Eagles’ Defense Overwhelmed by Bears’ Ground Game: A Breakdown of a Rough Night in the Trenches
The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t just lose a football game - they got steamrolled at the line of scrimmage. Chicago ran for 281 yards, and if you watched the game, you know that number wasn’t inflated by a couple of big plays or garbage-time runs.
This was sustained, systematic domination. The Bears came in with a plan, executed it with precision, and left the Eagles' defense searching for answers.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t about effort or one player having a rough night. This was about being out-schemed and out-executed from the opening drive. Chicago’s run game looked like it was operating on a different level - with sequencing, misdirection, and motion that kept Philly’s defenders a step behind all night.
Defensive Breakdown: A System Under Stress
The Bears wasted no time making their intentions clear. From the first series, they used pre-snap motion and formation shifts to pull Eagles defenders out of position.
On one early run, DJ Moore’s motion dragged Jalyx Hunt out of the box, and the Bears exploited the resulting gap with ease. Jalen Carter, who’s usually a force in the middle, was double-teamed and moved off his spot, and the back had a wide-open lane on the backside.
This wasn’t a one-off. Chicago repeatedly targeted the wide spacing between the Eagles’ defensive tackles and edge defenders - a structural vulnerability in Vic Fangio’s scheme. That spacing, combined with light boxes and a reluctance to adjust, gave the Bears all the room they needed to operate.
One particularly effective wrinkle was the Bears’ use of wham blocks - where a tight end motions across the formation and delivers a surprise block on a defensive tackle. Carter got caught in that trap more than once.
Nakobe Dean had a tough time processing the misdirection, Reed Blankenship bit on window dressing, and Sydney Brown missed a key open-field tackle. These weren’t isolated breakdowns - they were symptoms of a defense that was being manipulated, mentally and physically, by a well-orchestrated run scheme.
Second-Level Struggles and Coaching Questions
The Bears’ offensive staff deserves credit for how they attacked the Eagles’ second level. Every motion, shift, and pull was designed to create confusion - and it worked.
On one play, Cooper DeJean looked completely lost in coverage, and Dean followed a tight end like it was play-action, leaving a massive gap in the middle of the field. The Eagles weren’t just getting blocked - they were being out-thought.
The contrast between the two teams’ run games was stark. Chicago ran with purpose and creativity.
Philly? Their run game felt static, almost hopeful.
The Bears stressed defenders with every snap, while the Eagles’ offense seemed to rely on someone winning a one-on-one block. That difference in design showed up on the scoreboard and in the tape.
It’s fair to question the coaching here. Fangio is a brilliant defensive mind, but his commitment to two-high safety looks - even against heavy personnel - left the Eagles vulnerable.
Against 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends) with a wide receiver aligned tight to the formation, the Eagles stayed in a light box with just two off-ball linebackers. That’s practically an invitation to run the ball, and the Bears accepted it repeatedly.
Personnel decisions also raised eyebrows. Jihaad Campbell didn’t play a single snap, despite the defense clearly needing fresh legs.
Byron Young struggled mightily, yet remained on the field. And while the Eagles rarely play with three true linebackers, this might’ve been the game to break that tendency.
Instead, they stuck with their base looks, and the Bears punished them for it.
Mental Fatigue and Structural Gaps
You could see the toll this game - and the last few weeks - has taken on the Eagles' defense. They’ve played a ton of snaps recently, and it’s starting to show.
Players looked slow to react, hesitant, and out of sync. That’s especially true in the secondary, where safeties were forced to pass off coverage responsibilities mid-motion, often leading to hesitation or missteps.
Blankenship, for example, was caught retreating at the snap, removing himself from the run fit entirely. Dean, who’s been strong since returning from injury, looked frozen at times - unable to trust what he was seeing. And down in the trenches, the Bears continued to win with double teams that left guys like Moro Ojomo completely washed out of the play.
One glaring issue was the massive gap between the defensive tackle and edge rusher, especially in goal-line situations. On one snap, the Eagles had four defensive tackles on the field - and still gave up an untouched touchdown run.
That’s not just about execution. That’s a structural flaw.
Even when the Bears’ passing game sputtered, the threat of the run forced the Eagles’ defensive backs to play downhill in a panic. That led to blown coverages, including one where a tight end was left wide open downfield.
When a run game puts that much mental strain on a defense, the passing game doesn’t need to be great - it just needs to take advantage of the chaos. Chicago did exactly that.
A Glimmer of Hope: Jalyx Hunt’s Impact
If there was one bright spot for the Eagles, it was Jalyx Hunt. His interception was a highlight-reel moment, and it wasn’t a fluke.
Hunt continues to flash as a legitimate playmaker - rangy, explosive, and instinctive. He’s made multiple splash plays this season, and he’s starting to look like a real building block for this defense.
If Jalen Hurts hadn’t fumbled after that pick, we might be talking about a completely different game.
Final Thoughts: A Team in Need of Rest - and Answers
This was a rough outing for the Eagles’ defense, no way around it. They looked gassed - mentally, physically, and schematically. Playing two massive-snap games in six days will do that to a unit, especially one missing key contributors in the secondary and leaning heavily on a few overworked stars.
The Bears didn’t just outplay the Eagles - they out-coached them. Their run game was a masterclass in modern offensive design, and Philly had no counterpunch.
Whether it’s tweaking personnel, adjusting alignments, or simply getting some much-needed rest, the Eagles need to regroup fast. Because if this trend continues, a bend-don’t-break defense might just start to break.
They’ve got time this week. They better use it.