The Philadelphia Eagles tried to blow a 19-point lead to the Chicago Bears, but managed to hold on for a 22-14 victory in a rematch of the NFC Wild Card Game to move to 5-4 on the year. Philadelphia allowed the Bears to score 14 unanswered points after taking a 19-0 lead in the third quarter, but put together one of their most impressive drives of the season in taking 8:14 off the clock in the fourth quarter, converting four consecutive third downs in the most critical junction of the game.
Chicago never got the ball back after Jake Elliott hit a 38-yard field goal with 26 seconds left to make it 22-14. Bears tight end Adam Shaheen muffed the catch on the kickoff and the Eagles recovered to deny Chicago a last ditch effort for a Hail Mary and an attempt to tie the game with a two-point conversion.
Jordan Howard scored a touchdown in his first game against his former team, finishing with 19 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown. Zach Ertz had his best game of the season as the Eagles tight end had nine catches for 103 yards and a touchdown, a 25-yard catch for his second score of 2019.
The Bears had just nine total yards in the first half, but rallied back in this game with two scoring drives in three possessions between the third and fourth quarter. Chicago's offense had no turnovers, but finished with just 164 yards of offense. Mitchell Trubisky went 10 of 21 for 125 yards with no touchdowns and a 66.6 passer rating. The Bears have lost their fourth consecutive game after a 3-1 start to the season, falling to 3-5 and remaining in last place in the NFC North.
Here's what else you need to know about the Eagles victory:
The Eagles controlled the line of scrimmage in the first half on both sides of the ball. The offense was able to score on its first three possessions thanks to a strong running game by Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders while the defense was able to frustrate the Bears offense by holding them to five consecutive three-and-outs to start the game. The Bears started the game with 15 plays for negative-10 yards while the Eagles were able to build a 12-0 lead heading to halftime.
While the Eagles got away from running the ball in the second half and ditched man-to-man coverage for zone, they established a 19-0 lead, which ended up being too much for the Bears to overcome. When it was time for the Eagles to buckle down, they went into a four-minute offense midway through the fourth quarter to run time off the clock and preserve the win. This game was closer then it should have been, but the Eagles converting four consecutive third downs on their final meaningful offensive possession helped seal the game.
The Bears defense wasn't at its best, but the offense was downright atrocious in the first half. Chicago had just nine total yards in the first half and didn't get a first down until a Mitchell Trubisky scramble late in the second quarter. Trubisky looked lost in the first half, going just 6 of 13 for 24 yards while leading the Bears in rushing with a seven-yard scramble. David Montgomery had just three carries for one yard in the first half as the Bears had no continuity on offense.
Chicago has a bunch of problems on offense, going 2 of 10 on third down, averaging 4.3 yards per pass, completing just 10 of 21 passes and having 10 first downs. When the Bears realized they could throw the ball on the Eagles secondary they were down 19-0 midway through the third quarter. Just a pitiful offensive output for a team that can't rely on its defense to win every game. This isn't 2018 anymore, Chicago.
The Eagles never trailed in this game, but the victory was in doubt until the final possession of the fourth quarter. The Eagles got the ball back with 8:39 left and a five-point lead, running 8:14 off the clock to eliminate any realistic chance Chicago had to win the game. That isn't possible without Carson Wentz finding Miles Sanders on a screen pass for a 15-yard gain early in the drive.
The Eagles faced a third-and-12 from their own 29 after a Lane Johnson false start penalty pinned them back. Carson Wentz allowed the Bears to blitz him and waited for the Miles Sanders chip before finding him in the flat with open field in front of him. Sanders got the first down and extended the Eagles drive with 4:44 left, the second third down conversion on that final drive. The Eagles would have given the ball back to the Bears with under four minutes to go if it wasn't for Wentz trusting Sanders.
There weren't many highlight plays in this one, but the Eagles were essentially able to seal the victory as the Bears were trying to use their timeouts and stop the clock with just over two minutes to go. Philadelphia faced a third-and-9 on Chicago's 44-yard line with 2:24 left, forcing the Eagles to be aggressive needing a first down to run out the clock.
Head coach Doug Pederson called a creative screen play where Carson Wentz allowed the Bears defense to rush him before flipping the ball in the middle of the field to tight end Dallas Goedert. Once Goedert got the ball, he had open space and ran 16 yards for the first down, extending the drive and getting the Eagles into field goal range to take an eight-point lead. The Bears had just one timeout and the two minute warning left, which allowed the Eagles to kick the field goal with under 30 seconds left. The Eagles' final third down conversion essentially allowed them to seal the victory, thanks to an aggressive and creative play call.
"I almost pulled a D-Jac and (celebrated) too soon," - Eagles running back Jordan Howard on scoring a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter (via Martin Frank of Delaware News Journal).
Howard had a big game against his former team, as the Bears traded him to the Eagles for a sixth-round pick. They have regretted that decision as Howard (who turned 25 over the weekend) had 19 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown in the win. His score came when he went untouched up the middle as the Eagles took a 19-0 lead with 10:37 left in the third quarter. Howard has 119 carries for 525 yards and six touchdowns on the season, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
The Eagles will head into their bye week with a 5-4 record, waiting to see what the Dallas Cowboys do against the New York Giants Monday night to see if they head into their off week leading the NFC East. They'll host the New England Patriots in two weeks, the second of three consecutive home games. The Bears (3-5) will host the Detroit Lions next Sunday as they look for their first win since the last week of September.
For more analysis on this game, check out a recap of our live blog below.
That will do it from Philadelphia. The Eagles get a much-needed win before the bye week while the Bears remain in last in the NFC North in what appears to be a lost season. Big two-game stretch coming up for the Eagles. Jeff Kerr signing off here.
Thanks for following along and have a good rest of your Sunday!
The Eagles get the 38-yard FG from Elliott and the Bears fumble the kickoff. Game over. Eagles go to 5-4 while the Bears fall to 3-5.
Eagles will call TO and kick a 38-yard FG. Bears will need a touchdown and 2-point conversion to win.
Bears will get the ball back with around 25 seconds left. 4th and 2 for the Eagles
The Eagles got the ball with 8:39 left in the fourth. They ran 6:39 and counting off the clock.
That 3rd-and-12 screen to Goedert for the first down should seal this one. Two minute warning and no timeouts left.
Bears are being smart to let the clock run down here. Still have the TO and two minute warning.
Three third down conversions on this drive.
Wentz gets to Ertz. First down. That's the first one of 2 they need.
They will use their first one with 3:04 to play. Also have the two minute warning. 3rd-and-3 for Eagles. Basically two first downs win it.
Bears have to start thinking about calling timeout. Have three left with 3:25 to go.
Eagles have a false start on 3rd-and-8. Team falling apart.
Jeffery is going to the medical tent after that play.
Contested catch by Jeffery on third down
https://twitter.com/JeffKerrCB...
The Eagles would be wise to run the ball...repeating myself
Big stop for the Eagles on 3rd-and-9. Avonte Maddox back in the slot and boy did they miss him.
Wentz throws a perfect pass to Alshon Jeffery on 3rd-and-10 and he...drops it. You can't make this stuff up.
Predictable play call for Pederson on 2nd-and-10. Jordan Howard run after a pass on first down.
It's time for Carson Wentz to be a franchise QB. Sustain drives and get points.
