Some say leftovers are the best part of the Thanksgiving holiday, and this year’s Black Friday matchup is proof of that. The Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles are set to square off on Black Friday in a very important matchup for both franchises.
The Bears (8-3) are surging in the NFC after winning four straight games and are starting to make people take notice of their success. They took down the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-28 despite dealing with numerous injuries on defense and have control of the NFC North for the second week in a row.
The Eagles (8-3), meanwhile, are having to rebound after blowing a 21-point lead to the Dallas Cowboys to lose 24-21. Despite winning the Super Bowl in February, Philadelphia has been dealing with internal strife with upset players and questionable coaching decisions. They will try and right the ship before things really start to spiral.
This is a pivotal matchup for both teams as they look to cement their postseason hopes going into December. Here are five Eagles players we’ll be watching on Friday:
QB Jalen Hurts
It’s been a while since the Bears faced a dynamic quarterback of Jalen Hurts’ caliber. Despite the Eagles’ offensive woes, Hurts is still having a great season on the ground and through the air statistically. Through 11 games, Hurts has totaled 2,284 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and just one interception. He has also added 298 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground.
This could be a game where Hurts has to do most of the heavy lifting himself. He’s capable of finding the holes in the defense and doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way, something the Bears are excellent at capitalizing on. We’ll see how the Eagles plan on using him, but making their offense one-dimensional will go a long way in helping the Bears get close to a win.
RB Saquon Barkley
This has not been the season Eagles fans envisioned for Saquon Barkley after his historic 2024 season. The Eagles’ run game simply has not been able to get anything consistent going, and Barkley has suffered. Barkley is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, the lowest of his career since the 2021 season when he was on the New York Giants. He has just four touchdowns and has topped 100 rushing yards just once all year.
Perhaps the issue lies with offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and his scheme, or maybe Barkley is experiencing the fatigue of a 20-game season the year before. Whatever the primary cause is, Barkley simply isn’t as effective as he was a year ago. He’s still dangerous enough to take over this game, however, and the Bears cannot take him for granted. Especially after the Steelers totaled 186 yards on the ground last week.
WR A.J. Brown
The Eagles’ passing attack has come under scrutiny this season for a variety of reasons, even though Philadelphia boasts two prolific wide receivers. But with DeVonta Smith’s status being up in the air for Friday’s game, it could be up to A.J. Brown to carry the load. Brown has been in the news all season for his unhappiness with the Eagles offense as a whole. He’s had weeks where he’s been a nonfactor, producing fewer than 50 yards in six games, and very little of his production is coming from the middle of the field.
If Smith cannot go on Friday, Brown becomes the focal point of the passing attack. The Bears can prepare for that and should be ready for the matchup with the return of Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. And Nahshon Wright, who is having a career year, is a good cornerback to match up on Brown. With how the Eagles are using the Pro Bowl receiver, the Bears have a chance to neutralize him.
DT Jordan Davis
Bears fans are gearing up for the team’s first meeting against Jalen Carter ever since the trade that allowed the Eagles to select the Pro Bowl defensive tackle back in 2023. But right now, Carter isn’t the most feared player on the Eagles’ defensive line. That would be Jordan Davis, who is enjoying a career year.
The fourth-year defensive tackle is enjoying career highs in nearly every statistical category. He has 19 solo tackles, five for loss, 15 quarterback pressures, four quarterback hits, three sacks, and six batted passes. Davis has been a nightmare in the middle of the line for opposing offensive linemen, and his penchant for disrupting pass plays could be a factor for Caleb Williams, who has had his fair share of balls batted at the line of scrimmage. The Bears should be capable of not letting Davis wreck the game with their stout center and guards, but his play will be worth watching.
LB Zack Baun
It turns out Zack Baun is no one-year wonder. After receiving a lucrative extension following his 2024 breakout season, Baun has continued to thrive under Vic Fangio’s tutelage as the Eagles’ field general. Through 11 games, Baun has totaled 48 solo tackles, six for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. According to John Gonoude, director of communications for the Eagles, Baun is the only player with 80 or more tackles, three or more sacks, and two or more takeaways this season.
Of course, linebackers always wind up with a ton of tackles, but Baun’s instincts set him apart. He consistently diagnoses plays before they happen and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. That type of play makes him dangerous for someone like Williams, who can sometimes misfire a ball in the middle of the field. Ben Johnson will need to have plenty of disguises ready to take Baun out of position.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 Eagles players to watch vs. Bears
Reporting by Brendan Sugrue, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
