The Bears Soared Over the Eagles 30-24

Everyone is counting out the Bears in this game.  Not the fans in !  This game will be about the running backs moving the ball for their respective teams.  Lovie Smith stated that everyone has not seen what the Chicago Bears can do.  Let’s witness this statement from Lovie.

1st Quarter
Chicago starts the game on offense by winning the coin toss.  Matt Forte, as with the start of almost every game, gets the running game going and the offense in a positive direction.  Matt has run 45 yards so far with just 2+minutes into the game & his incredible vision of the field is All-Pro.  The passing game is not clicking as of yet, Jay Cutler is incomplete with his first 2 passes. 

However, coming back to the receiving core of the Bears, Earl Bennett's first catch is a 1st down via a 3rd down situation.  Check out the ORANGE CLEATS!  Philly must have visions of Jay Cutler being on his back because they are blitzing hard.  It seems as if the Bears coaching staff was prepared for this because the running game of the Bears is moving the sticks.  Jay is getting his rhythm together….TD pass to Matt Spaeth.

The Philadelphia Eagles offense scheme is opposite of the Chicago Bears, consisting of passing play calling.  Michael Vick is staying the in pocket, but when the first running play is called, Da Bears cause negative yardage (-4).  Brian Urlacher is reading the offensive play calling of the Eagles…4th Down.

Defensively, the Eagles are stopping the run by really focusing on Forte.  On a Bears 3rd down drive, Roy Williams completes a catch for a first down.  Not wanting to be regulated to just a passing attack, Chicago is still trying to run the ball with no success.  “Da Bears” have to settle with a punt but also with a great quarter.

Bears 7   Eagles 0

2nd Quarter
Philly has great speed offensively, and instead of using that speed to their advantage, juke moves while running or receiving the ball is not fooling or working against the “Bear Down” of Chicago.  I have not seen this much pressure from the Defensive line of Chicago in some time.  Philly with their second drive gets to keep going offensively from a holding penalty on Chicago. 

Lance Briggs, who I have been a bit critical of this season, chased down Vick from the opposite side of the field and made nice pursuit tackle, preventing a 1st down conversion.  Philadelphia calls a timeout, and out of that timeout, they get a huge run by McCoy and end up in the red zone.  Chicago has returned the favor of a big play by intercepting the ball (Major Wright) via a deflection by Briggs; stopping the Eagles offensive possession and potential score. 

Chicago gains 3 points via a 51 yard field goal by Robbie Gould, after the interception with key plays from Earl Bennett.  He was called for an offensive penalty, but turned that negative yardage into a first down with an incredible run after the catch.  Da Bears run a WILDCAT play for some odd reason during this possession??!

Philadelphia is moving the ball with precision passing from Michael Vick.  But after almost every pass, the Bears hit him hard.  Julius Peppers sacks the Philly QB, stopping their offensive possession…the Eagles are on the board with a field goal.  

Coming to the end of the half, Chicago is running its two minute drill.  Matt Forte tries to secure a pass from Cutler but is stripped for a 24yd. Defensive Touchdown by the Eagles.  Tie game and Philadelphia has does this with less than 1 minute of playing time...they are fired up and so are the Philly fans. 

The Bears next offensive possession is more of the same as the last one.  Jay Cutler is rattled; not accurate with the pass and Chicago has to punt the ball with enough time on the clock for Philly to score again.  The Eagles were a probably amped up a bit too much.  During the punt return, Sam Hurd was able secure the ball for Chicago after a strip/fumble at the Eagles 10 yard line. 

Chicago is still not fluid on offense and Jay is just rushing his passes, 3 and out, 4th down.  WAIT!  A personal foul on the Eagles for roughing the passer and resulting in a new set of downs for Chicago.  Marion Barber on a running play goes in for the touchdown. 

Bears 17    Eagles 10

3rd Quarter
Philadelphia starts on offense with this drive, Michael Vick is staying in the pocket and working the offense.  As soon as I type this, Vick is now moving OUT of the pocket and gaining first down possession after first down possession.  They (Eagles) worked the clock, moved the ball with small plays, and willed this score to tie the game again. 

After a fantastic drive by Philly, Chicago goes back to what had worked in the first half, Forte running the ball.  He was moving the ball for the Bears but ended up with a fumble and great field position for Philly.  Chicago's defense after the turnover is a bit rattled.  Vick is running all over the place and no one is coming close to tackling him.  On a key running play, McCoy gets 7 points on the board for the Eagles.  The missed tackles by Chicago's defense were worse than the Forte's fumble. 

Chicago gets back into the game with their next possession.  The mix of run and pass featuring Forte, Williams, and Barber were key and setting up a field goal by Robbie Gould.

Bears 20    Eagles 24

4th Quarter
Julius Peppers is having a heck of a game; although, he was injured earlier.  He starts this quarter by deflecting a pass and tipping it in the air.  The defensive pressure is back and Philly turns the ball over via downs. 

With their next offensive possession, Chicago scores a TD (Cutler to Bennett) and goes up by 3 points.  The Eagles are determined to change the score of game by offering up three straight 1st down plays against the Bears defense.  Chicago holds the defensive line and Philly fakes a punt to contend for the lead...FAIL. 

I'm reading tweets while blogging the game, reading about how bad a night Forte is having.  What?!!  His head is in the game; yes, he had 2 fumbles but now he is leading the offensive attack by gaining first downs and having defenders bouncing off of him.  Roy (M.I.A.) Williams is also offering up 1st down plays for the Bears.  A tremendous game this night for Roy Williams.  Chicago kicks a field goal and is up by six points with 4 minutes to go for the game. 

The linebacker core plus the defensive front line holds for a Chicago Bears victory.  Chicago also picks up another tie breaker if they retain their wildcard spot.  My MVP for this game is Jay Cutler. 

Bears 30    Eagles 24