CHICAGO — Jalen Hurts had easily his worst first half of the season and the Eagles struggled offensively.
However, they led 10-6 at halftime after Hurts threw two interceptions, the most he’s thrown in any game this season and one less than his total through the first 13 games.
But Hurts’ 22-yard TD run with 43 seconds left in the first half, when he ran untouched on a QB draw, put the Eagles in front.
However, he was just 8-for-16 for 139 yards and 2 INTs in the first half. Three of those completions for 104 yards went to DeVonta Smith, including a 38-yard pass on that score.
Maybe the cold weather had something to do with it. The temperature during the game was 18 degrees with 16 mph winds that felt like 4 degrees.
The Eagles had a chance to take the lead mainly due to the strong defensive play of Hasson Reddick and Josh Sweet, who had 2 of the Eagles’ 5 sacks. Redick, though, just missed two more.
One of those misses was a play where he sacked quarterback Justin Fields, resulting in a Bears fumble. On the next play, Redick nearly wrapped up Fields, but Fields broke free, broke a couple of tackles and went 39 yards to the Eagles’ 9.
On the next play, David Montgomery fumbled the ball but missed the extra point.
Redick has 11 sacks this season, Sweet has 9.5, setting a career high, and Jevon Hargrave also has a sack. However, Fields, who had 81 yards rushing and 81 yards rushing in the first half. That brought Fields 14 rushing yards over 1,000 for the season.
Hurts, meanwhile, struggled except for Smith’s throws. He was stopped by Kyle Gordon at the Bears’ 17 on the Eagles’ first drive. He threw another INT, trying to hit Kes Watkins near midfield by DeAndre Houston Carson, who returned the ball to the Eagles’ 25.
But Redick’s sack on 3rd-and-16 from the Eagles’ 20 forced a Bears punt. That set up the Eagles’ final drive of the first half. This time it was Hurts who took advantage.
Eagles’ sack party
The Eagles continued to close out franchise park records. They sacked Fields 6 times in the third quarter, including two each by Redick, Sweet and Hargrave. Hargrave has 10 sacks this season, joining Reddick (12) in double figures.
As a team, the Eagles have 55 sacks on the season, seven shy of the franchise record set in 1989. It’s also the first time the Eagles have had 3 straight games of 5 or more since 1997.
Where is Miles Sanders?
Myles Sanders is fifth in the NFL with 1,068 yards. However, he didn’t touch the ball until 6 minutes remained in the first half.
Sanders had 3 carries for 12 yards in the first half. Hurts led the Eagles with 7 carries for 40 yards.
Why did the Eagles keep Goedert on IR?
Two weeks ago, Dallas Goedert said he fully expects to be activated from injured reserve this Sunday, the first game in which he is eligible to play.
However, the Eagles let Saturday’s deadline pass by not activating Goedert for their game against the Chicago Bears, even though Goedert returned to practice last week. It’s entirely possible that the Eagles gave Gaedert an extra week to get the strength back in his shoulder so he’ll be ready for the Eagles’ showdown against the Dallas Cowboys next Saturday.
PAIN VS. FIELDS:These Eagles saw Justin Fields play for years in college; he will outplay Jalen Hurts.
Either way, there will be a lot more at stake next week. The Eagles have already clinched a playoff berth. But if the Eagles beat the Bears on Sunday, or if the Cowboys lose to Jacksonville, the Eagles can clinch the NFC East and the NFC playoffs with a win next Saturday.
Goedert didn’t necessarily believe in that strategy.
“Even though the Bears only had 3 wins, they lost a lot of close games,” he said. “They’re not a bad team, that’s for sure. … I definitely want to play in Dallas.”
The game will begin at 1 p.m. and will be televised on FOX with coverage by Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston and Pam Oliver.
Bad start for Eagles, Hurts
The Eagles had one of their ugliest first quarters of the season on Sunday, but at least they weren’t losing because the defense did a good job containing Justin Fields.
The Eagles had the ball just 2 minutes, 10 seconds into the quarter. Jalen Hurts went 1-for-5 with 21 yards with an interception. The finish was a beautiful pass as Hurts spun to his left and threw it to the edge where Smith dove and caught it, keeping his feet inside.
But on the next play, Hurts rolled to his right and was intercepted at the Bears’ 17.
The Eagles sacked Fields twice in the first quarter. The first, by Josh Sweet, gave him 8.5 for the season, a career high. Overall, the Eagles have 51 sacks on the season, the most in the NFL.
Eagles inactive, Bears missing top 3 WRs
The Eagles were without safety Reid Blankenship, who had started the previous two games in place of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who was on injured reserve. Blankenship suffered a knee injury last week against the Giants.
But the Eagles did not replace Blankenship on the roster because safety Anthony Harris, who was signed to the practice squad on Thursday, did not make the practice squad. K’Von Wallace started in place of Blankenship, but Avonte Maddox also played some safety.
The Eagles’ other inactives were QB Ian Book, RB Trey Sermon, DE Janarius Robinson, G Josh Sills and G Sua Opeta.
Meanwhile, the Bears will be without two of their wide receivers in Chase Claypool and N’Keel Harry. The Bears traded for Claypool before the October deadline. He has 12 receptions in 5 games. Harry has 5 catches this season.
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected] Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
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