The Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
When the Eagles have the ball: If success on the ground in the first half of the Chicago Bears game didn’t convince Sean Mannion to lean into the run game against the Rams, DeVonta Smith’s absence should only reinforce to him that his best chance of turning the offense around is to feed Saquon Barkley the ball early and often. Yeah, Mannion is going to need Jalen Hurts to check to passes if Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula stacks the box. But you’re cutting into your chances of winning if you’re consistently in third-and-long.
Saquon Barkley was effective in the first half against the Bears on Monday night. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Eagles need early down yards. They had some impressive gains on outside-zone runs in Chicago. Left tackle Jordan Mailata was a mauler. Run behind that! Center Drew Kendall and left guard Cam Jurgens were effectively combo blocking and getting to the second level to create lanes for Barkley, too.
The Rams have a solid run defense, even if they got scorched by the San Francisco 49ers and gave up 174 rushing yards in the opener. They allowed only 2.9 yards a carry in the next two games. Shula has a deep defensive line, but future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald was ruled out Friday and the team will also be without all-world end Myles Garrett for another week.
It’s an aggressive front that Mannion may be able to exploit with crack blocks and counters. If he can get Barkley to the second level against the likes of linebacker Nate Landman, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, there could be opportunities for explosive runs. The Rams kept Barkley in check last season (18 carries for 46 yards), but he rushed for over 200 yards in each of their meetings in 2024.
If the Eagles can have even a modicum of success on outside runs, they should be able to incorporate more play-action when Hurts is under center. Mannion and offensive line coach Chris Kuper just need to find a better way to counter blitzes up the “A” gaps in those scenarios. Some of that has to do with blocking assignments and blitz pickup, but we’ve yet to see much of Hurts on naked bootlegs. Get him out of the pocket for layup throws.
Hurts was great on third down in the first two games, but it was unsustainable and he was crushed under that weight in the second half of the Bears game. This will be the best pass rush the Eagles have yet to face, even without Donald and Garrett. Byron Young is explosive, and defensive tackles Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner can win at the point of attack.
Smith’s hamstring injury obviously needed to be dealt with now. The Eagles can’t afford for it to get worse and for their No. 1 receiver to miss more than two or three games. They’re hoping it’s just a little short-term pain. Dontayvion Wicks’ emergence as a true No. 2 should lessen the sting. He’s just not of Smith’s caliber. Rookie receiver Makai Lemon, tight end Zach Ertz, and others are going to have to help fill the void.
Dontayvion Wicks ascends to the de facto No. 1 receiver role with DeVonta Smith out on Sunday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Shula likes to mix up his coverages to keep offenses guessing. Recently acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie will be difficult to throw at, but the Rams are banged up in the secondary. Cornerback Jaylen Watson (shoulder) is out and safety Kam Kinchens (hamstring) and backup slot corner Josh Wallace (shoulder) were also on the injury report this week.
When the Rams have the ball: Sean McVay is going to want to run the ball early. He’s going to want to stay balanced. And he’s going to want to marry the run with the pass off play action. Kyren Williams is his ace in the backfield, but Blake Corum is a solid No. 2 counterpart. They average 5.6 and 5.3 yards per rush, respectively. McVay still employs a lot of the wide-zone blocking that is central to the Shanahan run scheme. But he’s incorporated more power blocking into his runs in recent seasons. He’s also utilized three-tight end sets more than most play-callers. His run offense is actually more effective running out of “11” and “12” personnel, partly because he has good blocking receivers like Puka Nacua.
But a collection of versatile tight ends in Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen allows McVay to exploit base defenses through the air despite being in “13” personnel. He will be down at least one tight end though, as Terrance Ferguson (ankle) has been ruled out and Parkinson (knee/shoulder) is also banged up. Will Vic Fangio take the bait and match personnel, which would allow him to keep Cooper DeJean at safety over Michael Carter II? Or will he roll the dice with either nickel safety covering one of the tight ends?
Riq Woolen (2) is among the players who could use a bounce-back effort on Sunday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Fangio has plenty to clean up after the Bears mess. His defense struggled vs. pre-snap motion and route concepts that forced switch releases and stressed his match coverage. Cornerback Riq Woolen especially had trouble in that regard. The Eagles’ linebackers and safeties were also often sucked in by play action.
Improving communication is imperative. It will be tested with linebacker Zack Baun (concussion) out. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will take Baun’s place alongside Jihaad Campbell. Fangio sold out to stop the run in Chicago and Bears coach Ben Johnson preyed on that emphasis. He should get back to his preferred light boxes and let interior linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter earn their paychecks. Carter has been playing with a hairline fracture in his right wrist. Davis (calf) and Moro Ojomo (calf/elbow) also popped up on the injury list this week.
Even if the Eagles can bottle up Williams and Corum, they have quarterback Matthew Stafford and two of the better receivers in Davante Adams and Nacua to contend with. Nacua is expected to play despite a hip injury that kept him out of the last two games. He specializes in contested catches, yards after the catch, and giving defensive backs fits. Adams is still dangerous. He has 18 catches for 358 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. He can beat defenses in man or zone and is one of the best ever in the red zone. Stafford, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, according to Fangio, can make every pass from the pocket. He can throw from multiple arm angles and even toss in a no-looker when needed.
Jalen Carter (right) will try to get after Rams QB Matthew Stafford on Sunday. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Eagles have not tackled well. They missed 23 tackles total vs. the Tennessee Titans and Bears. Form matters, but it’s more a byproduct of players being out of position and the unit just not being as cohesive. Fangio still has top-tier corners in Quinyon Mitchell and DeJean. But with the outside corners playing sides this season, McVay could pick on Woolen by often motioning to the right side.
The 1-2 Rams aren’t perfect, of course. The offensive line is fine, but not impenetrable. Right guard Kevin Dotson is maybe the weakest pass blocking link. Stafford has shown that when pressured he can make mistakes. He’s not going to escape from many ambushes. If edge Jonathan Greenard can make more hay in his second game with the Eagles, it could be the key to unlocking a pass rush that has only three sacks.
Extra point: Nick Sirianni is 4-0 vs. McVay. It’s certainly a feather in his cap, although he declined to gloat when asked about the record on Friday. There were a lot factors in the four-game winning streak. It’s not just coach vs. coach. But Sirianni has done better in game management situations. McVay may be one of the best offensive play callers in the game, but he turtles up in fourth down situations. He coughed up a 26-7 lead a year ago by getting too conservative and the Eagles won on Davis’ blocked field goal return for a touchdown.
The Rams’ special teams units were brutal last season. They may have kept McVay from getting back to another Super Bowl. Perhaps Sunday’s outcome can turn on a kick return here, or a missed field goal there, or a special teams mistake there. The Rams cut punt returner Xavier Smith on Friday. They have candidates to replace him, but no obvious names.
Either way, I think Sirianni’s Eagles may finally fall to McVay’s Rams. I wouldn’t make a prediction based on the law of averages. Many of the reasons stated above should be ultimately why the Birds fall to 2-2. Can they win? Of course. I just think they still have too many issues to sort out before they can beat a team as talented as the Rams.
Just a few months ago, when Eagles training camp got underway, the defense drew rave reviews. The prevailing sentiment was that the unit was poised to dominate this year. So far through three games, Vic Fangio’s group has done anything but. From the lack of forced turnovers to missed coverage assignments, the Eagles have plenty of room for improvement. Can Fangio work his magic to get the defense on track in time for this week’s showdown with the high-powered LA Rams? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane puts the defense under the microscope, and also answers listener questions in this week’s mailbag!
00:00 How a busted defensive play vs. Chicago signals a bigger issue
10:06 Is Jalen Carter catching too much criticism?
11:42 Could there be a change coming at back-up quarterback?
15:45 Week 4 mailbag! Pre-snap motion and three glaring flaws
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season.
It was a blowout, and it left a lot of questions. The Eagles’ 27-7 loss to the Bears Monday night at Soldier Field featured an offense that fizzled, a defense that folded, and a coaching staff that looked outmatched. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Jeff Neiburg provide a postmortem of the defense’s disappointing start to the season, critique of offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s approach, and assessment of how some of general manager Howie Roseman’s moves have panned out so far.
00:00 The defense has been a major disappointment
16:12 Sean Mannion’s offense has yet to impress
34:17 Scrutinizing Howie Roseman’s roster construction
unCovering the Birds is a co-production of KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts and The Philadelphia Inquirer, hosted by award-winning Inquirer reporter Jeff McLane. Look for new episodes throughout the season.
We’re always looking for mailbag questions! Hit Jeff up on his socials, or drop a question in the comments. Jeff could answer it in a future episode!
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter has a hairline fracture in his right wrist, NFL sources told The Inquirer.
Carter suffered the injury in the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders and has played with a soft cast in the last two games.
He was an estimated full participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough ahead of Sunday’s game vs. the Rams.
Carter’s playing time has decreased since the injury. He played 66 snaps in the opener (94%), 41 snaps vs. the Titans in Week 2 (77%), and 51 snaps (71%) in Monday night’s 27-7 loss at the Bears.
The 25-year-old declined to go into detail about his wrist injury when it first popped up on the injury report two weeks ago.
While he has made a few splash plays in the last two games, Carter hasn’t been as productive as usual. He has yet to record a sack and has just one quarterback hit. The Eagles defense, as a whole, has just three sacks and has yet to force a turnover.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was asked how effective Carter can be playing with the injury on Wednesday.
“It’s a negative,” Fangio said. “There’s no way it can’t be, but to be honest with you, he’s done better than I thought he would with it.”
Carter played through shoulder injuries last season. He struggled in last November’s loss to the Bears and underwent procedures on both shoulders and missed four of the next five games.
The former first-round draft pick signed a four-year, $152 million extension in July ahead of training camp that made him the highest-paid interior defensive lineman in the NFL.
It was a blowout, and it left a lot of questions. The Eagles’ 27-7 loss to the Bears Monday night at Soldier Field featured an offense that fizzled, a defense that folded, and a coaching staff that looked outmatched. On the latest episode of unCovering the Birds, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Jeff Neiburg provided a postmortem of the defense’s disappointing start to the season, critique of offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s approach, and assessment of how some of general manager Howie Roseman’s moves have panned out so far.
Jeff McLane: What do you think are the biggest issues? Big picture when we’re looking at the defense, not just this game. What could be the problems going forward that the Eagles have to find a way around?
Jeff Neiburg: To hear multiple players use the phrases like ‘we’re not … on the same page’ or miscommunications, those are the worrisome things to me, right? Like, of course, you know, Ben Johnson might be Vic Fangio’s boogeyman at this point, right? It’s only a two-game sample size, but boy, the data is there at this point. and Ben Johnson’s offense creates a lot of chaos. It causes miscommunications because there’s so much motion, there’s lots of things going on, there’s funky formations.
I’m with you in the sense that some of this stuff is just isolated to this game, I think. but there are worrisome trends. Not being able to communicate correctly.
I think it was Zack Baun who mentioned after the game, he said it comes down to communication, whether that’s hearing the call, playing the right thing, knowing the assignment. Those are the things [the Eagles] got to get better at.
McLane: I think it is concerning that it wasn’t really just this game. Like the defense was underwhelming in the first two weeks. Now, they kind of kept the scores down.
I thought they were pretty much good enough against Washington, kind of folded late. It felt a little bit like last year when the offense wasn’t getting the job done to close out games and the defense had to do it or that, you know, they suffered under the weight of how ineffective the offense was. Last week, 12 missed tackles. I think they had 11 this week. Vic [Fangio] kind of did what he normally doesn’t do, which is he stacked the box. He kind of sold out to stop the run based upon what the Bears had done to them last year, 281 yards on the ground, and so you can’t fault him in that regard.
Video: unCovering the Birds: Unpacking Nick Sirianni’s rough night in Chicago
And you know, look, make Case Keenum — 38-year-old Case Keenum who hasn’t started in nearly three years, and when he did start a few years ago was dreadful — make him beat you. The way they beat the Eagles was they just got the ball out of his hand quick. They schemed up one, or two plays. I’m not saying Keenum didn’t play well. There were times where he had to kind of make some really sharp and quick decisions and maybe sidestep a rusher here or there. But they forced the Eagles to tackle. And this is clearly now an issue. And I think if you’re looking at those guys in the middle of the field, specifically the safeties and you know, the linebackers, like they’re just not getting it done. And miscommunication should be [viewed as] an issue.
Third year in Vic Fangio[’s] scheme and the majority of the guys are back. You know, I mean I know Riq Woolen is new, but the rest of guys really aren’t, in that back seven. So that is concerning.
Neiburg: An interesting part too, I don’t think we’ve touched on with the defense yet. What’s your level of concern with the lack of impact the vaunted interior trio (Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo) has made on games so far?
McLane: Jalen Carter’s getting paid to be like a Jeffrey Simmons-type defensive tackle and it just hasn’t been there. He makes these splash plays when … he’s a smart football player, he can kind of diagnose something or whatever. I just don’t see him winning a lot at the point of attack. I mean, he gets held a bunch, but it’s like there’s just not a push in the pocket where he’s in the quarterback’s face even. There’s not him, just like kind of winning. One-on-ones he’s not even really kind of pushing the pocket. And this was a center that quite frankly, is maybe one of the worst pass blocking centers in the NFL. Now I haven’t looked I haven’t looked at the film.
Eagles defensive tackle’s Jordan Davis (left) and Jalen Carter go after Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift on Monday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Neiburg: I’ve seen a couple clips out there. I got to really look at it a little more to see what happened. My feeling from it was that the pass rush wasn’t horrible. The ball was coming out quick, and it was really more a problem with the back seven.
But you know, Jordan Davis you are paying all this money and [is a] good run defender, although I don’t think he had his best game, even though the numbers are pretty good. But he’s not out there a lot on pass rushes because that’s just not his thing. And it’s just like, can you afford to pay someone [like that] that amount of money? [Carter and Davis are] not a big contributor on passing downs. Like they’re both good players. I’m not saying they can’t even become great players, but they’re paying them to be dominant players. And right now, I just don’t see it.
Down 13 points late in the third quarter, the Eagles faced fourth-and-1 on their own 49-yard line. Sirianni had his offense line up as if it would attempt the Tush Push with Jalen Hurts sneaking for the first down.
But it was a long yard, and the Bears weren’t fooled into jumping offside. The Eagles took a delay-of-game penalty and punted.
“As I look back at that, I probably should have went for it there,” Sirianni said. “Didn’t like that decision.”
It was one of many that backfired on the coach and his team in a dreadful 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Sirianni’s regrets were isolated to the game — from his fourth-down turtling to his sideline behavior — but it’s unclear how he felt about larger decisions that have affected this season’s Eagles.
It’s too early to make sweeping generalizations. But the first three games have suggested the following: the defense isn’t as good as many had expected, first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion isn’t yet the “mad genius” some had suggested, and general manager Howie Roseman’s roster has more holes than it has had in years.
And that may be why, in that moment, Sirianni didn’t roll the dice on fourth-and-1. He didn’t believe his offense could convert or his defense could hold if they didn’t. In 2025, it might have been the offense that held him back. In 2023, it was often the defense.
For the first time since maybe his first season, he may not have either side to lean on. And that’s a scary thought with the Los Angeles Rams coming to town Sunday and a trip to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars the following week.
“I think we all have to own that loss right there,” Sirianni said. “I don’t think anybody coached well. I don’t think anyone played well. It was a true team loss, and when it’s a true team loss, I have to look at myself first.”
The Eagles are through the “easy” early part of their schedule. They eked by the dubious Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans in the first two weeks, but they still won, and growing pains were always expected with Mannion’s new offense.
There were unexpected cracks in Vic Fangio’s defensive armor, though, or craters in areas that were thought to be mere crevices. The Bears, despite having to start 38-year-old third-string quarterback Case Keenum, exposed them.
It was hard not to compare the actual offensive wizardry of Chicago coach Ben Johnson to Mannion. Johnson was one step ahead of Fangio all night, just as he was a year ago. Maybe Johnson is just the veteran defensive coordinator’s kryptonite. And maybe he’s buoyed by one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum embrace at the end of the game at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill. Chicago won 27-7.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard leave after the Chicago Bears game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts lies on the ground after getting sacked during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bears game.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts watches the last two minutes of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gets up after getting sacked in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws long on fourth down in the fourth quarter, pass incomplete at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon makes a reception in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fan reacts after a penalty is called in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in the fourth quarter. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum almost loses possession of the ball in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards after intercepting a pass in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after throwing a third-quarter interception.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards celebrates an interception in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is wrapped up by Chicago Bears safety Elijah Hicks in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun tackle Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon was tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt goes after Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears fan reacts to the last-minute “tush push” score by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks up after scoring on the tush push with one second left to go.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman celebrates an interception in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell stops Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is defended by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs by Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman in the second quarter, just short of a touchdown.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell breaks up a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift gets stopped by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (left) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo (right) in the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerIncomplete pass to Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze in the second quarter, defended by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III scores as the Philadelphia Eagles defense tries to stop him during the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell forces Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III out of bounds in the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift runs with the ball against Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum hands off to Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
But it used to be the Eagles that had enough O-line supremacy to win with a backup quarterback.
Speaking of backups, the offseason debacle at the No. 2 spot finally caught up to the Eagles. Andy Dalton gets a slight pass here. He was tossed into a tough spot having to jump in for Hurts, who left to have his head checked in the second quarter.
Yeah, Dalton threw a horrible pass on third down that was intercepted in the end zone. But maybe if he wasn’t splitting snaps all of training camp and the preseason with Tanner McKee, he would have had a few more repetitions on the particular play that Mannion called.
“I’ve had it a couple times,” Dalton said. “Obviously, gotten a lot of different looks, and for me, it’s something that I can learn from, especially on that play. I mean … safety just read my eyes and was in the right spot.”
Dalton has been in this role before, but he didn’t outright win the job over McKee. Keeping four quarterbacks on the roster never made sense and just seemed to be the Eagles’ unwillingness to admit they made a mistake in trading for the also-38-year-old.
It’s just one of several roster decisions that have already come back to haunt Roseman. He can’t invest heavily in every position, but he clearly didn’t do enough at safety after Reed Blankenship walked in free agency. Marcus Epps has been a liability and Andrew Mukuba isn’t yet capable enough to cover for his counterpart.
Linebacker Jihaad Campbell, a second-year starter like Mukuba, is struggling as well. It doesn’t help that the Eagles also let the currently better Nakobe Dean sign elsewhere this offseason.
And then there’s this year’s top rookies with wide receiver Makai Lemon still green and tight end Eli Stowers still on ice. First-year players should be given a grace period, but the Eagles didn’t do enough at their respective positions and it’s showing.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is 0-2 against Bears coach Ben Johnson.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Ultimately, these are Roseman problems. Sirianni’s issues extend to how the Eagles execute, and right now they’re uncharacteristically undisciplined. They had three turnovers on offense and failed to take away the ball on defense. Overall, they’re minus-5 in turnover differential, a statistic Sirianni considers of the utmost importance.
The Eagles had 10 penalties vs. the Bears, with so many either bringing back a long gain or giving the Bears life on third or fourth down. While the Eagles failed to get Chicago to jump on fourth down, defensive tackle Moro Ojomo carelessly committed a neutral zone infraction on fourth-and-2 early in the fourth quarter.
Mukuba and cornerback Riq Woolen had third-down penalties in the red zone. Guard Tyler Steen’s holding penalty brought back a long Saquon Barkley run. The Eagles must have had double-digit missed tackles a week after whiffing on 12 in Tennessee.
Sirianni and his coaches weren’t any better than their players. Mannion’s call for a screen pass to receiver DeVonta Smith with 19 seconds left before the half and the Eagles out of timeouts nearly resulted in the clock running out.
“We had 19 seconds,” Sirianni said. “We had plenty of time to be able to either get it clocked or do what we did in that particular case.”
They had one second left and if it wasn’t for Hurts’ quick thinking to skip the spike and sneak into the end zone from the 1-yard line, Sirianni would have taken more than just a jab to the jaw.
Mannion is Sirianni’s hire. He’s a first-time play-caller who needs patience to grow into the job. But his scheme has been unremarkable. He was supposedly hired to bring more under-center play-action to the offense, but the Eagles have not run much of it, or when they do, not effectively.
Where’s the misdirection? The aggressiveness? The innovation?
There were some positives in the run game. Barkley rushed for 73 yards on 11 carries in the first half, but he gained just 9 yards on four carries after the break.
Saquon Barkley nearly scores in the second quarter as Bears safety Dillon Thieneman pushes him out of bounds.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Hurts didn’t look like the fearless, pocket-savvy passer that he appeared to be in the first two games. He had moments in the first half but also missed short throws, held the ball too long, and threw a ghastly fourth-down interception to T.J. Edwards a few drives after the former Eagle nearly duped the quarterback into another pick.
Sirianni said he didn’t regret that fourth-and-5 decision that came at the Bears’ 46 just before the end of the third quarter. But it only made the other fourth-down call look that much worse.
“I think competitively, I’m always going to want to go for it,” Hurts said. “Always trust coach to make the right decision, given these situations.”
Tackle Lane Johnson suggested there was more at play than trying to draw the Bears offside.
“I don’t know if we didn’t pay attention to the clock,” he said. “There was a play, but I don’t think we’re all on the same play. I think there’s a lot of miscommunication.”
Rough day for Jalen Hurts: Here, he tries to throw the ball away as the Bears pass rush gets to him.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Sirianni’s Eagles have bounced back from worse. The season is a marathon. You’ve got to think Fangio corrects some of the defensive miscues. And the positive steps Hurts seemingly took in the first two weeks can’t be forgotten with just one shaky performance.
Change on offense was necessary, even if Kevin Patullo’s unit last season was never held under 10 points like Mannion’s was in just his third game as coordinator. But Sirianni remains the constant. Most of his teams have taken on his positive traits, if not one of the negatives.
He lost control of his emotions again after Hurts was decked by Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson in the second quarter. It ended up being a fateful play, but the coach conceded that he went too far in yelling expletives at Jackson.
“I always love fighting for our players. I love our guys,” Sirianni said. “And so, the emotion of the game probably got the better of me today. And I have to learn from that in that particular moment. I have to be more steady in that situation.”
The Eagles, like their coach, got knocked off their axis at Soldier Field. The next few weeks could reveal if they have the resolve to get up after a shaky start.
Things don’t get easier in Week 4, with the Eagles hosting the Los Angeles Rams at the Linc at 1 p.m. Sunday.
// Timestamp 09/29/26 12:57pm
Tom Brady heading back to Philly to call Eagles-Rams
Tom Brady during pregame warmups before the Eagles’ season opener against the Commanders.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Tom Brady will be back in Philly Sunday to call the Eagles’ Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, which kicks off at 1 p.m. on Fox.
Joining Brady in the booth is play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt, while Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will report from the sidelines.
Brady’s on something of a hot streak in the booth. On Sunday, the Hall of Famer joked about his dominance over the Buffalo Bills in their old stadium (“I had two losses in that stadium, which would leave a bitter taste in my mouth if I didn’t beat them 33 other times.”) and described an interception thrown by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert as a “meatball sub.”
Tom Brady: "Herbert trying to throw down the middle of the field… But there's a safety in the middle of the field… Poor awareness. Poor decision. Throws him a meatball sub." 🏈🎙️ #NFLpic.twitter.com/5XzEAxnr8V
CBS has the 4:25 p.m. national window in Week 4 with Chiefs-Raiders, and Tony Romo remains on leave. It’ll be Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt again on the call.
It’s unclear when or if Romo will be back, and so far CBS hasn’t publicly commented about the former Cowboys quarterback’s intention to return.
After missing three tackles last week, Eagles safety Marcus Epps struggled getting the Bears on the ground early Monday night. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Eagles defense on Monday allowed 375 total yards to a Bears offense led by third-string quarterback Case Keenum, who last started a game 1,009 days ago.
Some of the blame can be placed on the Eagles’ safeties.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had a curious game plan for safeties Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II in the team’s 27-7 loss. It appeared that Epps — who has struggled this season — was benched for Carter on the second drive of the game, but he returned just five plays later. This was the start of a rotation that even left Epps confused after the game.
“I don’t really know,” Epps said when asked about the rotation. “Yeah, I mean, we kind of just go back and forth in practice. However, the coaches want to call it, that’s how they call it. And [we’ll] do whatever the coaches of the team ask us to do.”
In fairness to Fangio, Epps should have seen a demotion coming. The 30-year-old veteran had three missed tackles in Week 2, which prompted questions about his starting status, and then missed two tackles on the opening drive vs. Chicago. Epps spoke about this unprompted on Monday.
“You just got to tackle better,” Epps said. “We got to work on it in practice. So we got to take it upon ourselves to get better and continue to grow in that aspect.”
It wasn’t just the tackles. The rotation clearly led to communication issues in the defensive backfield, with Keenum, 38, routinely attacking the safeties downfield. On Chicago’s second scoring drive, Keenum connected with Luther Burden III for a 25-yard gain (with safety Andrew Mukuba in coverage), then hit Rome Odunze for a 22-yard gain (with Epps in coverage) one play later.
Epps and Mukuba were also at the center of two Bears touchdowns. Burden dragged a gaggle of Eagles defenders, Epps included, on Chicago’s opening drive touchdown. Mukuba slipped while in coverage late in the third quarter, which led to Kalif Raymond’s 41-yard score.
Nick Foles praises Case Keenum’s performance vs. Eagles
Case Keenum defeated the Eagles in his first start since 2023.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Read the room, Nick.
On Monday, Nick Foles praised Bears third-string quarterback Case Keenum’s play. Keenum passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He also found the endzone on the ground.
“My friend Case Keenum is playing lights out tonight; he looks unreal,” Foles wrote on social media. “He is getting the ball out quickly and accurately, even when under pressure.”
“There are several QBs around the league who are struggling and should watch how Case Keenum is playing tonight,” he added. “He is on time, in rhythm, and throwing extremely catchable balls.”
Foles and Keenum spent the 2015 season together on the St. Louis Rams roster, and the two remain close friends. However, most Eagles fans associate the two for their matchup in the 2017 NFC Championship Game — when Foles and the Eagles defeated Keenum’s Minnesota Vikings 38-7.
On The SZN podcast after the game, Foles addressed Eagles fans in panic mode after Monday’s blowout loss.
“It’s only Week 3. So if you’re an Eagles fan and you’re listening, don’t freak out, it’s early,” Foles said.
Nick Sirianni has a lot of work to do, and not much time to do it
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is 0-2 against Bears coach Ben Johnson.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Nick Sirianni took it on the chin.
Down 13 points late in the third quarter, the Eagles faced fourth-and-1 on their own 49-yard line. Sirianni had his offense line up as if it would attempt the Tush Push with Jalen Hurts sneaking for the first down.
But it was a long yard and the Bears weren’t fooled into jumping offside. The Eagles took a delay-of-game penalty and punted.
“As I look back at that, I probably should have went for it there,” Sirianni said. “Didn’t like that decision.”
It was one of many that backfired on the coach and his team in a dreadful 27-7 loss to the Bears on Monday night. Sirianni’s regrets were isolated to the game — from his fourth down turtling to his sideline behavior — but it’s unclear how he felt about larger decisions that have affected this season’s Eagles.
It’s too early to make sweeping generalizations. But the first three games have suggested the following: the defense isn’t as good as many had expected, first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion isn’t yet the “mad genius” some had suggested, and general manager Howie Roseman’s roster has more holes than it has had in years.
And that may be why, in that moment, Sirianni didn’t roll the dice on fourth-and-1. He didn’t believe his offense could convert or his defense could hold if they didn’t. In 2025, it might have been the offense that held him back. In 2023, it was often the defense.
For the first time since maybe his first season, he may not have either side to lean on. And that’s a scary thought with the Rams coming to town Sunday and a trip to London to face the Jaguars the following week.
‘An absolute embarrassment’: Reaction to Eagles blowout loss
Saquon Barkley walks off the field following Monday night’s loss.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Inquirer’s Mike Sielski: “The Eagles are 2-1, sure, but so far they haven’t been the team anyone expected them to be. They are asking so much of Hurts, perhaps too much. Their defense hasn’t been close to the shutdown unit it was presumed to be. And the Los Angeles Rams, 1-2 and dangerous, are ahead on Sunday.”
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Michael Barkann: “That was an absolute embarrassment. That was a team that looked unprepared to play. That was a team that was sloppy. That was a team that had no passion, no juice… and got pushed around.”
94.1 WIP’s Jon Ritchie: “[The Bears] beat us soundly both times. That was a drubbing. We didn’t tackle. The defense sucked. The pass rush was non-existent… And we had Jonathan Greenard out there. Meant nothing, did nothing.”
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Barrett Brooks: “The offensive line stayed getting their asses kicked, especially the inner guys, the two guards… I don’t know if it’s because [former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland] is gone, I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s just not a good offensive line. Period.”
ESPN’s Jeff Saturday: “Way too cute… Saquon Barley – my goodness, I could have run through those holes. He wasn’t getting touched until [he was] four and five yards down the field. And for whatever reason, they decided they wanted to throw this thing around the yard. I think they had four called runs in the last 20 plays of the game in the second half.”
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Reuben Frank: “I’m most concerned about the absence of playmaking on defense…. They don’t have a takeaway in three games. First time in franchise history that’s happened… They’re the only team in the NFL hasn’t forced a turnover.”
Ex-Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on The SZN podcast: “I always find a positive – there’s not one person to blame. You can just blame the whole team.”
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni let his emotions get the better of him again.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Midway through the second quarter, Jalen Hurts was briefly knocked out of the game after being hit out of bounds by Chicago Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson.
After the play, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni had some choice words for Jackson that made it to Fox’s broadcast.
After the game, Sirianni told reporters he regretted the outburst.
“You want to always fight for your players and protect your players,” Sirianni said. “I always come away when I have a moment like that with remorse, ‘Man, I shouldn’t have let my emotions get the best of me.’”
“I know nobody is trying to hurt anybody out there,” Sirianni added. “So the emotion of the game probably got the better of me today and I have to learn from that. In that particular moment I have to be more steady in that situation. Be able to move on and go to the next play. I didn’t like how I handled that.”
Quick turnaround as Eagles travel home to face the Rams
Matthew Stafford and the Rams will face the Eagles in Week 4.Jack Dempsey
Things aren’t going to get much easier for the Eagles.
After being blown out by the Chicago Bears, the Birds will head home to host the Los Angeles Rams (1-2) Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Rams are coming off a last-second loss to the Denver Broncos, who overcame a 16-0 halftime deficit to win at Empower Field at Mile High Sunday.
The Eagles have won their last three games against the Rams, including a 33-26 victory at the Linc in Week 3 last year. In that game, the Eagles blocked two field goals, including a potential game-winner blocked and returned for a touchdown by Jordan Davis.
Eagles injury report: Jalen Hurts evaluated for concussion
Jalen Hurts at the end of the fourth quarter Monday night.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Eagles entered Week 3 a bit banged up, with tight end Dallas Goedert inactive with a knee injury and wide receiver Hollywood Brown ruled out with an ankle injury.
But the Eagles survived their Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears without suffering any other major injuries.
Jalen Hurts was forced to leave the game midway through the second quarter after being knocked down hard on a late hit out of bounds. He visited the medical tent briefly for a concussion evaluation but quickly returned to the field, but not before backup quarterback Andy Dalton threw an interception at the goal line.
When asked after the game if he felt like he had suffered any kind of head trauma on that hit, Hurts responded with a no. He said he watched Dalton’s pick from outside of the tent, but at that point, he was waiting to be cleared. He said he wished the concussion spotter could have “expedited things.”
“I think practically, emotionally, and competitively, I’m in the right place to go out there and compete,” Hurts said. “So it’s a situation that hopefully we can learn from.”
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had no answers for Bears’ offense.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Coach Nick Sirianni is ultimately responsible for the Eagles losing to a Bears team without its top two quarterbacks. He got a dismal effort from his team.
Should he have called a timeout to buy time while Hurts was getting looked at for a possible head injury? It’s easy to say in retrospect. But the whole ordeal proved costly for the Eagles.
He had a couple of head-scratching game management moments. The fake Tush Push on a long fourth-and-1 in the third quarter wasn’t fooling anyone. Whether Sirianni should have gone for it or not, his defense forced a punt on the ensuing possession. But Sirianni’s roll of the dice on fourth-and-5 a drive later was confounding in context and Hurts tossed an interception.
Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion called a questionable screen to Smith with 19 seconds left before the half, but Hurts bailed him out. Whatever the reason, the designs and execution on passes behind the line of scrimmage have mostly been disasters. Another bubble screen to Lemon resulted in a loss.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio got schooled by Ben Johnson. The Bears coach was one step ahead of his esteemed counterpart almost the entire game. A year ago, Chicago killed the Eagles on the ground. This time they did it through the air with no less than a third-string 38-year-old quarterback at the helm. Fangio might have had his worst game since coming to Philly. His defense can’t do the simple things like tackle.
Jason Kelce apologizes to Bears fans for Eagles homerism
Former Eagles center Jason Kelce is in his third season as an analyst on “Monday Night Countdown.”Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Jason Kelce is in his third season as a studio analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown. Still, it has been difficult — at times — for the longtime Eagles center to shake his fandom while reporting. He made reference to this during a humorous exchange with Sirianni before Monday’s game.
“Jalen Hurts has been off to a really hot start,” Kelce said to Sirianni. “He’s playing awesome for us — for the Eagles. Should say that. Unbiased media member.”
At halftime, Kelce continued to refer to the Eagles as “we.” ESPN personality Pat McAfee took notice.
“We played really well offensively,” Kelce said. “We had opportunities. We shot ourselves in the foot, but we’ve moved the ball. We ran the ball well. Jalen Hurts is throwing the ball well. I think [with] them getting the ball coming out of half, I got a feeling they got a lot of momentum going in there.”
Added McAfee: “A lot of ‘we’ talk out of Jason for Philly. If we are the Chicago Bears, we are very pumped with how Case Keenum is operating this offense.”
“Sorry, Bears fans,” Kelce said.
Jason Kelce had to apologize on TV for constantly referring to the Eagles as, “We.” 😂 🦅 pic.twitter.com/pbdlbzkIGx
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// Timestamp 09/29/26 7:09am
Photos from Eagles’ loss against the Bears
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Jalen Hurts started slow, rebounded after an odd series of events took him out of the game, and then folded under the weight of an overall terrible performance by the Eagles. Hurts held the ball too long once he was forced to drop to pass in the second half. After two strong outings to open the season, he took a step back.
Hurts was nearly picked off by former Eagle T.J. Edwards on a third-down pass to returning former Eagle Zach Ertz to open the second half. But Edwards made sure to hang on the next time the ball came his way, intercepting Hurts on a late third-quarter fourth down when the quarterback only had eyes for DeVonta Smith.
He had to leave the game for a potential concussion after Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson nailed him out of bounds in the second quarter. While Hurts was getting checked out in the medical tent, his replacement Andy Dalton tossed an interception in the end zone.
Like the entire Eagles team, Hurts had a rough start. He committed an intentional grounding penalty on the first series and threw short of an open Saquon Barkley, who had all kinds of green in front of him, on the second series. But he bounced back, especially after the cautionary trip to the medical tent. Hurts wisely snuck in for a touchdown with the clock winding down to 1 second just before the break.
Running back: D+
Saquon Barkley had all kinds of space and lanes to burst through on outside zone runs in the first half. He was decisive and rushed for 73 yards on 11 carries. He spun out of a would-be tackle on a 7-yard rush to open the second half, but Barkley was stifled the rest of the way and finished with 82 yards on 15 carries.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley got off to a good start before the Birds abandoned the run due to the score in the second half.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Tank Bigsby fumbled after a short catch in the first quarter, but the Bears failed to convert good field position into points. Will Shipley was often on the field on third downs and caught an 11-yard pass out of the backfield.
Receiver / Tight end: D+
It’s hard to blame this group for the loss, but they didn’t do enough to offset the mistakes of others. Receiver DeVonta Smith led the Eagles with six catches for 65 yards. He made a breathtaking 30-yard grab over Bears corner Jaylon Johnson in the second quarter. He had a 13-yard catch on third down in the second quarter, and he drew a 21-yard pass interference penalty on the next play.
Makai Lemon caught a 19-yard pass at the second level on a crossing route to open the game and finished with three grabs for 29 yards. Dontayvion Wicks pulled in just 2 of 5 passes for 32 yards. He had a 19-yard reception in the third quarter.
With tight end Dallas Goedert out with an MCL knee injury for at least the next two weeks, the Eagles brought back Zach Ertz. He was activated off the practice squad despite having just a week of practice and being less than seven months removed from knee surgery.
Ertz was occasionally the receiving tight end in 11 personnel. His first catch back in midnight green went for nine yards just before the half. Ertz missed a block on a bubble screen to Lemon.
Blocking tight end Johnny Mundt led the way on a Barkley 8-yard run in the second quarter. Elijah Moore dressed for his first game as an Eagle with Hollywood Brown out with an ankle injury. He was the motion man on several plays.
Offensive line: D
The first-half run game will have to be a silver lining. The Eagles finally got the ground game going after two miserable performances. But they struggled to counter the Bears’ second-half adjustments. The pass protection was often sound for Hurts, as it was on Hurts’ 19-yard pass to Wicks. But the offense was often out of whack in the second half.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum embrace at the end of the game at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill. Chicago won 27-7.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard leave after the Chicago Bears game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts lies on the ground after getting sacked during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bears game.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts watches the last two minutes of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gets up after getting sacked in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws long on fourth down in the fourth quarter, pass incomplete at Soldier Field on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Chicago, Ill.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon makes a reception in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fan reacts after a penalty is called in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in the fourth quarter. Chicago won 27-7.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum almost loses possession of the ball in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell tackles Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards after intercepting a pass in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after throwing a third-quarter interception.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards celebrates an interception in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is wrapped up by Chicago Bears safety Elijah Hicks in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles fans in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun tackle Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon was tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the third quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the ball to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt goes after Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears fan reacts to the last-minute “tush push” score by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks up after scoring on the tush push with one second left to go.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman celebrates an interception in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell stops Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is defended by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs by Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman in the second quarter, just short of a touchdown.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell breaks up a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift gets stopped by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (left) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo (right) in the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerIncomplete pass to Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze in the second quarter, defended by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III scores as the Philadelphia Eagles defense tries to stop him during the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell forces Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III out of bounds in the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift runs with the ball against Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerChicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum hands off to Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Drew Kendall had some nice run blocks in his second start at center. He had a key block on Bears veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett on Barkley’s 12-yard outside zone run. Kendall did well to climb to the second level on Barkley’s 7-yard tote in the second quarter. But he had a few breakdowns, as well. Cam Jurgens looked stronger in his second career start at left guard. It helps to not have to face Jeffery Simmons. But he had errors, too, and gave up a pressure late in the second quarter.
Tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata were once again the best of the unit. But when Hurts was forced to drop on almost every play as the Eagles trailed, it became too difficult to hold up. On a Barkley 17-yard rush off the right in the second quarter, Johnson had a kick-out block.
Right guard Tyler Steen had a key block on Barkley’s 17-yarder, but a holding penalty brought back a Barkley 19-yard scoot in the first quarter. Markel Bell was the sixth O-lineman on a run play that resulted in a loss.
Defensive line: D
The big storyline coming in was how the Eagles would stop a run attack that stomped all over them a year ago. They did, for the most part, as Bears running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai were held to under a combined 100 yards until late in the fourth quarter. Instead, they got torched through the air by no other than Case Keenum, who hadn’t started at quarterback in nearly three years.
It wasnt a good night for Eagles defensive tackles Jalen Carter (left) and Moro Ojomo.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The D-line was solid in run defense, but they failed to get to Keenum enough and didn’t notch a sack. Jalen Carter has yet to show he’s a $152 million defensive tackle. He has a wrist injury, but he’s seemingly always banged up. Carter’s run tackle for loss in the second quarter helped keep the Bears from converting a turnover into points.
Jordan Davis didn’t record his first run tackle until the second half. Moro Ojomo had a couple pressures, but his neutral zone infraction on fourth down in the fourth quarter was an egregious mistake. Byron Young made a run stop for no gain on the Bears’ first possession.
Jonathan Greenard was active for his first game with the Eagles. He was on a pitch count after missing the first two weeks with a pectoral injury. Greenard still made his presence felt with some pressure off the edge. Jalyx Hunt is still without a sack this season. He’s played well, but can’t seem to finish. Hunt appeared to be out of his run gap on a third-down conversion in the fourth quarter. Nolan Smith Jr. was just as quiet as a pass rusher. Greenard’s presence meant that A.J. Epenesa was inactive for the first time this season.
Linebacker: D
The Eagles just didn’t do enough at the second level. Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell led the Eagles in tackles, but they were often just cleaning up messes or missed tackles. Baun was victimized on a fourth-and-1 play-fake on the Bears’ first drive. He could have done more to bring down Luther Burden on his 8-yard catch when he kept his legs churning and muscled into the end zone later on the possession.
Campbell finished with a joint-team high nine tackles, but he struggled at times to get off blocks. The Eagles had little choice but to let Nakobe Dean walk, but his replacement has been a downgrade so far this season.
Cornerback: D+
Quinyon Mitchell might have been the only Eagles defender who came to play. He deflected a fourth-down pass near the goal line in the second quarter. He later made a tackle for loss on a run play that was strung out. Mitchell broke up a third-down pass in the third quarter.
Riq Woolen had a great first two games, but he can get handsy and it cost him this week. He committed holding and illegal contact penalties in the first half. The second flag, which came on third down, was a little nitpicky. Woolen blitzed several times off the edge in the first half, but Keenum was able to take advantage with one less cornerback in coverage.
Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was the one defender who could hold his head up high after Monday’s loss.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Cooper DeJean did well not to bite on a fake reverse end around and made a tackle after a short gain in the first quarter. DeJean snuffed out a screen pass for no gain in the second quarter. He appeared to have busted his coverage when Kalif Raymond was wide open over the middle and ran for a 41-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
DeJean bounced back and broke up back-to-back passes on the next series.
Safety: D-
The Eagles safeties had back-to-back poor outings. Marcus Epps was shaky to start, while Andrew Mukuba was mistake-prone at the end. Epps missed two tackles on the Bears’ touchdown drive that opened the game. He missed one in the open field and then another in between the tackle box on a run.
Epps split time with Michael Carter II in nickel personnel. It was unclear if this was always part of the plan or an in-game demotion. Carter looked out of position on tight end Colston Loveland’s catch that was originally ruled a touchdown in the second quarter. But the score was taken off the board and ultimately the Eagles denied the Bears any points.
Mukuba appeared to bite the cheese on a play-fake that resulted in a 25-yard catch in the second quarter. He slipped chasing Raymond on his 41-yard score. Mukuba took a brutal third-down holding penalty in the fourth quarter.
Special teams: C
Kicker Jake Elliott didn’t have much to do with the lack of scoring opportunities. Braden Mann shanked his first punt out of bounds for only 30 yards. He was better on his other tries and averaged 38 net yards on four kicks.
A Kelee Ringo holding penalty brought back a Britain Covey 21-yard punt return.
Coaching: D-
Coach Nick Sirianni is ultimately responsible for the Eagles losing to a Bears team without its top two quarterbacks. He got a dismal effort from his team. Should he have called a timeout to buy time while Hurts was getting looked at for a possible head injury? It’s easy to say in retrospect. But the whole ordeal proved costly for the Eagles.
He had a couple of head-scratching game management moments. The fake Tush Push on a long fourth-and-1 in the third quarter wasn’t fooling anyone. Whether Sirianni should have gone for it or not, his defense forced a punt on the ensuing possession. But Sirianni’s roll of the dice on fourth-and-5 a drive later was confounding in context and Hurts tossed an interception.
Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion called a questionable screen to Smith with 19 seconds left before the half, but Hurts bailed him out. Whatever the reason, the designs and execution on passes behind the line of scrimmage have mostly been disasters. Another bubble screen to Lemon resulted in a loss.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio got schooled by Ben Johnson. The Bears coach was one step ahead of his esteemed counterpart almost the entire game. A year ago, Chicago killed the Eagles on the ground. This time they did it through the air with no less than a third-string 38-year-old quarterback at the helm. Fangio might have had his worst game since coming to Philly. His defense can’t do the simple things like tackle.
The Eagles travel to face the Chicago Bears at 8:15 p.m. on Monday at Soldier Field. Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
When the Eagles have the ball: Sean Mannion has another chance to get the ground game going against a run defense that ranks 20th in the NFL in expected points added per rush. It’s been a grind through the first two weeks. Landon Dickerson’s injury — or injuries — didn’t help matters in Week 1, and the shuffling of Cam Jurgens and Drew Kendall at left guard and center didn’t help in Week 2. But the play-calling hasn’t been great, either, with runs on obvious downs and condensed sets that have invited stacked boxes and made it difficult for blockers.
There likely would be a learning curve with the new wide-zone blocking scheme. Mannion has had to lean on some of the Eagles’ past staple runs — with mid-zone and duo blocking — to offset the struggles on outside zone runs. But one of the main reasons for hiring the offensive coordinator was to bring elements of the Shanahan scheme here — primarily the under-center, play-action game — and that’s yet to really happen. The Eagles rank 28th in under-center usage and play-action passes. It’s tough to commit to the latter when you’ve done virtually squat on first down (1.8 yards per rush). We’re still talking about a small sample of games. Still, we would like to see progress from the unit helmed by run game coordinator Ryan Mahaffey and offensive line coach Chris Kuper in the coming weeks.
Montez Sweat (right) is the pass rusher the Eagles will most have to account for. Matt Ludtke
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen employs a traditional 4-3 front. Veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett once was one of the better run-stuffers in the league, but he’s fallen off. Edge Montez Sweat is his best pass rusher. Jurgens and Kendall should have an easier task than they had last week against Jeffery Simmons. Still, Allen probably learned a thing or two from how Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores kept the Bears’ similar run offense in check last week. I would expect aggressive five-man fronts to force the Eagles into one-on-one blocking. Mannion may need to spread his formations to keep tight ends Johnny Mundt and EJ Jenkins from having to win at the point of attack. It hasn’t been pretty thus far.
All three of the Eagles’ running backs — Saquon Barkley (stinger), Tank Bigsby (abdomen) and Will Shipley (foot) — were on the injury list this week. But they’re cleared to play. If the blocking can get any of the three to the second level against linebackers Devin Bush and T.J. Edwards, I think there could be potential for a house call if Allen is going to sell out against the run. That aggressiveness extends to how he calls it vs. the pass. The Bears have the fourth-highest blitz rate in the NFL at 43.3%. They play Cover-1 (36.2%) at more than double the league rate (18%) and Cover-3 31% of the time. So there should be opportunities for quarterback Jalen Hurts and receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks to exploit single-high safety coverages with the susceptible Tyrique Stevenson and Jaylon Johnson at outside cornerback. Stevenson has a hamstring injury. If he can’t go, the Bears may move rookie slot Malik Muhammad to the outside.
Allen has another rookie in the secondary — safety Dillon Thieneman — but Chicago’s first-round safety looks legit. He may be tasked with covering the recently acquired Zach Ertz in man situations. Thieneman was the Bears’ primary defender over tight ends in the first two games. Ertz is expected to suit up. What’s unknown is how much he’ll play and how effective he’ll be just nine months removed from major knee surgery. But if he’s close to the player he was before the injury, he could be a valuable option for Hurts over the middle on third down and in the red zone.
When the Bears have the ball: This is the more intriguing matchup, with two of the best play-callers on their respective sides of the ball facing off. Ben Johnson got the better of Vic Fangio last season, especially on the ground in Chicago’s win. The Bears rushed for 281 yards and made a good Eagles defense look like it couldn’t get off blocks or tackle in space. How did they do it, and why are they likely to present the same challenge again? Well, for one, they have two good running backs in D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. They also have an above-average offensive line led by road-grader right tackle Darnell Wright. But it’s Johnson’s scheme and play-calling that often is the star of the show. It’s a heavy under-center, play-action offense that runs the outside zone as much as any team.
Ben Johnson got the better of the Eagles on Black Friday last season. Scott Kinser
Johnson doesn’t have to dress it up much because of the talent he has up front and the cutback lanes his blockers create. The Bears rushed for 291 yards in the shootout win over the Panthers in the opener, with Swift and Monangai each eclipsing 100 yards. But Minnesota held the running backs to just 3.5 yards per carry in Week 2 behind Flores’ ultra-aggressive defense. Fangio may be the polar opposite of Flores. He likes to win with the lightest boxes in the NFL. But he may have to situationally devote an extra body to force the Bears to the air.
Chicago likely is down to its third quarterback with starter Caleb Williams (hamstring, ruled out for Monday) and backup Tyson Bagent (concussion) dealing with injuries. Case Keenum is expected to be under center. The 38-year-old hasn’t had a start in nearly three seasons. Johnson likely will call a fair amount of quasi-run passes to help his quarterback, especially if the Eagles keep the run game in check. But the Eagles have allowed 127 yards per game on the ground and are ranked 25th in expected points added per rush. They had nine missed run tackles vs. the Titans last week.
They had eight missed tackles last season vs. the Bears. That was the game that forced Jalen Carter to address his shoulders with minor surgery. He’s now playing with a wrist injury, and Fangio said he was surprised the defensive tackle played as well as he did last week, considering the soft cast he’s had to wear. The wrist and how it impacts Carter bear monitoring. The same could be said of the play of the Eagles’ safeties. Marcus Epps struggled in Tennessee. Howie Roseman signed slot cornerback Kenny Moore II to the practice squad on Tuesday, but Fangio doesn’t seem intent on moving any pieces. He did concede that Michael Carter II could play more safety.
Johnson likely will try to attack the middle of the field. His play designs attempt to stretch defenses to give his quarterbacks throwing lanes on intermediate routes. Receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden are young and promising. Veteran slot guy Kalif Raymond is small and shifty and could give Cooper DeJean fits. Tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet have only a combined three catches through two games, but both can be a handful. The Eagles’ pass rush has been underwhelming, considering the O-lines they’ve faced thus far. The Bears have a stronger unit, although center Garrett Bradbury has been a liability in pass protection. Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo could return after missing the first two games.
Kicker Jake Elliott has been quietly solid for the Eagles thus far. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Extra point: The Eagles have yet to force a turnover. Fangio’s unit has been among the best in taking the ball away over the previous two seasons, so it may be just a coincidence. But it’s tough to win in the NFL if you’re net-negative in turnover differential. The Bears have three takeaways and giveaways apiece. It looks like weather conditions will be relatively benign, especially for Chicago. Kicker Jake Elliott has gotten off to a solid start this season and should have some confidence after connecting from 58 yards out in Nashville. Bears kicker Cairo Santos has a right hip injury. The Bears didn’t add an emergency replacement, but will Santos be 100%?
Shawn Hochuli is the head referee, which could be good news for the Eagles, who are 6-0 in games officiated by him in the last five seasons. Maybe that’ll have little impact on the outcome, but there seem to be several factors in the Birds’ favor entering this matchup. I don’t think we yet know the defining characteristics of this team. It had to scrape by opponents with low outside expectations. But we’ve seen this version of the Eagles before: stack imperfect wins early until finding an identity.
I probably would have picked the Bears if Williams was healthy. I wouldn’t underestimate Keenum with Johnson at the controls. But I can’t see Fangio getting fooled in the rematch. And I think that a confident Hurts is a dangerous Hurts, especially with the advantages the Eagles receivers have against the Chicago secondary. So I like the Eagles in a relative squeaker, maybe with Elliott kicking the game-winner.
Earlier this year, the scenario seemed far-fetched, especially after the Eagles used a second-round draft pick on a tight end. Zach Ertz overcoming a serious injury to make a nostalgic return to the city where his career began? It just didn’t feel like a possibility. Then rookie Eli Stowers got hurt in the preseason, and starter Dallas Goedert went down Week 2 vs. Tennessee. All of a sudden, the Eagles had a need. Now, the 35-year old Ertz has been tapped to fill it. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane explains how an unlikely reunion between Ertz and the Eagles came together, why both sides are hoping for more than a feel-good story, and which player on the roster could be affected by this move the most.
00:00 Inside the Eagles’ reunion with Zach Ertz
10:08 What Ertz’s signing could mean for the rest of the roster, especially a couple rookies
16:12 Week 3 mailbag: The Kenny Moore acquisition, and Jalen Hurts’ contract extension
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season.
