Considering the last time two Bears’ running backs rushed for 100+ ea, thought this apropos. When Sweetness was dying, Suhey used to drive by his house to check-in. Sweetness would be lying on his couch, then at a certain time of day, raise his hand, stick up his middle-finger; Suhey could see it through the window, knew he was still kicking and keep driving.
They would be proud of the trucking this past Black Friday.
Since Packers and Lions already played, that leaves the Vikings who scare no one going forward.
Still on a Friday high, so in case you thought you were hallucinating about the Bears crushing the defending world champs in Philly, here’s a great seg from the Eagles’ side.
“It wasn’t just that they were able to defeat us with physicality; it was scheme. They were putting guys in motion…seemed like the DEs didn’t know if they were going left or right…reverses, jet sweeps…they had no answer for duo [double-teams] while Monangai was just knocking guys out. It was Embarrassing” – Barrett Brooks
“Most rushing yards against the Eagles since 1973. Most in Philly since 1962. I think today we saw what a real [Bears’] offense looks like, efficient, unpredictable, creative, inventive, keeps you off balance ” – Reuben Frank
“Philly invested so much in that d-line, and they just got mauled. Power-football, Bully-ball – and we just took it.” – Jaws
It sounds like the Bears fomented a complete existential crisis for the Eagles. I guess it ain’t always sunny in Philly…
Enjoy your R&R, boys…
CBS sports commentators were admiring the cheerleader uniforms during a Redskins game in 1978 and its about what you would expect in 1978 pic.twitter.com/osnZTi0pLD
Ok, so I’m still out and about so won’t be able to do a proper thorough breakdown, but it’s enough to say that the Bears are no longer “fun frauds’. They physically imposed their will on a team that absolutely demolished the Chiefs in the past SB. If you told a clueless viewer that one team was the champ and the other the underdog, he’d guess that the champs were the Bears and underdogs the Eagles. As Kirk Herbstreit remarked going into the half, “It’s only 10-3 but feels like Bears are winning 21-3,” and that momentum kept rolling basically ’til the final whistle.
All the Grinches, Santas and battery chuckers left early once the Bears went up two scores late.
Technically it could’ve been a measly one score game at the end if not for a truly dumfounding Nick Sirianni decision to go for two instead of kick a PAT.
The Bears looked hungrier, cleaner, cooler, more explosive and confident.
They totally steamrolled a vaunted Eagles’ Dline to the tune of 281 total yards rushing [and it honestly could’ve been more if Ben Johnson cut down on those baffling shotgun plays]!
Eagles’ offense turned it over the least to date, and the Bears still forced TWO TOs including stripping Jalen Hurts on their patented ‘brotherly shove’. That’s like catching Bruce Lee’s one-inch punch and snapping his fingers in half.
Caleb Williams had a rough day [17/36-47%; 1TD, 1 INT, 2 SKs; 56.9 Rating]. So did Jalen Hurts. It’s hard to discern if it was the wind, the drops, or his usually inaccuracy [likely all 3], but he’s still making plays when needed, and none bigger than this one.
If you dissect the play, Caleb could’ve easily dumped it off to Swift. He could’ve also kept it and used Swift as a blocker getting maybe 5-6 yds; however, Caleb didn’t Dalton-it. He went for the jugular – drifting left threw a ball that just floated into Kmet’s hands for a killer TD. Right about then the Boo-Birds started hitting the exits.
In the end, Bears are 9-3, atop the NFCN, gaining a conference win and possible tie-breaker for seeding, but most importantly the ’25 Bounce Back Bears sent a LOUD message to the rest of the league.
Bringing out the big ‘guns’ for this one. Tired of everyone calling the Bear frauds.
I have a theory on Caleb. He needs to get hit. So call a QB run for him early, let his juices get going; then he focuses. Maybe this will get him to play 4 QTRs like a boss.
I know we’ll be highlighting a gimpy Saquon, but can’t forget that AJ Brown has owned the Bears in the past:
A.J. Brown has had 13 catches for 282 yards and has scored 1 touchdown in 2 games versus the Bears in his career.
Since it’s Philly, here’s one the funniest clips from one of my fave comedies, “It’s Always Sunny in Philly”
Happy [Early] Turkey Day! Or if you’re vegetarian, Tofurkey Day which actually can double as a football if you play Thanksgiving ball like me and my friends used to.
Rev reminded me of the Fog Bowl, so if you’re feeling nostalgic, click here.
As of Weds, the Eagles are still missing RT Lane Johnson. Given how impactful Montez Sweat has been since the bye, that’s absolutely a favorable Bears’ matchup.
As for the Bears, eyes are on Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon finally returning. Honestly though, how much of a ‘downgrade’ is Nashon Wright from JJ? JJ has dropped some relatively easy INTs, you think he makes some of those spectacular Wright high-points? Wright was also in prime position to end the Steelers’ game at the end if Brisker doesn’t tip it. You have the same confidence JJ INTs that?
Meanwhile all CJ Gardner-Johnson has done is everything. What does Gordon do better besides strain something?
These are real questions Dennis Allen must answer soon, and maybe Ryan Poles down the line with the cap and trying to nab and pay a premiere rusher like Jefferey Simmons or Myles Garrett.
The Eagles’ O doesn’t turn it over, so this is strength vs strength. I think the last time the Bears lost the turnover battle [Ravens], they lost the game. So we’ll see which unit imposes its will. #1 No TO Eagles’ O – or #1 TO Bears’ D.
Their run game has struggled though. They avg 3.9 per rush, 2.30 yds before contact, and rank 24rth in EPA in last 3 weeks. Flus actually used a 5-man “Bear” front to stuff Saquon Barkley, and I can easily see Dennis Allen following suit with Brisker, Sewell, Jackson, or Gordon[?] and CJ off the corners. Granted, Cowboys had Quinnen Williams, but Grady Jarrett has looked healthier as of late.
The wildcard will be Jaylen Hurts scrambling; the Bears have struggled vs running QBs like Dart, Huntley, etc and are down to PS squad tier LBs who bit on every misdirection vs Steelers, but as the Giants found out the hard way, that’s a risky gameplan. Bears’ D flies and lays the wood hunting for TOs.
On D, we all know the Eagles’ Dline is to envy. We are well aware that Poles drafted Darnell Wright instead of Jalen Carter, and that Carter has played at an AP level and is arguably a top 3 DT which we can fantasize about.
However, the Bears’ Oline has totally rebounded from ’24 and has become an asset coming off a strong game vs Steelers where Ozzy Trapilo stepped in and looked the part.
Update on how the #Bears' OL ranks by PFF grading:
• Joe Thuney: 6th for LG • Drew Dalman: 3rd for C • Jonah Jackson: 5th for RG • Darnell Wright: 4th for RT
With Ozzy Trapilo coming off a 75.0 graded game at LT….they might have found their one missing piece. pic.twitter.com/SbzULK2Eko
Caleb struggling under pressure raises an eyebrow. Would like to see him make aggressive Ds pay, but what QB doesn’t struggle under pressure?
Caleb Williams was pressured on only 8 of 37 dropbacks Sunday (22%), the lowest rate he has faced in a game this season. The protection was big as Williams was just 1-of-6 for 4 yards under duress.
One thing that could be a gamechanger though is that the Vikings brought edge blitzers to stifle the stretch run and contain Caleb.
The Eagles’ Dline is talented enough to not need to blitz, which means Fangio will use all kinds of exotic coverages to confuse Caleb. If there’s a rush in his face on top of that, could be a long Black Friday for Caleb.
Here’s a concise game preview by Bears Now.
Think Trac said Bears would have to get two turnovers and score over 30 to win this game.
My response, “So, basically, another Bears’ game.”
It’s gotten to that point in the season where we don’t have to wonder all that much what teams are.
The Bears are a feisty, sloppy, opportunistic team with the most dangerous weapon of all:
BELIEF
They BELIEVE that if it’s close, no matter how slow, penalty-ridden, or miscued through 3 QTRs – no matter if the opposing team blocked a punt/FG, returned for a TD, strip-sacked TD, are averaging 6 yards per play, or if they’re down to 20 players because lighting struck their sideline…these Bears believe they’ll close it out regardless.
That’s a 180 from the floundering Fluses which found ways to lose.
Bears are a scary team to face even if you are the reigning champs and favorited Eagles. Bears are playing with house $ while the entire Philly hate-machine has been pounding on them all season especially after a brutal blown game against their hated rival Cowboys.
Overtime:
Couple odd stats for Bears.
1. No QB with such an awful comp% wins as much as Caleb Williams. It’s not even all that close really:
Caleb Williams has completed less than 60% of his passes in seven games this season.
In those games, the Bears are 7-0.
All other teams this season when their QB is below 60% passing (min. 20 attempts)?
2. Bears are also -3 point differential total the whole season. Apparently only the 1987 Chargers were worse through 11 games.
[Any old-timers recall the ’87 Chargers?]
I mentioned this before, but this Bears’ team reminds me a lot of the ’22 Vikings when they made that crazy 13-4 run with Kirk Cousins. Felt like every week was that scene from “Airplane”, “Looks like I picked the wrong time to quit sniffing glue!”
[2023 Vikings? 7-10]
The 2025 Chicago Bears are fun frauds! Nothing we can do but enjoy before the train wreck.
Then add that the Bears’ D allows 5.77 YPP [20th], 26.5 PPG [27th] yet still count on at least 2+TOs per game [1st], and one can understand why many persist the Bears are “Fun Frauds.”
It’ll be up to Bears to finally silence the doubters; after all, the only difference between “fun frauds” and epic “Cinderellas” is winning.
