Week 3 brings a real measuring-stick game for the Philadelphia Eagles, even if the Chicago Bears are dealing with uncertainty at quarterback. The last time these teams met, the Bears ran for 281 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-15 win over the Eagles, a result that stood out as the most humiliating loss of last season.
That history alone makes Monday’s game worth watching. It may not qualify as a revenge game in the cleanest sense, but it still gives the Eagles a chance to show they can handle a Chicago offense that already proved it could lean on the ground game and control the matchup. If the Eagles want to move to 3-0, they know they have to keep the Bears in check.
There are also some lineup questions worth watching on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. The Eagles are expecting changes, and a few of them could shape how the game unfolds.
On offense, the Eagles are looking for Zach Ertz to be exactly what he has been for most of his career: reliable. They do not need the peak version of Ertz from the late 2010s, or even the Ertz who played in Philadelphia from 2013 to 2021. What they need is simpler than that - a tight end who can catch the ball and find space in the middle of the field.
A heavy dose of “11 personnel” still looks likely, but there should also be some “12 personnel” sprinkled in with Ertz in the mix. If he picks up the terminology quickly and catches what comes his way, that should be enough for the Eagles.
If the offense leans heavily into “11 personnel,” Darius Cooper could see more snaps and more targets. Cooper is viewed as a better option than Lemon right now, even if it is hard to imagine the Eagles cutting Lemon’s role down in a major way.
The bigger concern is whether the missed chances and limited involvement are starting to affect Lemon’s confidence. Philadelphia also has to think about Lemon’s long-term future, even if he is not helping much at the moment.
That is part of why a player like Cooper matters, and why Elijah Moore would help too if he is active this week.
Up front, the Eagles are set with Cam Jurgens at left guard and Drew Kendall at center. The decision has been made, and now the team has to live with it.
Jurgens will be making his second start at left guard, and the expectation is that he should look better than he did last week. If the left side of the line cleans up, that would be a welcome step.
If it does not, the Eagles could be staring at a bigger problem.
There is also encouraging news on the defensive front with Greenard. He was a full participant in Saturday’s final practice for the first time since suffering a pectoral injury over the summer. He remains questionable, but that participation is a strong sign he could be back for Monday night.
Even if Greenard plays, he is expected to be on a pitch count. If he starts, it would likely be on the right side, which opens the left side for Smith. Still, the Eagles will have to balance Smith, Greenard, and Hunt throughout the game.
The biggest question in the secondary may be Marcus Epps, who had a rough outing last week, especially when it came to tackling. That performance has pushed the Eagles to consider other options, though Epps is still expected to start again.
Vic Fangio also mentioned the possibility of Carter getting more snaps, which could mean a few series for Epps. The Eagles signed Kenny Moore to add competition at safety and depth in the slot, but it would be surprising if Moore is elevated this week.
For Epps, this is a big one. The Eagles need a bounce-back performance.
In Other News...
Jalen Hurts Faces A New Eagles Test With Key Targets Missing
Jalen Hurts has already given Eagles fans plenty to like early this season, and Monday night now brings a different kind of test for Philadelphia's offense. With Dallas Goedert sidelined, the passing game loses one of its steadier middle-of-the-field options, which puts even more of the burden on Hurts to keep the offense moving while working around a reshuffled group of targets.
DeVonta Smith and DAndre Swift are among the players expected to take on larger roles, and that makes this a useful checkpoint for how the Eagles want to distribute the ball without one of their regular outlets available. For Hurts, it is another reminder that the weekly challenge is not just producing, but adapting when the pieces around him change. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Defense Faces A Brutal Test Against Chicago Again
A trip back through film from the Eagles last meeting with Chicago has become a big part of the build-up to Monday night, and for good reason. In that matchup, the Bears gashed Philadelphia for 281 rushing yards and two touchdowns, a reminder of how quickly an opponent can take control if the front seven slips out of position. With another Bears game on deck, the Eagles are treating the tape as both a warning and a blueprint.
Jordan Davis has framed the challenge in simple terms: discipline. Chicagos quarterback situation has changed with the starter injured and a third-stringer expected to get the nod, which only puts more pressure on the Eagles to handle the run game cleanly and avoid letting the game tilt on the ground again. Philadelphia is hoping a recent practice against a similar offensive scheme gives it a better feel for whats coming, but the last meeting is still the standard that has to be erased. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Greenard's Return Comes With One Big Eagles Question
Jonathan Greenard is on track to make his Eagles debut against the Bears after sitting out training camp and the first two weeks because of a pectoral injury, and Philadelphia is easing him back in with a clear plan. The move makes sense for a defense that wants his speed and edge presence, but it also reflects how much ground he still has to make up after missing so much of the buildup to the season.
The Eagles have already said they will keep his snap count in check as he works back into game shape, with Greenard expected to rotate alongside Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. For a team trying to balance immediate help with long-term health, his return is less about one Sunday and more about when he can become a full-time part of the pass-rush picture. [Read more 🡒]