in Chicago, but each of these players has the talent to tear up an offense.
Test run
Yes, the Eagles held the Cowboys to only 85 yards rushing, but the Dallas backs picked up more than nine yards per carry when they did get the ball. The Eagles' big lead did more to stop the run than the defense. Will Chicago stick with Matt Forte this week? And if the Bears do, will the defense be up to the task, or was the recent success a mirage?
Red zone
Chicago is giving up more yards than usual - 380.6 per game - but the Bears have kept opponents' scoring average below 22 with a red zone defense that ranks ninth in the NFL. The Eagles are 24th in red zone offense. They need to get seven points inside the 20 to put the Bears away.
Turnover battle
The biggest wild card for the Eagles has been turnovers. In all three wins the Eagles have two or fewer turnovers. In their losses? Three or more each time. The last two weeks the Eagles managed five takeaways against just two giveaways. The Bears have 12 takeaways and eight turnovers. Holding onto the ball could make the difference.
Stopping Hester
The Bears offense is not very explosive, but return man Devin Hester can make up for that. The Eagles have a rookie punter who ranks near the bottom of the league in net and average, but only eight of his punts have been run back, fewest in the NFL. The Eagles have to try to make quarterback Jay Cutler, not Hester, beat them.
Hello, Henery?
Kicker Alex Henery has tried only one kick of 40 yards or longer, and that was a 63-yard desperation attempt at the end of a half. Sooner or later, the rookie kicker will have to try a long but makeable attempt. Will that come this week? And will he deliver?