NFC divisional
playoff game |
Eagles at Bears
Soldier Field
Chicago, Ill.
Saturday, Jan. 19, 2002
AT A GLANCE: Eagles QB Donovan McNabb returns to his
hometown to face the Bears, who are hosting their first playoff game since 1991. McNabb
will be challenged by a Chicago defense that is quick, aggressive and unrelenting.
|
| OVERVIEW: The last time the Eagles visited Chicago for a
postseason game, it became an instant classic. It was Dec. 31, 1988, and the Eagles and
Bears played in a thick fog that blanketed Soldier Field. The Bears emerged victorious
20-12 in what became known as the "Fog Bowl." The Eagles earned a date with
the Bears after dumping the Buccaneers 31-9 in last week’s wild-card round. The Bears
spent last week on bye, which should have them fresh and ready for their first home
playoff game since 1991.
Both teams’ success this season is largely due to outstanding defense. The Bears
(13-3) were tops in the NFL in points against, allowing only 203 on the season. The Eagles
(12-5) were second, giving up 208 points.
When the Eagles have the ball:
For the majority of the season, the Eagles have relied on QB Donovan McNabb and the
passing game. Head coach Andy Reid emphasizes a short passing attack, but he isn’t
afraid to take the occasional shot downfield.
While Reid has received some criticism for ignoring the run, no one can accuse him of
doing that against the Buccaneers last week. Philadelphia amassed 148 rushing yards in the
game, their third-highest total of the season. RB Duce Staley can be effective on the
ground, but he’s been even more productive as a receiver out of the backfield. The
Eagles involved rookie RB Correll Buckhalter last week, and it paid off, as he averaged
6.1 yards on nine carries.
The strength of the Bears’ defense lies up the middle with huge DTs Ted Washington
and Keith Traylor, athletic MLB Brian Urlacher and safeties Mike Brown and Tony Parrish.
Many teams have tried to attack the perimeter of the Bears’ defense in an effort to
make the tackles move laterally and wear them down, but Washington and Traylor generally
have held up thanks to frequent substitutions. |
|
|
| Soldier Field |
| Chicago, Ill. |
| Date: Saturday, January 19, 2002 |
| 3:30 P.M. Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Philadelphia |
12-5-0 |
| |
Chicago |
13-3-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia |
11-5-1 |
| |
Chicago |
11-4-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Philadelphia (R) |
7-1-0 |
| |
Chicago (H) |
7-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia (R) |
7-1-0 |
| |
Chicago (H) |
5-2-1 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Philadelphia |
5-1-0 |
| |
Chicago |
10-3-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia |
5-1-0 |
| |
Chicago |
8-4-1 |
|
| McNabb is extremely difficult to defend because
of his running ability. While he has been more of a pocket passer this season, he still is
able to cause major problems for defenses when he scrambles. Last week he accounted for
about three-fourths of the Eagles’ yardage, passing for 194 yards and rushing for 57.
The Bears should be in decent position to match up with McNabb because of their
linebackers’ fine speed. WR James Thrash has emerged as a dependable big-play
maker, and second-year pro Todd Pinkston has had his moments. They face a talented pair of
cornerbacks in R.W. McQuarters, a confident and aggressive playmaker, and Walt Harris, a
steady veteran who should be healthy after missing some time.
The Bears will need to be wary of TE Chad Lewis, who has come on in the past couple of
games.
When the Bears have the ball:
Under offensive coordinator John Shoop, the Bears generally have run a conservative
attack. He likes QB Jim Miller to throw a lot of short passes, putting the receivers in
position to pick up yardage after the catch. Because of Miller’s arm strength,
though, the Bears occasionally mix in the deep ball. If the Bears get a lead, they like to
put the ball into the hands of rookie RB Anthony Thomas and let him pound away at
opponents.
The Eagles have been vulnerable on the ground this season, but they were very tough in
the wild-card game, allowing the Bucs to gain only 2.6 yards per carry. Philadelphia did
this without DT Hollis Thomas (out; foot), who was arguably the team’s best run
defender.
Miller has enjoyed great protection from his offensive line this season. But Miller
himself has helped by getting rid of the ball quickly. That ability could help against an
Eagles defense that loves to bring the blitz from everywhere. Miller was sacked a
league-low 17 times during the regular season.
An interesting battle to watch in the trenches pits Pro Bowl DRE Hugh Douglas, whose
outstanding speed helped net 9½ sacks in the regular season, vs. veteran OLT Blake
Brockermeyer.
The Eagles have one of the NFL’s best pass defenses, thanks to their top-notch
secondary. While CBs Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor and FS Brian Dawkins get most of the
headlines, SS Damon Moore contributed a pair of interceptions against the Bucs — one
of which went for a 59-yard TD return.
Bears WR Marty Booker set a team record for catches in a season with 100. Rookie WR
David Terrell has playmaking ability but shows up in spurts. D’Wayne Bates came on
very late in the year in place of Dez White, who should be healthy after missing time with
a hamstring injury.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 13. |
Offense |
| WR |
87 PINKSTON, 84 F. Mitchell*, 82 Douglas |
| OLT |
72 T. THOMAS, 67 Schau |
| OLG |
76 WELBOURN, 74 Brzezinski |
| C |
63 FRALEY, 73 Pyne |
| ORG |
71 MAYBERRY, 66 Williams |
| ORT |
69 RUNYAN |
| TE |
89 LEWIS, 83 Thomason, 88 Bartrum, 81
Stewart* |
| WR |
80 THRASH, 85 Brown, 86 Scott |
| QB |
5 McNABB, 10 Detmer, 14 Feeley* |
| RB |
22 STALEY, 28 Buckhalter*, 30 B. Mitchell |
| FB |
38 MARTIN, 34 Reader |
Defense |
| DLE |
98 WHITING, 94 Kalu, 59 Burgess* |
| DLT |
90 SIMON, 97 Walker |
| DRT |
96 GRASMANIS, 97 Walker |
| DRE |
53 H. DOUGLAS, 91 Hamiter |
| WILL |
56 CALDWELL, 55 Caver* |
| MLB |
54 TROTTER, 52 Gardner |
| SAM |
51 EMMONS, 58 Reese |
| LCB |
23 VINCENT, 41 Hampton |
| RCB |
21 TAYLOR, 31 Harris, 29 Crutchfield* |
| SS |
43 MOORE, 45 Hauck |
| FS |
20 DAWKINS, 42 Cook |
Specialists |
| P |
7 LANDETA |
| PK |
2 AKERS |
| H |
10 DETMER, 89 Lewis |
| PR |
30 B. MITCHELL, 85 Brown, 80 Thrash |
| KR |
30 B. MITCHELL, 28 Buckhalter*, 80 Thrash |
| LS |
88 BARTRUM, 89 Lewis |
* Rookie |
|
|
Offense |
| WR |
83 TERRELL*, 80 White |
| OLT |
78 BROCKERMEYER, 74 Herndon |
| OLG |
64 TUCKER, 73 Dogins |
| C |
57 KREUTZ, 73 Dogins |
| ORG |
58 VILLARRIAL, 69 Gandy* |
| ORT |
71 WILLIAMS, 60 Robertson*, 76 Cook* |
| TE |
84 BAXTER, 82 Davis, 89 Lyman |
| WR |
86 BOOKER, 87 Bates |
| QB |
15 MILLER, 9 Matthews, 17 Wuerffel |
| RB |
35 THOMAS*, 20 Allen, 32 Johnson, 25 Denson |
| FB |
36 PRITCHETT, 45 Dragos |
Defense |
| DLE |
98 ROBINSON, 72 Powell |
| DLT |
92 WASHINGTON, 70 Boone |
| DRT |
94 TRAYLOR, 62 Newkirk |
| DRE |
93 DANIELS, 95 Riley*, 99 Tafoya* |
| SLB |
59 COLVIN, 55 Jones |
| MLB |
54 URLACHER, 59 Colvin |
| WLB |
53 HOLDMAN, 52 Howard |
| LCB |
27 HARRIS, 23 Azumah |
| RCB |
21 McQUARTERS, 39 Austin, 26 McMillon |
| SS |
37 PARRISH, 33 Whigham, 22 Merrill* |
| FS |
30 BROWN, 43 Green |
Specialists |
| P |
4 MAYNARD |
| PK |
2 EDINGER |
| H |
4 MAYNARD |
| PR |
32 JOHNSON, 21 McQuarters, 83 Terrell* |
| KR |
25 DENSON, 32 Johnson, 23 Azumah |
| LS |
65 MANNELLY, 84 Baxter, 58 Villarrial |
* Rookie |
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