Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Sunday, November 28, 2010, 4:15 pm EST, TV: FOX
Opening Line: Eagles -3.5
Current Line: Eagles -3
Opening Total: 41.5
Current Total: 42
Money Line: Eagles -190 / Bears +160
The Chicago Bears (7-3) have been labeled as pretenders for most of this season since a 3-0 start, and they will face their most difficult test since Week 3 when they host the Philadelphia Eagles (7-3) on Sunday. The Bears have won three straight games for the second time this season after blanking Miami 16-0 on the road 10 days ago but now must deal with a completely different offensive team when Michael Vick and the Eagles (-3) come to town.
Vick’s successful return has been one of the most popular stories in the NFL this season, although he will need to remain healthy and lead the Eagles into the playoffs to have any real shot at MVP honors. He remains the league’s top-rated passer and has yet to throw an interception, committing his first turnover of the season with a fumble in last week’s 27-17 home win over the Giants. New York’s defense hit Vick hard throughout the game and made him alter his style from his six-touchdown performance on Monday Night Football two weeks ago.
The Bears are tied with Green Bay for least points allowed at 14.6 per game and own the NFL’s second-best run defense, surrendering just 78 yards per game on the ground. They will try to follow a similar blueprint set forth by the Giants to contain Vick by forcing him to run to the right if he decides to take off when pass plays break down. Chicago is giving up only 3.5 yards per carry this season, which is tied with the Jets for second-lowest in the league.
Julius Peppers is coming off his best game of the year for the Bears, recording six tackles, three sacks and a deflected pass against the Dolphins. Peppers was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after taking advantage of a banged-up Miami offensive line, and he will look to force Vick into his first interception of the season. Chicago’s defense ranks first in the NFL with a combined 15 interceptions and 14 forced fumbles, which could be the difference in the game.
Offensively, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has not set the world on fire in offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s system, but he has limited his turnovers and run more lately when his pocket collapses. Cutler has still been sacked a league-high 33 times, but only six of them have taken place during the team’s three-game winning streak since the bye week.
Chicago is 4-1 straight-up and against the spread as an underdog this season, and the UNDER has cashed in eight of the team’s 10 games, including four straight. Philly has played the Bears each of the last three years, going 1-2 SU & ATS with the UNDER going 4-1 in the last five meetings.
Now that you have read this fNFL betting preview featuring the Bears & Eagles, view the NFL odds on this and all the games to compare the best lines at multiple sportsbooks.
