Rory Sparrow
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- Joined:
- Aug 14, 2010
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For the regular season, the Bears averaged 5.4 yards per play and gave up 4.8 yards per play. The Eagles averaged 5.6 yards per play but gave up 5.8 yards per play. Its somewhat incredible that the Eagles even made the postseason considering how statistically poor they are.
*Much is being made of Philly's postseason experience, but the 2018 version is just a shell of the 2017 version, and that 2017 version had no 'experience' per se. In 2017, the Eagles and Rams were the best teams during the regular season, and the question was if the Eagles could still win with Foles. This year, the Eagles were terrible in the regular season and now the question is can Foles win another Super Bowl. Weird. So, in sum, I don't put much stock in the Eagles having 'experience'.
*That said, I do have a fear that Matt Nagy's lack of experience might cause him to lose his shit when it comes to 4th downs and other gadgetry. One thing I'll never fault Nagy for is going for 2, because...
*Cody Parkey is completely untrustworthy, even on extra points, and could very well be the reason the Bears are eliminated from the postseason.
*The Eagles defense features a tough tackling front 7 that is difficult to run on, but their pass defense is almost completely reliant on blitzes. Nagy should be able to out-gameplan Jim Schwartz here.
*The two things the Eagles have going for them now that they didn't have earlier are improved pass protection and Darren Sproles. The Eagles did a fantastic job in keeping Foles upright against the tough Texans and Rams defenses. If they can do the same against the Bears, then they have a chance of winning. Sproles is annoyingly good at picking up 1st downs on draws and dumpoffs...two things that could counteract the Bears pass rush.
*In the end, the only way the Bears lose is if they beat themselves on offense. I think even if the Eagles have success moving the ball on the Bears defense, they won't score in bunches and the game will always be in reach. The Bears offense HAS to take advantage of the Eagles defense...either by scoring points (duh) or sustained drives. I can see the Bears losing if Trubisky has a bad game, Nagy takes unnecessary risks that directly lead to Philly scores, or if Nagy goes away from what is working once the offense gets into the redzone and we are 'treated' to several short FG misses from Cody Parkey.
Final score prediction: Bears 28 Eagles 20
*Much is being made of Philly's postseason experience, but the 2018 version is just a shell of the 2017 version, and that 2017 version had no 'experience' per se. In 2017, the Eagles and Rams were the best teams during the regular season, and the question was if the Eagles could still win with Foles. This year, the Eagles were terrible in the regular season and now the question is can Foles win another Super Bowl. Weird. So, in sum, I don't put much stock in the Eagles having 'experience'.
*That said, I do have a fear that Matt Nagy's lack of experience might cause him to lose his shit when it comes to 4th downs and other gadgetry. One thing I'll never fault Nagy for is going for 2, because...
*Cody Parkey is completely untrustworthy, even on extra points, and could very well be the reason the Bears are eliminated from the postseason.
*The Eagles defense features a tough tackling front 7 that is difficult to run on, but their pass defense is almost completely reliant on blitzes. Nagy should be able to out-gameplan Jim Schwartz here.
*The two things the Eagles have going for them now that they didn't have earlier are improved pass protection and Darren Sproles. The Eagles did a fantastic job in keeping Foles upright against the tough Texans and Rams defenses. If they can do the same against the Bears, then they have a chance of winning. Sproles is annoyingly good at picking up 1st downs on draws and dumpoffs...two things that could counteract the Bears pass rush.
*In the end, the only way the Bears lose is if they beat themselves on offense. I think even if the Eagles have success moving the ball on the Bears defense, they won't score in bunches and the game will always be in reach. The Bears offense HAS to take advantage of the Eagles defense...either by scoring points (duh) or sustained drives. I can see the Bears losing if Trubisky has a bad game, Nagy takes unnecessary risks that directly lead to Philly scores, or if Nagy goes away from what is working once the offense gets into the redzone and we are 'treated' to several short FG misses from Cody Parkey.
Final score prediction: Bears 28 Eagles 20