The Chicago Bears (8-3) will battle the Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) on Black Friday, where Chicago is looking to make a statement with a huge win over the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Bears are coming off another close win, this time to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where they managed to overcome a rash of defensive injuries. Chicago’s offense capitalized in the red zone, scoring 31 points, while the defense continued to take the ball away to secure another win.

Now, the Bears will face an Eagles team coming off a brutal loss to the Dallas Cowboys, where they blew a 21-point lead. This is a get-right game for Philadelphia and a potential defining moment for Chicago if they manage to pull off the upset.

Can Chicago win their ninth game in the last 10 and make a statement to the NFL world? Our Bears Wire staff make their game predictions for Bears-Eagles in Week 13:

Alyssa Barbieri (8-3): Bears 24, Eagles 23

Honestly, I had no idea where I was going to lean in this game earlier in the week, but I would’ve put money on leaning towards the Eagles. Yet, my gut is telling me that the Bears are going to find a way to win this game. And who am I to doubt this team when all they’ve done is found ways to win games this season, whether it’s a blowout or, usually, nail-biting comebacks in the fourth quarter. 

Here’s the thing, if the Bears are in this game during the fourth quarter, they’re going to find a way to win. The only time they haven’t managed that was back in Week 1, and Ben Johnson nipped that in the bud real quick. Their other two losses have been blowouts, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Chicago to once again Houdini their way to an unexpected win when no one believes they have a chance.

But in order to do that, the Bears offense is going to need to hold up their end of the bargain. The Eagles offense has struggled this season, so if there’s an opportunity for Chicago to set the tone early, they need to take advantage against a talented Eagles defense. Leaning on the ground game, which has an opportunity to thrive, and getting Caleb Williams into a comfortable rhythm will be key. The Bears were able to capitalize in the red zone last week against the Steelers, and they’re going to need to do the same in this game. Settling for field goals isn’t going to be enough.

Chicago’s defense could be seeing huge reinforcements in the secondary with the potential returns of Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, but it looks like they could be without their starting linebackers once again. Keeping Saquon Barkley in check is a must, and this pass rush needs to find a way to fluster Jalen Hurts. If they can get a turnover early, it should set the tone for this defense that has made a living taking the ball away.

Listen, the Bears could very well lose this game (and most people expect them to). But I believe this game will come down to the fourth quarter, and that’s when Chicago is at their best. And, if they manage to find a way to win, it’s going to leave fans clutching their chests once again. They’re not the cardiac kings of the NFL for nothing.

Brendan Sugrue (6-5): Eagles 24, Bears 20

This is the week where the Bears can go from pretenders to contenders. For most of the season, critics have been saying Chicago hasn’t played anyone or caught numerous breaks on their road to 8-3. And, to an extent, they’re correct. But now is where Ben Johnson can prove to everyone this team is for real and should be taken seriously in the playoff race. Unfortunately, that argument will have to be made in a loss.

You can argue the Bears are the better-coached team up to this point, especially after the Eagles blew a 21-point lead to a division rival. They’re teetering right now, but they still have too much talent for the Bears to overcome. Vic Fangio knows all the right buttons to push on defense; they’re sixth in the league in EPA per play, and they are stacked at every level. Keep in mind the Bears offense will need to avoid pre-snap issues while in a hostile environment, and that hasn’t always worked.

As for the Bears defense, they should be getting back key reinforcements in Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, which will help in the long run. The problem is there could be chemistry issues to start as they, especially Johnson, ease back into action. Philadelphia, while limited due to coaching, has the talent to exploit the Bears’ weaknesses, and that could be enough to keep Chicago at bay.

This should be a really good game, and the Bears will at least cover the spread of seven points. But I can’t see them pulling out a victory and ending their six-game losing streak against the Eagles.

Mike Pendleton (8-3): Bears 27, Eagles 24

The only way in which the Bears can defeat the Eagles is by having a better offensive display from start to finish, so if this game gets ugly and drawn out, Philadelphia likely cruises. Coming off their epic 21-point collapse to the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia is going to be angry, but they could come out and use the Bears as a punching bag. 

In what is lining up to be the most pivotal game of the year for both teams, Chicago has a chance to prove they can battle with the best of the best. Their rushing attack should help carry them against an average Eagles defense against the run, and help them control the clock. 

Getting a national primetime spotlight, Chicago has an incredible opportunity against a championship team that’s reeling. It could be an incredible holiday weekend, or the ghosts of recent past could rear their ugly head.

Vinnie Parise (7-4): Bears 20, Eagles 17

This is it. This is the game in which the Chicago Bears can truly earn some respect from around the NFL world. Yes they are 8-3. The fact that they have narrowly found ways to win against struggling teams has caused folks to minimize the growth in Chicago’s game. 

Good teams beat bad teams, that’s the way it’s supposed to go. The Bears are also still developing in a lot of ways, which should scare the rest of the NFC because they are only going to get better. Never apologize for winning in the NFL. Coming into the year, the Bears had a brutal schedule. Their opponents not living up to expectations is not their fault. It’s also not a schedule that they created. 

The Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions. There are elite skill-players on both sides of the ball, they are strong in the trenches, and their coaching staff has been there-done that. A win over them would be impressive for Ben Johnson’s team. Although the Eagles are 8-3, they don’t have the same magic that they did last year. They are still trying to work through some things on offense. Chicago’s defense must keep them down for another week if they want to win.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Eagles predictions, picks: Who wins in Week 13?

Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Brendan Sugrue, Mike Pendleton and Vincent Parise, Bears Wire / Bears Wire

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