Eagles-Bears analysis: The Birds survive in Chicago, coming away with an ugly 25-20 win

CHICAGO — Even when he isn’t anywhere close to his best, Jalen Hurts continues to spark the Eagles.

On Sunday afternoon when the windchill factor at game time was 3 degrees (18 degrees, 16-mph wind), the Birds’ starting quarterback looked far from the version of himself that fans and pundits have grown to adore this season. Hurts had catapulted himself atop the league’s MVP conversation with some jaw-dropping performances, but he had also been consistent with his approach and decision-making.

Entering the Week 15 contest against the Bears, Hurts had just three interceptions over 13 games. He nearly doubled that season total in the Windy City as he was picked off twice in the first half. Despite the miscues, Hurts still threw for 315 yards, while recording a career-high three rushing touchdowns, and the Eagles emerged with a 25-20 victory to improve their NFL-best record to 13-1.

“I think in the end, it’s a testament to how we persevered and believed in each other as a team,” said Hurts, who at age 24 is the youngest quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to a 13-1 start.

“The great teams, the great players — they find a way. Collectively as a group, we found a way as a team. That’s the biggest takeaway.”

It wasn’t just Hurts who was uncharacteristically off his “A” game. The coaching staff, particularly offensive play caller Shane Steichen and head coach Nick Sirianni, didn’t help much early on when the offense was stagnant and pass-heavy. The Bears entered Sunday as one of the worst defensive teams in the league according to multiple statistics and advanced analytics. They ranked 27th in rushing defense and 32nd in overall DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average).

Despite possessing clear advantages against a depleted roster, the Birds’ play callers opted for an abundance of passing plays to begin the game. There were additional factors that led to the Eagles not running the ball early — Hurts was intercepted on the opening possession, followed by a three-and-out — but neglecting to feed running back Miles Sanders should be considered malpractice, especially given the weather conditions. Sanders, the NFL’s fifth-leading rusher, didn’t receive his first carry until less than seven minutes remained in the second quarter.

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DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown represent one of the league’s best wide-receiver duos, and they should be treated as such. But the Eagles also boast one of the most efficient offensive lines in football and Sanders is enjoying the most productive season of his career. With tight end Dallas Goedert expected back Saturday at Dallas, finding that balance will be a priority over the final three weeks of the regular season.

“You go in there and you think you have some matchups that you like,” Sirianni said. “We saw some matchups that we liked out there. That’s how we went out today. It wasn’t our best game. A lot of credit to them. ... They got the better of us in the takeaway margin today. Give them a lot of credit for the things they did to make it hard for us on offense.”

His two interceptions won’t help his MVP case, but Hurts still strung together a solid outing, all things considered. He missed occasional throws on balls that were gobbled up by the howling winds, but also connected multiple times with Smith and Brown on difficult deep shots. At least one long completion to Smith came after a pre-snap check Hurts made at the line of scrimmage.

“It was a great check by my quarterback,” Smith said of his 45-yard reception. “He checked the play, then we executed. It started with him seeing the coverage, checking it, then us going out there and executing.”

Hurts completed 22 of 37 throws for 315 yards. Smith and Brown each eclipsed 100 yards with the duo combining for 14 catches and a whopping 307 receiving yards.

Perhaps even more importantly, Hurts was an effective rusher when the Eagles absolutely needed him. Hurts embraced contact while he paced the Eagles with 61 rushing yards. He tied a career high with three rushing touchdowns, upping his season total to 13. Hurts is now just one away from tying Cam Newton’s NFL record single-season record for a quarterback.

Following Hurts’ second interception, defensive end Brandon Graham approached Hurts on the bench and relayed a message to his fellow team captain.

“Man, he just had to figure it out, and move on to the next,” Graham said. “There’s going to be games like that. I told him, ‘We got your back. We’re going to go out there and get a stop. We’re going to hold our end. Go do your thing.’ I just wanted to let him know that we had his back.

“It was cold out there today, I’m not even going to lie. But [Hurts] didn’t allow that to stop us.”

The Eagles combined for six sacks against Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Defensive ends Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave each recorded two sacks. The Eagles lead the NFL with 55 sacks.

“We’ve been rushing well all year,” said Sweat, whose 9½ sacks rank third on the team behind Reddick’s 12 and Hargrave’s 10. “Now it’s just about finding time to shave off time and really get there. I think it’s just coming to me. I’ve been keeping it consistent.”

Containing Fields proved to be a tough task. The second-year quarterback scrambled multiple times, finishing with a game-best 95 rushing yards. But the Eagles contained him as a passer; Fields recorded just 14 completions on 21 attempts for 152 yards.

“We knew that boy was fast,” Graham said. “We knew exactly what he could do. We knew we were going to have to run after him today. He gets on you so fast. I respect him. He’s up-and-coming for sure.”

With Arryn Siposs going on injured reserve last week, the Eagles signed veteran Brett Kern. A three-time Pro Bowler in 13 seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Kern didn’t see much action with just two punts Sunday. His first punt appeared to be a bit of a shank (45 yards), but the weather conditions were certainly a factor. For additional context, the Bears opted to punt from the Eagles’ 30-yard line, rather than attempting a 48-yard field goal against the wind.

In addition to his punting responsibilities, Kern also served as the team’s holder. Jake Elliott converted on three of his four kicks (one field goal, two extra-point attempts with a missed 38-yard field-goal try).

“It was good to get [Kern] with us on the field,” Elliott said. “It was a tough day in general out there. We definitely got all of the Windy City today. But he was good. It was a seamless transition. I thought he did a great job holding. It was smart to bring in a vet like that. He’s a guy that’s been around a long time, and I’m able to pick his brain because he’s seen a lot of stuff.”

The Eagles will conclude their longest road stretch of the season with a highly anticipated Week 16 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at 4:25 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium. If the Eagles defeat the Cowboys on Christmas Eve, they will clinch the NFC East title, along with the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Eagles control their own destiny, and a win over their final three games would secure the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

“I think they have one of the best pass-rush units in the league,” right tackle Lane Johnson said of the Cowboys. “They create so much pressure, lots of sacks. Micah Parsons is a dynamic player. All those guys across the board. They’re no joke. They play hard. They play well.

“It’s Dallas week, we know that. It’s a short week. We’ll enjoy this win on the flight home, and get back to work soon.”