Author: JJ STANKEVITZ / Source: NBC Sports Chicago
1. Win the game-wrecking battle.
This may be a trite, over-used classic piece of football analysis, but it’s especially true for Bears-Eagles: This game will be decided in the trenches. Both teams possess solid offensive lines and game-wrecking pass-rushing players all over the field.
So the question becomes: How effectively do the Bears shut down defensive tackles Fletcher Cox (10 1/2 sacks, 95 pressures) and Michael Bennett (nine sacks, 68 pressures)? “Wide nine” edge rushers Chris Long and Brandon Graham combined for 10 1/2 sacks this year, too. Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz usually sticks to rushing his four defensive linemen while not sending many blitzes, so the onus will be on the Bears’ offensive line to handle a simple-yet-effective pass rushing scheme.
The good news is the Bears, collectively, have been excellent in pass protection this year. That starts with an offensive line that finished second in Pro Football Focus’ pass blocking efficiency metric and should be boosted by getting right guard Kyle Long back for a full game. This group held Rams superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald to just one quarterback hit last month, which should give them confidence they can mute the impact of Cox and Bennett. And coupled with Mitch Trubisky’s knack for feeling and avoiding pressure and some quality pass protection contributions by Jordan Howard, the Bears will feel good about their ability to make sure the Eagles’ defensive line won’t wreck Sunday’s game.
The flip side to this: The Eagles’ is trending up, with center Jason Kelce, left tackle Jason Peters and left tackle Lane Johnson all playing some of their best football of 2018 to end the season. Right guard Brandon Brooks is a solid, Pro Bowl player too, and left guard Isaac Semualo appears healthy enough to return to the starting lineup. So this will be a Philadelphia offensive line at full strength, one that finished the year allowing just one sack to the combined trio of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Donald.
Eagles coach Doug Pederson, too, will have a plan for how to deal with Khalil Mack, be it through strategic double teams and/or quick passes by quarterback Nick Foles. If the Bears can consistently pressure Foles — as they’ve done to quarterbacks like Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins this year — they can force him to make some mistakes. If not, Foles and an impressive array of weapons…
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