Eagles' Defense Struggles Against Bears' Rushing Attack
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The Philadelphia Eagles' defense faced a significant challenge in their recent game against the Chicago Bears, allowing a staggering 281 rushing yards in a 24-15 loss. According to PhillyVoice, this defeat marks a critical moment for the Eagles, who dropped to 8-4 and are now in a precarious position regarding their playoff aspirations.
The Bears' running backs, D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, each surpassed the 100-yard mark, with Swift finishing with 125 yards and Monangai adding 130 yards, leading to the first instance in 20 years that two opposing runners gained over 100 yards against an Eagles defense in a single game.
This substantial ground game by the Bears set a record for the most rushing yards allowed by a Vic Fangio-coached defense since 2005, highlighting a critical breakdown in the Eagles' defensive strategy.
The Eagles' defensive line did force a few turnovers and pressured Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throughout the game, but their inability to stop the run proved detrimental. As noted by Pro Football Talk, the Eagles had not previously allowed more than 174 rushing yards in any game this season, demonstrating the stark contrast in their usual defensive performance.
PhillyVoice elaborates that the Eagles' run defense, which had ranked in the middle of the pack prior to this game, was particularly ineffective as they allowed the Bears to dominate possession, leading by nearly 20 minutes in game clock.
The Eagles' offense struggled as well, failing to generate a consistent attack, which put additional pressure on the defense. This combination of offensive ineptitude and defensive breakdown has raised alarms about the team's playoff viability.
The Eagles' next matchup will be crucial as they travel to California to face the Chargers, where they will need to address these critical defensive issues. The loss against the Bears has left the team and its coaching staff reevaluating their strategies moving forward, especially regarding their run defense, which has become an Achilles' heel.
The Eagles now face a pivotal moment as they attempt to regroup and reclaim their status as contenders in the NFC, while the Bears have solidified their own position with this impressive win, improving to 9-3.