Can Eagles beat Bears without Caleb Williams? Our experts score predictions
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PHILADELPHIA − When the Eagles faced the Chicago Bears last Nov. 28 at Lincoln Financial Field, it wasn't Bears QB Caleb Williams who beat them as much as the Bears' running back tandem of D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monanghai.
Monanghai had 130 yards rushing and Swift 125 while Williams completed less than 50% of his passes in the Eagles' 24-15 loss.
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But with Williams expected to miss the game with a hamstring injury, the question becomes whether Williams' ability to scramble makes Swift and Monanghai more dangerous, or vice versa.
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We're about to find out when the two teams meet again on Sept. 28 in a Monday Night Football game. That includes who will play quarterback for Chicago. Backup Tyson Bagent is in concussion protocol, so his status is uncertain. The No. 3 QB is 38-year-old Case Keenum, who last played in an NFL game in 2023.
While Bagent can scramble, although not to the extent that Williams does, Keenum is a pure pocket passer. But Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he's not preparing the defense any differently.
"Don't have enough information yet," Fangio said about which Bears QB he expects to see. "We're preparing for Chicago's offense. I don't think their offense will change a whole lot schematically, so that's what we'll prepare for."
Besides, the Eagles have their own issues.
Their offensive line is still adjusting to the loss of Landon Dickerson with center Cam Jurgens moving to left guard and Drew Kendall inserted at center. Running back Saquon Barkley is coming off a "stinger" and his playing status is uncertain. In addition, tight end Dallas Goedert is out with a knee injury and Zach Ertz, signed to the practice squad, is expected to see his first game action since tearing his ACL last Nov. 30.
And the Eagles defense had several missed tackles in their 24-20 win over the Titans on Sept. 20, allowing Tennessee to average 4.2 yards per rushing attempt.
So it could be a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair in the Windy City on Monday Night Football. Here's how we see the game going:
Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports betting analyst & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com), Tom Rimback (sports writer, Courierpostonline.com), Brandon Holveck (high school sports reporter, Delawareonline.com)
Martin Frank
I came up with a mathematical formula to pick this game. The Bears went from scoring 59 points in Week 1 to 3 in Week 2. Taking the average, they should score 31 against the Eagles. Subtract 10 for Bears backup Tyson Bagent replacing the injured Caleb Williams, so that's down to 21. Subtract another 10 if No. 3 QB Case Keenum starts because Bagent is in concussion protocol, making it 11. I'll give Chicago 5 points back because of Saquon Barkley uncertainty and Zach Ertz coming in cold to replace Dallas Goedert.
The pick: Eagles 18, Bears 16
Greg Giesen
As a kid who grew up in the Chicagoland area, I remember another injured Bears quarterback coming off the bench and rallying the team on Monday Night Football. Ah, to see Caleb Williams resurrect memories of Jim McMahon and 1985. One problem, the Bears' defense is nothing like the 1985 defense. The Eagles' offense should have a big game.
The pick: Da' Birds 27, Da' Bears 6
Brandon Holveck
This matchup was made significantly easier for the Eagles by the presumed absence of Caleb Williams. It is an important game for Vic Fangio's defense to get back on track.
The pick: Eagles 24, Bears 17
Tom Moore
The Eagles could win another one on a Jalen Hurts-led scoring drive in crunch time.
The pick: Eagles 27, Bears 21
Tom McGurk
If they can slow down Chicago's running game that torched them last season, the Eagles should be able to soar out of the Windy City with a third straight win − albeit another nail-biter. Jalen Hurts works more fourth-quarter magic for a big victory.
The pick: Eagles 26, Bears 23
Kevin Tresolini
While my fantasy team is certainly rueing the absence of injured Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the Eagles will not as their job just got easier, though will certainly not be easy. They'll still have to play well to prevail after last week's too-close win at Tennessee.
The pick: Eagles 20, Bears 16
Bob Jordan
The Bears have scored 62 points over two games but 59 of the points came in Week 1. The Eagles' deficit in the all-time series fell to 17-30-1 when the Chicagoland team won last year's meeting; time to make amends.
The pick: Eagles 30, Bears 6
Bert Bainbridge
The Eagles had their issues last week in Tennessee and narrowly escaped with a win in the Music City. The Birds aren't as lucky this time around, as the Bears with a backup QB stun the Eagles and pull off the upset in primetime at Solider Field.
The pick: Bears 24, Eagles 21
Tom Rimback
Depending on Caleb Williams' pain threshold and the Bears' adherence to the concussion protocol, the Eagles could be in decent shape here. Jalen Hurts has begun to show that he can throw over the middle. Now it would be nice if the O-line could prove it can block somebody.
The pick: Eagles 31, Bears 10
Tom Haines
The Birds defense ran out of gas in the second half at Tennessee, and a repeat "arm-tackling" clinic could spell trouble against a Bears running game that trampled the Eagles last season. But Jalen Hurts has been putting on a clinic of his own through the air. That should be enough to pull off the road win.
The pick: Eagles 27, Bears 17
Michelle Ganassi
Williams is not practicing, and Bagent is in concussion protocol. Does anyone know if the Bears will even have a QB this weekend? Even with Barkley's injury, the Eagles should win this matchup.
The pick: Eagles 17, Bears 10
Overall records
2-0: Frank, Giesen, McGurk, Moore, Jordan, Bainbridge, Haines, Tresolini, Ganassi, Rimback, Holveck
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Can Eagles beat Bears without Caleb Williams? Our experts score predictions
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