Chicago Bears vs Philadelphia Eagles NFL 2016 Game Preview: Bears Look to Snap Home Losing Streak; Match Predictions, TV Schedule and Streaming Details
The 2016 NFL Season ends Week 2 with an exciting Monday Night Football game, pitting two teams from opposite ends of the league. The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Chicago Bears on the road at Soldier Field.
The Eagles barely cracked the top 20 on ESPN's NFL Week 2 Power Rankings, with a current record of 1-0. The Bears, meanwhile, lag behind with a 0-1 record. However, football pundits expect the match to be a close one, as the scales may tip to either team this time around.
The Wentz factor
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The Philadelphia Eagles went off against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, delivering a solid 29-10 win against the NFL's perennial bottom-feeders. The Eagles delivered a blowout for the ages, but what captivated fans was not just the huge gap.
The highlight of the game was Carson Wentz, the rookie from North Dakota State University. Wentz was selected No. 2 overall during the 2016 NFL Draft, passed up by the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff. Goff had since been tagged inactive on the Rams roster.
Meanwhile, Wentz shocked the football community with his impressive debut game vs. the Browns. The greenhorn quarterback passed 8-of-8 for 278 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. It would be logical for the Bears to focus their attention on Wentz, surprising the rookie into making his first mistakes. He might not perform at par to his season-opener outing, but the Eagles' defense is expected to pick up the slack for the win.
Redemption at home
The Chicago Bears desperately need to win at Soldier Field, as their stadium had lost its luster of late. The Bears are 3-13 at home the past two years, and their quarterback is not a standout at the moment.
Jay Cutler had only won 16 of his last 42 starts, and the Houston Texans defense did not give him a break last time out. He was sacked five times as the Texans shut down 40 percent of his dropbacks.
However, the Bears still have a chance to get the win on Monday, relying on their defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Wentz, who had it easy against the Browns, would have a target on his back this time. Fangio's Bears could confuse the Eagles and their prized quarterback, taking advantage on Wentz' rookie stature and forcing them to turn the ball over. Nevertheless, their frustrating losing streak at home may spur them to get the victory.
The game kicks off Sept. 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, available online through the NFL Game Pass.
