The Chicago Bears Philadelphia Eagles rivalry is a somewhat overlooked one in NFL history. If one were to go back and truly look, they’d find two blue collar franchises playing in some exciting, memorable games. Suffice to say none of that is expected today. The two teams are headed in far different directions with six games to play.
Philadelphia has the best record in football (9-1) and can all but lock up the NFC East by beating Chicago. The Bears are 3-7, on the verge of a coaching change, playing a rookie quarterback and just lost their best pass rusher for the season. Why would anybody think they have any chance in hell of pulling off an upset?
Maybe because historically the Bears have made a habit of ruining the Eagles’ fun. Don’t believe it? Here are a few examples to refresh memories.
2011
It looked like the Eagles were getting themselves back on track. After a 1-4 start to the season, they’d won two-straight including a 34-7 beat down of Dallas the week prior to Chicago coming in. The Bears got the jump on them early with a 10-0 lead but gave it up later in the game, falling behind 24-17. Then Jay Cutler went to work, leading the offense to 13 unanswered points including a 5-yard TD pass to Earl Bennett that proved to be the game-winner. Philadelphia never recovered from that loss, finishing 8-8.
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2010
This game proved to be one of the most exciting of what was the last truly successful Bears seasons to date. The Eagles were red hot, having won five of their last six games including three-straight. Michael Vick had yet to throw an interception that season and was getting MVP consideration. The Bears though were battle tested and also on a three-game win streak.
This proved to arguably be the best game Cutler would have during his eight years in Chicago. He threw four touchdown passes for a 146 quarterback rating. Earl Bennett caught two of them. Meanwhile the defense intercepted Vick for the first time that season and held off a late Eagles comeback to escape 31-26. That victory actually proved crucial as it helped gained the Bears the #2 seed and pushed Philadelphia to the #3, robbing them of a first round bye.
1995
The Eagles were desperately trying to reach the Super Bowl after years of close calls by 1995. Going into the season finale in Chicago, they had a shot to get solid playoff position. Their 20-14 defeat on Christmas Eve was a major disappointment. They never led once the entire game. This after winning five of their past six. That loss dropped them to the #4 seed in the playoff, putting them on course to play their rival Dallas Cowboys. They were crushed 30-11 in the divisional round.
Had they beaten Chicago, there’s a chance they would’ve gained the #3 seed and played a schedule far more favorable. They would’ve played Atlanta first who’d lost three of their last five by the start of the playoffs and then San Francisco, whom the Eagles had crushed 40-8 the previous year. A firm reminder that all games matter.
1988
Things were rolling for the Eagles by 1988. Buddy Ryan, the former Bears defensive coordinator, had them playing with confidence and aggression. After a slow start to the year they were white hot by playoff time, winning six of their final seven games. All they had to do was get out of Chicago with a win and they’d reach their first NFC championship game in almost a decade.
Then the weather turned against them.
In one of weirdest and eeriest moments of NFL history, a huge fog bank rolled in off Lake Michigan and shrouded the entire field. It was so thick that people on the sideline couldn’t see what was happening on each play. The “Fog Bowl” as it came to be known grounded the Eagles offense. All they could manage was field goals in a 20-12 heartbreaker.
1949
Most people won’t remember this far back but even in the olden days the Bears always seemed to make life bittersweet for the City of Brotherly Love. It was hard not to feel great in 1949 if you were an Eagles fan. The team had already won the NFL championship the year prior and was rampaging towards a repeat. They went 3-0 to open the year and had already beaten one Chicago team (the Cardinals) in a 28-3 trashing.
Most fully expected them to do the same to the Bears a week later. They were wrong. The Eagles defense had no answer for the Bears offense, which piled up 457 yards in a decisive 38-21 rout. It was a humbling moment for Philadelphia. What made it all the worse was they didn’t lose another game the rest of the year, winning their second-straight title. That loss ended up costing them an undefeated season.
