If the Bears are to match their home win total from 2015, here?s a trio of starting points versus the Eagles:
Hit
Carson Wentz. To do that, the Bears have to get to him first. They didn?t do that enough last week in Houston against a more vulnerable offensive line. Willie Young and Lamarr Houston must make their presence felt (though Houston was held to less than 30 snaps). Can Leonard Floyd give Jason Peters or Lane Johnson a dose of his speed off the edge? Eddie Goldman has to handle a finesse center in Jason Kelce and they could use more Akiem Hicks, Mitch Unrein and Jonathan Bullard. Wentz seemed awfully cool and comfortable for a kid in his NFL debut last week. Introduce him to the Soldier Field turf.
Run
Isaiah Crowell ran for over five yards a carry against that Eagles defense, but the Browns only used him 12 times. The Bears ran the ball just 20 times last week, contributing to Jay Cutler getting battered in the second half. With the offensive line having a second week to get acquainted, and with the talented, underrated Fletcher Cox moved inside in Jim Schwartz?s 4-3, take the ball to the Eagles, using all three running backs.
Cover
Darren Sproles. Easier said than done. He?s a waterbug with nine career return touchdowns (seven on punts, two on kickoffs). His 16,321 all-purpose yards since 2007 leads the NFL. Who says someone 5-foot-6 can?t put fear into an opponent? He?s 33 years old, and as dangerous as ever.
Hit
Carson Wentz. To do that, the Bears have to get to him first. They didn?t do that enough last week in Houston against a more vulnerable offensive line. Willie Young and Lamarr Houston must make their presence felt (though Houston was held to less than 30 snaps). Can Leonard Floyd give Jason Peters or Lane Johnson a dose of his speed off the edge? Eddie Goldman has to handle a finesse center in Jason Kelce and they could use more Akiem Hicks, Mitch Unrein and Jonathan Bullard. Wentz seemed awfully cool and comfortable for a kid in his NFL debut last week. Introduce him to the Soldier Field turf.
Run
Isaiah Crowell ran for over five yards a carry against that Eagles defense, but the Browns only used him 12 times. The Bears ran the ball just 20 times last week, contributing to Jay Cutler getting battered in the second half. With the offensive line having a second week to get acquainted, and with the talented, underrated Fletcher Cox moved inside in Jim Schwartz?s 4-3, take the ball to the Eagles, using all three running backs.
Cover
Darren Sproles. Easier said than done. He?s a waterbug with nine career return touchdowns (seven on punts, two on kickoffs). His 16,321 all-purpose yards since 2007 leads the NFL. Who says someone 5-foot-6 can?t put fear into an opponent? He?s 33 years old, and as dangerous as ever.
