Chicago Bears (3-7 SU, 5-4-1 ATS) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (9-1 SU, 8-2 ATS)
Week 12 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday, November 26, 2017 at 1PM EST
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV: Fox
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: CHI +13.5/PHI -13.5
Over/Under Total: 44
The Chicago Bears come into Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday for an NFC matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears came up short to the Lions on Sunday, 27-24. The loss dropped them to 3-7 on the season and was their fourth straight loss. They still might be better than their record suggests. They hope to catch Philly sleeping this week, after the Eagles ran their record to 9-1 on Sunday Night Football with a 37-9 in over the Dallas Cowboys. With the best record in football, the Eagles have been largely-dependable this season and they look to apply some more of that consistency this week at home with three straight road games following this matchup.
The Eagles have really been something this season, also as a betting proposition. They have covered six straight spreads dating back to September 24. In their last three games, the combined score of their games was 121-42. They looked good on Sunday coming off the bye-week on both sides of the ball. A mean, playmaking defense is the perfect compliment to an offense with growing options and a second-year quarterback in Carson Wentz who is playing almost as well as anyone in the league. Against Dallas on Sunday night, they actually trailed going into the second half of the game, 9-7. But they started piling it on in the second half, with a defense that shut down the Cowboys, along with two touchdowns each in the third and fourth quarters. Aiding the cause was a late defensive touchdown. There are a lot of different ways this Eagles team can get you.
The Eagles' offense has become the top-scoring group in the NFL. They have been in fine form lately and after a slow start with one lone touchdown in the first half against Dallas, they put it together nicely. Wentz didn't have his glossiest stat-line from a passing standpoint, but he threw two touchdowns. Alshon Jeffery has been building his standing as the team's go-to receiver in recent games and he had another good showing on Sunday, with Torrey Smith also catching a TD pass. Their run-game is starting to really blossom. First, LeGarrette Blount started playing well, before they acquired Jay Ajayi, who has been really peeling off some nice long runs. Add into the mix a healthier Corey Clement, who was over 50 yards rushing for a third straight game, this run-game has become a diverse and flourishing part of an offense that has really blossomed this season. If one part of their game falters, they have a deep bag of tricks to employ.
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There is a lot to like on the other side of the ball for the Eagles this season. They have the top rushing defense in the NFL. And they can really make a lot of plays. On Sunday, several Philly defenders got involved, with Nigel Bradham taking a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown. The Philly secondary isn't always terribly-stout, but they make up for it in other ways. On Sunday, it was interceptions, with Ronald Darby, Malcolm Jenkins, and Rodney McLeod getting picks. They are giving up an average of fewer than 20 points a game and with the way this offense is playing, that's going to be good enough. And so far this season, it has been.
The Bears are not lighting the world on fire, but at 3-7, they have more going for them than some teams. Five of their seven losses and their last three games have been one-score affairs. They are a team that has growing talent on both sides of the ball, most notably a rising force at quarterback and a top commodity at running back. They give good effort and are still into it mentally. Against a Detroit team that is playing very well of late, they hung in there the whole game, with Detroit needing a late 52-yard field goal to seal the win. If they continue putting out a good effort, they will see things start to pay off.
The Chicago offense is in the hands of Mitchell Trubisky, a rookie quarterback who is warming up to the occasion. He has been efficient and has a certain winning presence even if the results haven't been that great. The North Carolina rookie has undergone a massive jump in difficulty from last season and there will be growing pains, but he's on the right track. He has a very nifty set of legs, which has boosted a strong Chicago run-game, also with the addition of useful rookie Tarik Cohen. The head guy on the ground for the Bears is Jordan Howard and he was big again on Sunday with 125 yards and a TD. On Sunday, Adam Shaheen caught a Trubisky TD pass and they could use more of an aerial punch to take the next step forward as an offense. Starting receivers Dontrelle Inman and Kendall Wright would be complimentary pieces in most offenses, as their stripped-bare receiver crew prevents Trubisky from putting up big aerial numbers.
The Chicago defense has also caught more than its fair share of injuries on this side of the ball. Still, they haven't really been that bad. An opponent has only gone above the twenties in scoring against the Bears once this season. On Sunday, Nick Kwiatoski, Mitch Unrein, and Christian Jones each sacked Matthew Stafford. Safeties Adrian Amos and exciting rookie Eddie Jackson have both made huge plays on the season. Akiem Hicks and Leonard Floyd have also been getting after the quarterback this season on a regular basis.
This is a potential trap spot for the Eagles. Chicago is on the road coming off three straight losses, at an unthreatening 3-7. With division teams collecting losses in bunches, the Eagles could maybe afford to take their foot off the gas, though banking on that could be a mistake. They have been fairly dominant and don't change form from week to week as most teams do this season. The Bears, however, have shown over the last two months that they aren't an easy team to get separation from. I see them being tough enough on Sunday to cover the spread.
Loot's Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I'm betting on the Chicago Bears plus 13.5 points. Tired of your credit card not working for sportsbook deposit? End that problem today by signing up at Bovada Sportsbook where your credit card WILL work and where you'll receive a generous 50% sign-up bonus!
