NFL: Philadelphia at Chicago (8:15 PM ET, NBC)
Philadelphia has come to Chicago four times in the L9 years, leaving with wins each time while going 3-1 ATS.
2008-09-26
Philadelphia has come to Chicago four times in the L9 years, leaving with wins each time while going 3-1 ATS. The Eagles will look to make it five straight when they travel to the Windy City for the Sunday night NBC feature game. HC Andy Reid’s team is a 3-point opening line road favorite, and comes in at 2-1 but with injury concerns to RB Brian Westbrook. Still, over 90% of early bettors like the Eagles’ chances.
The role of road chalk is nothing strange to the Eagles, as they are 18-13 ATS in that role under Reid, 49-27 ATS away overall. They are also a strong 17-6 ATS against NFC North opponents. Chicago lost its home opener last week to Tampa in overtime and will be looking to get back to .500 with a big effort here. The Bears have a 2-game road trip after this game, making it all the more important.
Chicago was dealt the strangest schedule of any NFL team in 2008, and it continues with the first of three planned Sunday night games against a conference rival. Philadelphia and hometown hero Donovan McNabb invade Soldier Field in one of the more intriguing matchups on the Week 4 slate. The Bears, 1-2 after failing to protect a 10-point fourth-quarter lead againstTampa Bay last Sunday in their home opener, began the season with two straight on the road and go to Detroit and Atlanta in the weeks to come.
What follows is an odd stretch of nine games (three at home, three on the road, then three more at home) that includes a pair against both Minnesota and Green Bay. Regardless of the opponent, Chicago's margin for error is slim because of its non-explosive offense. And it'll need to put up some points against the Eagles, who've scored 90 points so far. Though quarterback Kyle Orton has been relatively accurate through three games, completing 62.1 percent of his passes, he's averaged 189 yards per outing and didn't throw a touchdown in either of the first two games. The Bears learned in Week 1 he can avoid the kind of Rex Grossman-like mistakes that can cost them a game, but at the same time Weeks 2 and 3 showed Orton may lack the ability to step up and help win one. In Orton's defense, he's not working with a formidable receiver corps.
Brandon Lloyd, who underachieved in two previous NFL stops and until last week hadn't caught a touchdown pass since 2005, is tied for the team lead in catches with 13. And he was a backup for the first two games. Rashied Davis and Marty Booker have combined for 10 catches and 69 yards, and deep threat Devin Hester made just two grabs in the first two weeks before missing the Bucs game with a rib-cage injury.
The Eagles' defense rebounded from a soft performance in Week 2 at Dallas to shut down Pittsburgh in a 15-6 victory. The Bears would be wise to take some chances with Orton down the field and try to loosen the box for rookie running back Matt Forte, who already has 304 yards.
When Philadelphia's on the move, McNabb will no doubt test a secondary still adjusting to a season-ending ankle injury to nickel back Brandon McGowan. McNabb was sharp (21 of 34, 226 yards, one touchdown) in last year's 19-16 home loss to Chicago, though he could be minus Brian Westbrook (ankle) for this game.
PREDICTION
If Hester isn't healthy enough to return, the Bears will not only be hurting on special teams but also more likely to continue their conservative ways on offense. While the Eagles won't score in the 30s, their balance is enough to be the deciding factor.
PHILADELPHIA 19, CHICAGO 16
NFL News
Click here to read latest NFL news