Are the Bears who we thought they were? We’re about to find out.
After starting 0-2, Chicago has won eight of nine games. They’re the unlikely, for now, first-place team in the NFC North, at 8-3.
Everything changes today.
The Bears had a convincing win against the Cowboys in Week 3, 31-14. After that, the Bears accomplished a pair of 25-24 escapes against the Raiders and Commanders. Both games could have been, and arguably should have been, lost.
They handled the Saints (it felt closer than 26-14) before losing by 14 to the Ravens in their last game without Lamar Jackson. After that, the Bears staged four straight come-from-behind wins against the Bengals, Giants, Vikings, and Steelers, with each game decided by five points or fewer. It wasn’t exactly murderer’s row.
Something much closer to murderer’s row is now here. The Bears play the Eagles in Philly today. Next, a visit to the Packers. Then, the Browns come to town, followed by a three-game test to close things out: Packers, at 49ers, Lions.
A loss today would drop the Bears to 8-4, giving the Packers first place in the division at 8-3-1. Next Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field becomes pivotal.
That’s not to say the Bears can’t handle it. They’ve been winning. But they need to keep winning against collectively better opposition, or they’ll slip into the wild-card morass from which multiple teams with winning records will not emerge.
Yes, we’ll soon learn much about what the 2025 Bears truly are. Kickoff is coming at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The Eagles won’t have to do any shopping to replace wide receiver DeVonta Smith on Black Friday.
Smith was listed as out of practice with shoulder and chest injuries on Tuesday and Wednesday, but he returned to practice on Thursday. Smith, who is also listed with an illness, was a full participant and he has no injury designation for the game against the Bears.
Running back Saquon Barkley also has no designation. He was limited with a groin injury on Tuesday and Wednesday before joining Smith as a full participant Friday.
Wide receiver Xavier Gipson (shoulder), offensive lineman Myles Hinton (back), and right tackle Lane Johnson (foot) have been ruled out.
The Bears defense will be getting a couple of players back in the fold for Friday’s game against the Eagles.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that they will activate cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon from injured reserve. Both players have been full participants in practice this week.
Johnson missed the season opener with a groin injury and then went on injured reserve after playing in Week 2. He had surgery in September to address the issue.
Gordon also missed the start of the year with a hamstring injury before playing two games in October. Groin and calf injuries sent him back to the sideline, but he and Johnson will now be back to help the Bears’ push for an NFC North title.
A report on Monday said Eagles rookie safety Andrew Mukuba fractured his leg in last Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys and Mukuba will be out for at least four games as he recovers from the injury.
The Eagles put Mukuba on injured reserve on Wednesday. Given the timing and nature of the injury, some will wonder if Mukuba has played his final snap of the season but head coach Nick Sirianni said at a press conference that he will “never put a timetable on a guy.”
Mukuba played more than 90 percent of the defensive snaps in the first 11 games and recorded 46 tackles, two for loss, two interceptions, and a half-sack. Sydney Brown is expected to join Reed Blankenship as the starting safeties in Mukuba’s absence.
The Eagles signed wide receiver Britain Covey to the active roster to fill Mukuba’s spot. Covey has appeared in 38 games for the team over the last three seasons and has seen most of his action as a punt returner.
The Eagles did not have receiver DeVonta Smith on the field for the second consecutive day.
Philadelphia added and illness designation for Smith on Wednesday and he did not practice. That came after he was listed as a non-participant with chest and shoulder injuries on Tuesday.
Smith, 27, has caught 55 passes for 754 yards with three touchdowns in 2025. He has not missed a game so far this season. Last week, he caught six passes for 89 yards in the loss to Dallas.
Running back Saquon Barkley (groin) remained limited on Wednesday’s report.
Offensive tackle Lane Johnson (foot), safety Andrew Mukuba (ankle), and receiver Xavier Gipson (shoulder) also did not participate.
Safety Reed Blankenship (thigh) and guard Landon Dickerson (knee) remained limited.
Defensive end Brandon Graham (groin) was upgraded to limited from DNP.
Offensive tackle Myles Hinton (back) and offensive lineman Willie Lampkin (knee/ankle) remained full participants.
