DATE: November 22, 2009
TIME: 8:20 PM, ET.
SITE: Chicago, IL
TV: NBC
LINE: EAGLES -3
TOTAL: 45
EAGLES ATS RECORD: 5-4
BEARS ATS RECORD: 4-5
Sunday night’s match up, the Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) and the Chicago Bears (4-5) features two teams fighting for their post-season lives.
Neither team was projected to have a difficult time reaching the post season, but with the Eagles playing the NFC and the Bears in the NFC North, all of sudden the playoffs aren’t a sure thing.
The Eagles chances of making the post-season took a hit last week, when they fell to the Chargers 31-23, but more importantly when offensive weapon Brian Westbrook suffered his second concussion of the season.
Without Westbrook the Eagles will have to rely heavily on Donovan McNabb and rookie LeSean McCoy against the Bears.
Last week against the Chargers, McNabb threw for a season-high 450 yards while completing 35 of 55 passes. As well as the offense played, McNabb had trouble getting the Eagled from the red zone to the end zone. Philadelphia was stopped four times in the red zone, setting for David Akers field goals and eventually an eight-point loss.
“When you have those opportunities to score we have to pound it in there,” McNabb said.
Despite the consecutive losses to the Cowboys at home and the Chargers on the road, McNabb and the Eagles are still in contention for a playoff spot, trailing NFC East-leading Dallas by one game.
With Westbrook out, McCoy will take over as the Eagles primary running back threat. The rookie leads the Eagles with 353 yards and two touchdowns. “I just want to help out the offense as much as possible,” McCoy, the 21st pick in the second round of the 2009 draft, said. “I never really expected to play a big role like this. But I got drafted for a reason. I have my chance, my opportunity and I have to make the best of it.”
As much as the Eagles need and want this win, they can’t take a chance relying on McCoy too much. Philadelphia will have to sink or swim with McNabb.
“This is a game that we need to win,” McNabb told the Eagles’ official Web site. “That’s the way I’m approaching it and that’s the way the other guys are approaching it as well.”
Speaking of quarterbacks, the Bears (4-5) have expected a lot more than they received, from first-year, Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler.
Last week against the 49ers, Cutler threw a career-high five interceptions in Chicago’s 10-6 loss at San Francisco. The Bears outgained the 49ers 134 yards but had to settle for two field goals.
Last season with Denver, Cutler, who threw 18 interceptions, this season in Chicago, he already has a league-leading 17.
The Bears coaching staff isn’t putting all the blame on Cutler. “It’s different in each one,” offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. “I look at three of them - and I’m not blaming anyone else, I’m just making a point it’s a team game. I couldn’t really say, ‘Jay, you need to do something different on those plays.’”
Cutler has been forced to carry the offense because of a struggling running game. Chicago is 30th in the NFL at 85.2 yards rushing per game. If fingers are going to get pointed, they should be directed towards second year running back Matt Forte. In his rookie season, Forte ran for 1,238 yards but in this season he’s been held to 482 yards.
The Bears still believe a playoff berth as a wild-card team is possible. They understand with a 4-game lead, the Vikings all but have the division wrapped up but to make it to the post-season they’ll have to play better down the stretch.
“We have no room for any more losses,” defensive tackle Tommie Harris. “If you lose, you’re going to be hoping another team loses so you can get in. You don’t want to do that. … It is basically in our hands right now. We have to do a better job and everybody has to step up.”
The Bears have won the last two meetings against the Eagles, including a 24-20 victory at home last season.
INJURIES:
BEARS:
11/19/09 SS – Al Afalva - Shoulder - probable
11/19/09 OL – Orlando Pace - Concussion - probable
11/20/09 S – Kevin Payne - Back - doubtful
11/20/09 TE – Desmond Clark - Neck - doubtful
11/20/09 C – Olin Kreutz - Back - probable
<EAGLES:
11/20/09 RB – Brian Westbrook - Concussion - expected to miss game.
11/20/09 S – Quintin Demps - Ankle - expected to miss game
11/19/09 CB – Sheldon Brown - Hamstring - doubtful for game
BETTING TRENDS:
The Eagles are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against a team with a losing record
The Bears are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games as an UNDERDOG
The Bears are 1-4 ATS in their last five games
The OVER is 6-1 in the Eagles last seven games against the NFC
The OVER is 22-10 in the Bears last 32 home games
The UNDERDOG is 6-1 ATS in the last seven games between the two teams
