Bears maul Eagles
Bears 31, Eagles 26
Bears maul Eagles
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
CHICAGO -- For those who believe in worrisome parts of football schedules, and trap games, and the pendulum of emotion that is the result of those forces, the Eagles' game against the Chicago Bears was proof positive. It looked like a bad spot coming into the game and it was: Bears 31, Eagles 26.
Everbody knew the deal. The Eagles had just played three emotional games in succession, including two within the NFC East, and won them all. They are in the middle of an odd stretch: Monday night, Sunday night, Sunday afternoon, then Thursday night upcoming against Houston. This looked like trouble all along. And it was.
For the people who calmed their concerns with this mantra -- "But it's Jay Cutler playing for the Bears" -- it turned out that Cutler played about as well as people around here have seen him play. He did it against an Eagles defense that was missing injured cornerback Asante Samuel, and it really showed. Anybody who can doubt Samuel's value to this defense should be forced to watch a tape of this one on a continuous loop. Without Samuel, both sides of the field were suddenly open for attack, and Cutler did just fine, thanks: 14 for 21 for 247 yards and 4 touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was beaten up for the second consecutive week, and there were long stretches where he looked pretty ordinary under the Chicago assault. On a day when very few Eagles people played well, Vick was still good (but no better than that). He missed some throws, he seemed very reluctant to throw the ball at other times, and at least twice, he was chased down from behind by Chicago defense end Julius Peppers on scrambles out of the pocket.
For the day, Vick's numbers -- which were kind of padded in the fourth quarter when the Bears were thrilled to see him throwing underneath while trailing by two scores -- wen like this: 29 for 44 for 333 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
The game turned radically right before the end of the first half. The Eagles were on the Bears' 4-yard line, trailing by 14-13, when Vick's pass into the end zone, intended for Jeremy Maclin, was tipped in the backfield by Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris, intercepted by safety Chris Harris, and returned to the Bears' 37 yard line. Six plays later, the Bears scored on a 6-yard pass from Cutler to wide receiver Earl Bennett.
What could have been a 20-14 Eagles lead was instead a 21-13 deficit. And when the Bears took the opening kickoff and Devin Hester returned it 46 yards...and then Hester got 34 more yards on a catch-and-run play...and then Cutler hit tight end Greg Olsen with a 9-yard touchdown over the outstretched hands of cornerback Dmitri Patterson, the rout was on.
To their credit, the Eagles did hang in. Again, playing against a team willing to trade yards for time, they moved the ball and, with 1:48 to go, a touchdown pass to tight end Brent Celek, caught in the midst of a crowd, brought the Eagles back to 31-26. It was kind of deceiving, though. And when the ensuing onsides kick failed, it was all over but the pushing and shoving that continued until the end.
@Solomanium..so I guess you didn't notice that the Bears front four was getting constant pressure on Vick and they could drop 7 guys in coverage, hence taking away the deep pass and forcing the dink and dunks? That being said, the O-Line is really bad beyond recognition when 4 guys are beating 6, sometimes 7 guys most of the game. If Kolb were in there it might have gotten uglier. Anyhoo, now they get to face a Texans team that has no Pass D (next to last in passing yards given up (3010), 2nd to last in yards per pass attempt (8.4), 25 passing TDs allowed (most in NFL), 17 total sacks (4th fewest in league), QBs have a rating of 109.1 (by far the worst) and they allow 301 yards a game through the air. Plus they will most likely be missing some guy named Andre Johnson, don't know if anyone heard of him but apparently he is pretty good. To finish 3-1 in 18 days will be pretty darn spectacular.— ESFjellin
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SI cover was the "Kiss of Death".....— dogman5- OMG, did I miss the game? The Eagles must've been humiliated by 30 points or something right? Puh-leeze, people. 1) The special teams got thumped a couple of times by the best return team in the league. Philly struggled to recoup field position. 2) The DBs couldn't 'make a play', meaning that game-changing play that Asante Samuel specializes in. Hmmm, coincidence? 3) The Bears played sound 2-deep all game long, forcing the short throws...but Philly still was able to move the ball through the air, and had sustained drives. They were better today in all phases...but if 31-26 with a dropped TD pass, another tipped pass INT'd in the endzone, playing vs a defense as athletic as the G-Men, and multiple big plays going against you without your best DB all game counts as being "mauled", I think someone needs to put the proverbial pipe down for a minute.— KNuff
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- I don't blame Vick for this loss. He still managed to put up 26 against the best D in the league on a night when Jacksona dn Maclain decided not to show up. Our D needs a major chew-out after this one. They were pathetic. As others have said, the loss of Asante hurt us too.— Carcharios
- I don't blame Vick for this loss. He still managed to put up 26 against the best D in the league on a night when Jacksona dn Maclain decided not to show up. Our D needs a major chew-out after this one. They were pathetic. As others have said, the loss of Asante hurt us too.— Carcharios
- This loss is very concerning as Reid prides himself on winning regular season championships. Don't fret, Reid will still win his prized division championship.(His personal Superbowl). He will receive his accolades just before losing the playoff game because he failed to put his players in "Position to win". He will fool many all along the way.... as a fraud always does... and fool the biggest milquetoast of them all, once again, Jeffrey Lurie.— Carlos2
Wow, Did u really think Vick would go undefeated as a starter? Imagine if it was Kolb with all that pressure all day. The score wouldn't have been as close as it was. The D gave up too many points too fast. So tell me what D is going to play their regular D when you have a quick 2 TD lead and your front 4 is getting constant pressure. It's pretty simple, they got outcoached today. They need to bounce back next week.— ewsavage- Need a new defense coordinator! Need stop trying to blitz so much with those pitiful corners! Go get Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor! Lol!! What's Rich Kotite doing this days?! lol— jordan8
- Desean's alligator arms are getting ridiculous. The guy is not big-time. I thought McDermott had "proved his critics wrong." The defense was embarrassing. And I agree with a previous comment. The in-game coaching was dreadful and the red-zone play-calling was terrible. 2nd and goal from the 3. Why not go shotgun, four receivers, and try to throw a cross through three defenders? Sounds good. That play had no chance, and it's on the coaches.— auntesther
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- M. Vick: 29/44 (65.9 %) 333yds 2 td , 1 int. 9 rushes 44 yds, escaped another 3 or 4 sacks. Made another highlight film throw on the Celek TD.
Yep, they sure figured out a way to "stop Michael Vick". Note to my favorite all-time best Eagles coach who is doing a heckuva job rebuilding (check the record): LeSEAN MCCOY is averaging 5 YARDS PER CARRY. No, the screen game is NOT the same as the RUN game. Ask BILL WALSH not Lavell Edwards! RUN THE D*MN BALL!!— KNuff - Comment removed.
- We are still the best team in the NFC. Please help me in my petition to the NFL to have 31 teams in the AFC and the Eagles be the only team in the NFC. I booked my trip to Dallas for the SB after the Washington win.— rsjII
