Chicago Bears vs Philadelphia Eagles – Week 3 Game Preview: Overview, Keys to Game, Insights
After everything that could go right for the Bears (1-1) did in their Week 1 rout of the Panthers in Carolina, things went catastrophically wrong in the home opener against the Vikings. Ben Johnson’s squad mustered just three points playing on the rain-soaked turf of Soldier Field in a 9-3 defeat.
Losing was not the worst thing to happen to Chicago in that game, however, because starting quarterback Caleb Williams went down with a hamstring injury and then backup QB Tyson Bagent suffered a concussion in the final drive. That means they head into to Monday’s game against the Eagles with the distinct possibility that third-string signal caller Case Keenum may be under center if Bagent can’t go.
Philadelphia (2-0) won their first two games of 2026 in very underwhelming fashion by a combined six points. They outlasted an injury-ravaged Commanders team and then required a last minute drive to top the really lousy Titans.
That has just further disgruntled a Philly fan base that was already angry about a halfhearted title defense in 2025. Even though they finished 11-6, winning the NFC East, every game was a slog and it was hardly surprising when they were unceremoniously bounced by the 49ers in the Wild Card round.
The Eagles’ offense regressed last season and it hasn’t looked any better so far in 2026. Jalen Hurts is still good but not great at quarterback and former number one receiver A.J. Brown went to the Patriots in the offseason, leaving DeVonta Smith as the top receiving target. The biggest difference from 2024, though, is that running back Saquon Barkley took a big step back from his 2000 rushing yard season with just 1104 in 2025.
Philadelphia still has a very powerful defensive front anchored by first round picks Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. The secondary was a bit vulnerable last season, which hurt the overall effectiveness of the unit. They were still very stout in the red zone, which limited the amount of points they allowed per game.
Injuries are also a big concern for the Eagles with Smith questionable and star tight end Dallas Goedert out. It’s not going to be easy for the Bears with their franchise quarterback unavailable but they definitely have a chance with the opposition also struggling.
Where to Watch/Listen
- Monday, September 28 at 7:15pm CT on ABC/ESPN, WBBM Radio (English), and WRTO Radio (Spanish).
Keys to Victory
Here are my keys to Monday’s game. If these things happen, the Bears should have a shot to win.
- Lots of quick passes and easy completions. With Keenum or Bagent in a quarterback Chicago needs to have some quick success and short passes to hopefully build up their confidence.
- Keep the Eagles running game in check. Barkley has just 92 rushing yards in the first two weeks of the season. If the Bears can do a similar job it will put plenty of pressure on Hurts to have to beat them with his arm.
- Get D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai back on track. Chicago’s two-headed running back monster that piled up over 200 yards against Carolina did very little against Minnesota. That must change with a backup quarterback at the helm.
- Be aware on special teams. Philadelphia has a knack for blocking field goals and extra points. The Bears have to be sure they don’t get a kick blocked.
Don’t Tell Me the Odds
Unsurprisingly without Williams playing, the Eagles are 4.5 point favorites on the road in Chicago. The 41.5 over/under indicates the expectation is for a low-scoring game.
It’s Football Weather
The weather forecast for Monday night at Soldier Field is in the low 60s with almost no wind or chance of precipitation.
My Prediction
Philadelphia has played ugly games for the last year and a half so it will be probably more of the same in this one. The Bears offense is going to be highly limited and the Eagles should be able to escape with a close victory. They will score late in the fourth quarter and win by a margin of 21-17.
Official NFL Preview
Here is the official preview of the Eagles-Bears game from the NFL.
