Late Game!

[thaikarate1]

So, what will it be boys.

Having a great day so far.

Eagles or Bears?

Why?

[thaikarate1]

I am leaning Eagles!

[SteinDallas]

No Westbrook I would take the Home Dog

[NEJAKE]

Buckhalter is no slouch.

[the lumberjack]

No Westbrook I would take the Home Dog

but the line did not change. my guy has 40. i am going under.

[Chado1]

Big On The Bears!!!

[Rock 33]

I'm leaning to UNDER 39.... without Westbrook who is a large part of their offense, and McNabb "slowed" with a chest contusion plus the fact that both D's are tough, would lead me to the under in this spot.

[tash]

philly- because !

[thaikarate1]

Some trends:

Philadelphia at Chicago, 8:15 ET NBC
Philadelphia: 26-12 ATS off NFC North
Chicago: 20-7 Over vs. conference

8:15 PM PHILADELPHIA vs. CHICAGO
Philadelphia is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing Chicago
Philadelphia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Chicago
Chicago is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games at home

Game 217-218: Philadelphia at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 138.598; Chicago 138.946
Dunkel Line: Even; 36
Vegas Line: Philadelphia by 3 1/2; 41
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+3 1/2); Under

[NEJAKE]

I'm leaning to UNDER 39.... without Westbrook who is a large part of their offense, and McNabb "slowed" with a chest contusion plus the fact that both D's are tough, would lead me to the under in this spot.

I'm leaning towards a 6 pt tease Chic +9.5 and over 33.

[thaikarate1]

Dr. Bob's

Philadelphia (-3.0) 20 CHICAGO 17
05:15 PM Pacific Time Sunday, Sep-28 - Stats Matchup
I’ve used the Eagles twice as Strong Opinions and leaned with them last week and they have rewarded my faith with a 3-0 ATS record. The line may have finally caught up to Philly, as my ratings favor the Eagles by just 1 ½ points while my math model also favors the Eagles by 1 ½ points using this year’s games only. Chicago is coming off a tough overtime loss to the Buccaneers but the Bears are an above average team with a strong defense (4.8 yppl allowed to Indy, Carolina, and TB) that is capable of competing with the league’s best teams (they did beat the Colts). Philadelphia has faced an average schedule of teams (the Rams are horrible but the Cowboys and Steelers are good) and the Eagles have out-gained those opponents by an average of 5.8 yppl to 4.6 yppl and I have them rated only behind Dallas as the second best team in the NFL. I was a bit surprised that my math only favored the Eagles by 1 ½ points, but I’ll resist leaning against Philly, who is 50-27 ATS on the road under coach Andy Reid.

[thaikarate1]

Sports Network


By Scott Garbarini, Associate NFL Editor

(Sports Network) - Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and Chicago native Donovan McNabb naturally has a soft spot for his home city. It's a place his team has grown to love as well over the years.

Philadelphia will strive for a fifth consecutive victory at historic Soldier Field when the Eagles and Bears square off this Sunday in Week 4 of this NFL season.

The Eagles have not lost in Chicago since a 20-14 setback to the Bears on December 24, 1995, when McNabb was nearing the end of his freshman season at Syracuse University. Philadelphia would go on to win the next five meetings between the longtime NFL franchises, including a McNabb-led playoff triumph in the Windy City during the 2001 season, before the Bears ended the streak with last season's 19-16 decision over the Birds at Lincoln Financial Field.

Chicago prevailed in the most recent showdown by virtue of a late 97-yard drive organized by quarterback Brian Griese, who delivered a go-ahead touchdown pass with just nine seconds showing on the clock.

Griese sparked another dramatic comeback a week ago, only this time the Bears were the ones winding up as the victim. The journeyman signal-caller, now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, engineered a 13-point rally that spurred the Bucs to a 27-24 overtime triumph over Chicago at Soldier Field.

The loss was the second in a row for the Bears since an encouraging 29-13 road upset of AFC powerhouse Indianapolis during Week 1, and both defeats came as a result of the team failing to hold on to a second-half lead. Chicago blew a 14-point advantage in a 20-17 defeat at Carolina on September 14.

Philadelphia is off to a strong 2-1 start following last Sunday's 15-6 home victory over defending AFC North champion Pittsburgh, in which the Eagles' defense sacked Ben Roethlisberger nine times and yielded a scant 180 total yards.

McNabb sat out a portion of the game after suffering a chest contusion in the first half, but the injury isn't expected to keep the 10th-year veteran from being under center on Sunday. The Eagles have greater concerns regarding the status of running back Brian Westbrook, who sprained his right ankle on the opening play of the second quarter against Pittsburgh and sat out the remainder of the day.

Westbrook, the NFL's leader in yards from scrimmage in 2007, is likely a game- time decision for Sunday's tilt and will almost certainly see a reduced role if he does suit up.

SERIES HISTORY

The Bears hold a 25-8-1 lead in the all-time series with Philadelphia, including the above-mentioned 19-16 win at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 7 of last season. The Eagles had won five of the previous six regular season meetings dating back to 1994, including a 19-9 win when they last visited Chicago in 2004.

The Eagles have won two of the three postseason meetings with Chicago all- time, including a 33-19 road win in a 2001 NFC Divisional Playoff. Perhaps the teams' most memorable confrontation came in the infamous 1988 "Fog Bowl," an NFC Divisional Playoff in the Windy City that Chicago won, 20-12.

Philadelphia is 4-0 in its last four trips to Chicago overall, with the Bears last winning a home game over the Eagles during the 1995 regular season.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid is 5-1 in his career against Chicago, including the '01 postseason tilt. The Bears' Lovie Smith is 1-1 against both Reid and Philadelphia as a head coach.

WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL

With Westbrook to be either sidelined or limited and the Bears sporting one of the league's better run defenses, Philadelphia figures to be relying heavily on the right arm of McNabb (838 passing yards, 5 TD, 1 INT) come Sunday. The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback has been up to the task in the early going, as he's completed nearly 67 percent of his throws over the first three games and skillfully directed the NFL's third-ranked aerial attack (289.3 ypg). The offense hasn't been hindered by the absence of Kevin Curtis, who's yet to play due to a sports hernia, and fellow wideout Reggie Brown, who returned from a hamstring injury last week but saw spot duty. Big-play rookie DeSean Jackson (17 receptions, 256 yards) and reserves Hank Baskett (12 receptions, 197 yards, 1 TD) and Greg Lewis (9 receptions) have all stepped up when called upon, with Jackson producing a pair of 100-yard efforts over the initial two weeks and Baskett amassing a career-best eight catches for 85 yards in the Pittsburgh game. Curtis has resumed practicing but will probably be out another week, while tight end L.J. Smith (6 receptions, 1 TD) could also miss Sunday's test due to a back sprain.

Chicago's defense has shown a vulnerability against the pass, which the Buccaneers exposed during last week's comeback. Griese threw for a career-high 407 yards and two scores while hitting on several big pass plays against the Bears, who are surrendering nearly 250 yards per game (28th overall) through the air thus far. The team did come up with three interceptions in the loss, however, and the secondary does possess a good pair of cornerbacks in Charles Tillman (23 tackles, 1 INT, 4 PD) and Nathan Vasher (10 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PD). The Bears' lack of pass rush has been a more pressing problem early on. The team failed to sack Griese last Sunday despite the Bucs attempting a whopping 67 passes, while end Alex Brown (6 tackles), who has two of Chicago's five quarterback takedowns on the year, missed practice time this week with a sore ankle and is a question mark for this game.

While the Bears struggled to contain Tampa's passing unit a week ago, the defense was able to smother their opponent's attempts to run the ball. Chicago held Bucs running back Earnest Graham to a mere 16 yards on 12 carries and is yielding only 71.3 rushing yards per game (5th overall) on the year. A stout front seven is anchored by standout linebackers Brian Urlacher (17 tackles) and Lance Briggs (20 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PD), and tackle Tommie Harris (3 tackles) is one of the game's best interior disrupters when healthy. The three-time Pro Bowl honoree, who compiled eight sacks in 2007, has been slowed some by a lingering knee injury this year, which may explain Chicago's troubles in pressuring the passer.

The Eagles rank only 27th in the league in rushing offense (83.7 ypg) and failed to generate much of a ground game against a formidable Pittsburgh stop unit last week. Not having Westbrook (161 rushing yards, 8 receptions, 5 total TD) available for the majority of that contest didn't help matters, but the team has also missed the presence of road-grader Shawn Andrews, Philly's best blocker up front. The Pro Bowl right guard sat out last week with back spasms and is doubtful to return for Sunday's matchup. Correll Buckhalter (48 rushing yards, 8 receptions, 1 TD) had 43 yards on 10 attempts filling in for Westbrook in Week 3 and will see the bulk of the backfield work if the latter can't go. He's a capable understudy who added six catches for 44 yards in last week's win, while hauling in McNabb's lone touchdown strike of the day.

WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL

It will be strength on strength when the Bears are on offense, as the team's surprisingly effective running game will go up against a Philadelphia defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league. Chicago's game plan has centered around rookie Matt Forte (304 rushing yards, 1 TD), who's racked up a league-high 73 carries through three games and has performed well running behind a rather nondescript offensive line. The Tulane product is also a key part of the team's conservative passing philosophy, as he's totaled an additional 105 yards on 13 catches and had a touchdown reception in last week's loss. The Bears come in averaging a healthy 152 yards per game on the ground (8th overall).

Forte figures to face the toughest test of his young career from the Eagles, who completely shut down a highly-regarded Pittsburgh rushing attack in Week 3. Steelers running back Willie Parker, who had piled up 243 yards over the first two weeks, mustered just 20 on 13 carries against a sturdy Philadelphia defense that has held its opponents to meager averages of 45.7 rushing yards per game and 2.4 yards per attempt. The success starts up front, where trusty tackles Brodrick Bunkley (6 tackles, 1 sack) and Mike Patterson (5 tackles, 0.5 sacks) clog the lanes and allow the club's top two tacklers, middle linebacker Stewart Bradley (19 tackles, 1 sack) and strong safety Quintin Mikell (24 tackles, 1 sack) room to make plays.

If the Eagles are able to repeat their success in stopping the run, they'll be turning their high-pressure defense loose on Chicago's Kyle Orton (567 passing yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) and force the steady but unspectacular quarterback to make plays. Orton certainly hasn't shown himself to be a liability in his three season starts, and the fourth-year pro established career-bests for passing yards (268) and completions (22) in last week's game with Tampa Bay. His favorite target has been wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (13 receptions, 216 yards, 1 TD), the former Redskins washout who seems to have rejuvenated his career in Chicago. He tallied 124 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown on six catches during last Sunday's loss. With the Bears lacking any other reliable options on the flanks, Orton has often gone in the direction of Forte and tight ends Desmond Clark (6 receptions) and Greg Olsen (6 receptions).

Orton will be taking aim at a quality Philadelphia secondary headlined by ball-hawking cornerback Asante Samuel (7 tackles, 2 INT, 6 PD) and six-time Pro Bowl free safety Brian Dawkins (14 tackles, 1 sack), who garnered NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after amassing seven tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in the Pittsburgh game. Those two are part of a defense that's tied for the NFL lead with 13 sacks through three games and relentlessly harassed Roethlisberger in its latest effort. Ends Juqua Parker (8 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Darren Howard (6 tackles, 2.5 sacks) combined for half of Philly's nine sacks last week, while speedy weakside linebacker Omar Gaither (13 tackles, 3 PD) had 1 1/2 takedowns in the win.

FANTASY FOCUS

Westbrook's health status will have a fantasy effect on virtually every Philadelphia offensive player, so anyone with an Eagle on their roster will have to monitor the injury report right up until Sunday. The team is not going to jeopardize the long-term prospects of its most important skill player, so it's safe to assume Westbrook will get plenty of touches if in fact he's active. If his situation is still iffy as of Sunday morning, don't wait around. Buckhalter would make a decent, but not great, option in a matchup with a tough Chicago defense. McNabb appears safe to start, but keep an eye on his practice situation as well. The longtime quarterback has a chance for a big night against a Bears' team that was riddled through the air a week ago. Jackson and Baskett are the Eagles' best receiving bets and should be used as well. On the Chicago side, Forte's heavy workload alone makes him a worthy starting candidate, although his yardage totals may be reduced this week. Lloyd has emerged as a useful receiver, but play Orton only if you're desperate at quarterback.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

This game has all the makings of a hard-hitting defensive slugfest, with both teams adept at stopping the run and the potential existing for both quarterbacks to struggle in the notoriously windy conditions that emanate off the shores of Lake Michigan. Assuming that both offenses are grounded by the opposition, the outcome may come down to which club can throw the ball more effectively. If that's the case, Philadelphia has a clear edge with McNabb taking on a Chicago secondary that's been mighty shaky early on. The Bears don't want Orton to have to air it out 30-35 times a game against a dangerous pass rush, but the home team may have no choice if it can't solve the Eagles' excellent run-stopping unit. The Bears always seem to come up with a big play or two on defense to put themselves in position to win, but that still may not be enough against a Philadelphia squad that's more talented on both sides of the ball.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Eagles 16, Bears 10

[thaikarate1]

Harmon Forcast:

Eagles 23 Bears 19

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb faces a Bears defense that intercepted Bucs QB Brian Griese three times. Rookie RB Matt Forte could struggle against an Eagles defense that held Willie Parker to 20 rushing yards on 13 carries. Parker came in to the game with two straight 100-yard rushing performances.

[LVJimmy]

Anyone in Chicago? How is the weather?

[SPREADWINNA]

eagles looked too strong last week vs the steelers and played very well in dallas.eagles are 3-0 ats this season..and 3-1 ats vs the bears last 4 losing last season at home...When they do beat the bears, they have won by no less than 4 in the last 10 years !
lets make it 4-0...

i love the eagles -3 1/2 tonight!