Eagles at Bears: Handle Business, But I Wanted Caleb
The Birds are 2–0 and headed to Soldier Field for Monday Night Football. I wanted this one to tell us something big. Chicago won its division last year, beat us 24–15, and had Caleb Williams leading the offense. That’s a team you want another crack at with everybody healthy.
Instead, Williams is out with a hamstring injury, and Case Keenum is expected to get the start. I’m taking an Eagles win any way it comes, but it sucks that we don’t get the full measuring stick. Beat Chicago tonight and it counts the same in the standings. It just won’t answer quite the same question about how the Birds stack up against Caleb and this Bears offense.
Keys to the game:
Stop the damn run. Chicago came into this week averaging 212.5 rushing yards a game. They also put up 281 on the Eagles in last year’s meeting. With Keenum starting, the Bears have even more reason to lean on D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, and that offensive line. The Eagles’ front needs to set the tone early.
Make Keenum carry the offense. He’s a veteran, so don’t treat him like some guy they found in the parking lot. But the Birds should make Chicago face third-and-long, tackle well underneath, and force him to put together full drives. Don’t give him short fields or easy throws because somebody missed an assignment.
Let Hurts go win it. Jalen has thrown five touchdowns through two games, and DeVonta Smith is coming off a 10-catch, 117-yard game. Dallas Goedert and Hollywood Brown are out, so the other targets have to contribute. Get the passing game moving early and make Chicago defend the whole field.
Take care of the ball. The Eagles got away with being minus two in turnovers against Tennessee. I’m not interested in finding out whether they can pull that off again on the road.
This should be an Eagles win. I want more than a squeaker against a Bears team missing Caleb, though. Shut down the run, play clean football, and leave Chicago 3–0. Go Birds.
-Jawn Kruk/Side Jawn Sports
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