I hate to keep writing it, but I remain perfect picking Eagles games so far this season. After practically locking up the NFC East division last Sunday night against Dallas, the Birds stand alone at 9-1. They face a Chicago Bears team that is 3-7 Any faint hopes the Bears had of surprisingly winning the NFC North or even sneaking into the playoffs were shattered by two home losses the last two weeks.
The Bears did upset the Steelers earlier in the year. It will be revenge time for wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who must have this game circled on his calendar.
The Eagles need to keep winning. This is their last home game before embarking on a three-game road trip, with the first two on the west coast. They won't be back to the Linc until Christmas night against the Oakland Raiders.
Even though the Redskins blowing a 15 point lead with three minutes to go last week against a red-hot Saints team in New Orleans did the Eagles no favors, it may be a good thing in the long run. Knowing both the Saints and Vikings ar e8-2 and right behind the Birds, it may keep Philly motivated to not take these games against losing teams-like the bears- for granted.
Every victory counts, and for the Eagles tor each the Super bowl it is important to get a first round bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. Right now, without New Orleans or Minnesota on their schedule, all the Eagles have to do to assure themselves home field is win-out. go 15-1- no problem, right?
Actually, that's not so crazy of an idea. When the Eagles were 4-1 I wrote on the blog that the Birds may be a team of destiny. Why not the Eagles? if the Cubs could win a World Series, why couldn't the Eagles win a Super Bowl?
After Chicago comes the road trip. But Seattle at home isn't the same as before ( they lost last week at home to Atlanta). The Seahawks defense isn't as dominating as in previous seasons.
Taking on the surprising Rams in Los Angeles is a winnable game. So is the game agains the awful Giants in new York.
Christmas night against Oakland may not mean anything to the Raiders.And if/when the eagles officially wrap-up the NFC East, the final game at home against the Cowboys may be meaningless too, unless Philadelphia decides tor est their starters for the upcoming playoffs.
But let's get back to the Bears game at 1:00 this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Mitch Tribisky looks like promising rookie quarterback, a good starting block for Chicago to build on, but he ain't no Carson Wentz. Expect the Bears to play hard- what do they have to lose? But the eagles are the better team, playing at home, and will eventually wear them down.
Turnovers will again be key, and when people talk about why the Eagles have succeeded so much this year, they forget to mention that the Birds don't turn the ball over much. They don't give opposing teams a short field to score on, they don't throw interceptions or fumble the ball in the red zone to squander scoring chances.
On a cold, windy day expected this Sunday, here is my prediction: The eagles continue to play fun but business-like football, going to an astounding 10-1 record.
Eagles 24 Bears 7
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