Eagles-Bears Preview

 

SCOUTING REPORT

Eagles will give Orton problems all dayPhiladelphia toppled Pittsburgh in a tough, physical battle at home last week, while Chicago gave away another one. Both teams have strong defenses and effective run games, and both put a premium on smart, productive play in the kicking game. Eagles RB Brian Westbrook and QB Donovan McNabb made early exits last week (though McNabb returned), and the presence of both is vital to Philadelphia's offense. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's game plan destroyed the Steelers' pass protection last week (and almost finished QB Ben Roethlisberger, too), so Bears QB Kyle Orton may want to head for the hills.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
PHI	9-6	416	289	6-2	3-4	2-4	7-5
CHI	9-7	375	350	6-2	3-5	4-2	7-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Philadelphia Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT McNabb 60.3 3553 22 10 Kolb 64.6 741 4 3

Chicago Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Cutler 60.5 3666 27 26 Hanie 42.9 11 0 1

Philadelphia Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD McCoy 155 637 4.1 4 Weaver 70 323 4.6 2

Chicago Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Forte 258 929 3.6 4 Bell 40 220 5.5 0

Philadelphia Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jackso... 63 1167 18.5 9 Celek 76 971 12.8 8

Chicago Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Hester 57 757 13.3 3 Bennet... 54 717 13.3 2

Full Player Stats: Philadelphia | Chicago

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	PHI	351.0
	CHI	296.0
Yards Passing	PHI	244.4
	CHI	191.3
Yards Rushing	PHI	106.1
	CHI	104.6
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	PHI	274.3
	CHI	334.7
Pass Yds Allowed	PHI	182.1
	CHI	241.2
Rush Yds Allowed	PHI	92.3
	CHI	93.5

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Philadelphia leads 3-2
Oct 21, 2007	PHI 16, @CHI 19
Oct 3, 2004	PHI 19, CHI 9
Nov 3, 2002	PHI 19, CHI 13
Jan 19, 2002	PHI 33, CHI 19

As the Philadelphia Eagles defense inflicted plenty of damage last week, the offense suffered some of its own.

With Brian Westbrook's status uncertain and Donovan McNabb at less than full strength, Philadelphia may be forced to rely on its defense again Sunday night at Soldier Field when it tries to deal the Chicago Bears a third straight loss.

Westbrook, who led the league with a franchise-record 2,104 total yards last season, has a strained ankle that has kept him out of practice this week. An MRI revealed no ligament damage, and the All-Pro has said he plans to play Sunday, though the team isn't so sure.

"We'll see how he does here, over the next couple days," Eagles coach Andy Reid said Friday. "I mentioned before that it's going to go right to the wire there."

The Eagles, though, are likely to be cautious with Westbrook, considering injuries have forced him to miss at least one game in each of his previous six NFL seasons.

McNabb has missed significant time each of the last three years, so Philadelphia (2-1) is used to keeping a close eye on his health. The five-time Pro Bowler, however, has been solid this season and is expected to play despite a chest contusion which forced him to briefly leave last Sunday's game against Pittsburgh.

McNabb, who like Westbrook is listed as questionable, returned to practice on Friday and was able to make all the necessary throws.

"During the practice, he felt good," Reid said.

Westbrook missing much of last week's game and McNabb failing to get much going offensively in the second half did not seem to matter because the defense dominated, recording nine sacks with a safety and three forced turnovers in a 15-6 win.

In their two victories, the Eagles have totaled 13 sacks while allowing 346 total yards and nine points. In a 41-37 loss to Dallas in Week 2, they gave up 380 yards and failed to sack Tony Romo.

"Sometimes you get that feeling defensively and say, 'You know what, I don't care what they do. We're going to get loose and stay loose and they are not getting into this end zone,'" Eagles safety Brian Dawkins said.

An injured Dawkins missed last year's game against Chicago as the Eagles were dealt a heartbreaking home loss, 19-16 on Brian Griese's touchdown pass with nine seconds remaining to cap a 97-yard drive.

Griese was the one providing the Bears (1-2) with heartbreak last Sunday. He rallied Tampa Bay from a 10-point deficit in the final 3:11, throwing a tying touchdown pass with seven seconds left, and engineered a 90-yard drive in overtime that sent Chicago to a 27-24 defeat.

Since a surprising road win over Indianapolis in their season opener, the Bears have blown double-digit leads in the second half to lose their last two games. They were up 17-3 midway through the third quarter in Week 2, only to lose 20-17 at Carolina on a TD with 3:52 remaining.

"It's frustrating, but also there are positives in that you see the potential that we have," defensive tackle Tommie Harris told the team's official Web site. "We're not just getting blown out. But most teams are finding ways to win and it seems like we're finding ways to lose, to let people come back in, and we have to get out of the slump that we're in."

Looking to spoil McNabb's return to his hometown, the Bears pass defense could face another busy day considering the Eagles' penchant for throwing the ball, not to mention Westbrook might be out or limited. Chicago faced 67 pass attempts from Griese last week, making three interceptions but allowing him to throw for 407 yards.

"We need to clean up a lot of things," coach Lovie Smith said. "We can't make some of the mistakes we're making right now."

The Bears run defense is among the league's best, allowing 71.3 yards per game and 3.4 per carry, but none has been better than the Eagles. They're holding opponents to 45.7 rushing yards per contest and 2.4 per attempt.

Rookie Matt Forte will try to break through against that unit and continue his solid start to the season. He's rushed for at least 89 yards in all three games, is second in the league with 409 yards from scrimmage and tied for the team lead with 13 receptions.

McNabb and the Eagles are playing in the quarterback's native Chicago for the first time since Oct. 3, 2004, when he threw for 237 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles' 19-9 victory. Westbrook had 182 yards from scrimmage.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Martz: 'Real strong connection' with Cutler

The Bears' Mike Martz said he has a 'real strong connection' with Jay Cutler.

Finfer: Streaking/Slumping with Tyrus and more

ESPNChicago.com's Ben Finfer looks at who was streaking and slumping in Sunday's Bears-Ravens game.

Dungy: Vick spoke of redemption during visits

When Tony Dungy visited Michael Vick in prison last year, Dungy says Vick talked about reconnecting with his kids. They met up again Saturday at the Bart Starr Award breakfast as part of Super Bowl week.

Eagles' Sheldon Brown Skips Workout

Cornerback Sheldon Brown was a no-show and running back Brian Westbrook was a non-participant because of injury today when the Philadelphia Eagles began eight days of workouts that, while voluntary, are generally regarded as "full-roster" in nature.

Jon Runyan contemplates future

Life is different for Jon Runyan these days, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he spent yesterday afternoon on a two-hour road trip to pick up his pet pig.

Ankle injury sidelines Westbrook

In a lighter moment at camp, the Birds' quarterback duo of Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb united in laughter yesterday during the almost-full-squad workout at the team's NovaCare Complex.

Jim Johnson situation a new one for Eagles

Sheldon Brown wasn't there, which is just kind of pointless. Brian Westbrook wasn't there, which is just kind of troubling.

Birds' Eye View: Donovan speaks -- sort of

With the Eagles set to open a full-squad passing camp tomorrow at the NovaCare Complex, Donovan McNabb's team of publicists sent out a release today pitching the 10-year anniversary of the quarterback's charitable foundation.

Former coach sings praises of new Bears LB

Former St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator and Northwestern head coach Rick Venturi never questioned Pisa Tinoisamoa's toughness, but Venturi may have doubted the linebacker's sanity at one point.

Bear facts

LAKE FOREST, Ill. Bears coach Lovie Smith answers email questions from fans: I was so happy to see you thinking out of the box and taking over play-calling duties on defense.

Tinoisamoa signs deal; Bears look at punters

The latest addition in Jerry Angelo's busy offseason arrived Monday at Halas Hall.

Call it signings of the times

In a frenetic day of wheeling and dealing at Halas Hall, the Bears signed a likely starter for their defense, locked up a versatile lineman for two seasons and secured almost all of their draft picks.

Bears hoping Cutler can help get running game in gear

Fact or fiction? Jay Cutler had no running game last season in Denver. Reading through comments left here over the last few days, it looks like the widely held opinion is that the Broncos were running in the slow lane in 2008, you know, when Cutler wasn't chucking it.