Eagles Week 13 stock watch: Philly's defense forgets to stop the run against Bears

Eagles' Defensive Slide: A Looming Crisis for Philly's Title Hopes

The Eagles' Week 13 debacle against the Bears has left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads, wondering how a team that dominated for most of the season could sink to such depths. The defending Super Bowl champions fell to a 24-15 defeat, with their offense struggling to stay awake and their defense getting torched on the ground.

The Eagles' run defense, once considered one of the team's strengths, has become a major area of concern. Against the Bears, they allowed 282 rushing yards, including a dominant performance from Chicago's dual backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. The duo combined for 6.4 yards per carry, more than double what the Eagles managed as a team.

The issue extends beyond just the run defense, however. The entire unit looked disjointed, struggling to contain the Bears' offense and allowing quarterback Caleb Williams to complete just 17 of his 36 passes without a defender in his face. Meanwhile, the pass rush – a bright spot for the team – was unable to replicate its Week 12 performance, with only three tipped passes recorded.

With a few days off before facing the Chargers next Monday, the Eagles have some time to regroup and address their defensive woes. For now, it's clear that this unit has become a liability in the Eagles' quest for the top seed in the NFC.

Stock up: The Pass Rush

The pass rush, bolstered by additions of Jaelan Phillips and unretired Brandon Graham at the trade deadline, was solid against the Bears. With three tipped passes recorded, including two by rookie defensive end Jalyx Hunt, this unit has shown signs of life. But can they sustain this level of performance going forward?

Stock down: The Run Defense

The run defense, once considered one of the team's strengths, has become a major area of concern. After allowing just 100 yards on the ground against the Bears, the Eagles' linebackers and front four look lost. With D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combining for over 120 yards rushing in the game, this unit will need to step up its game if Philly hopes to return to title contention.

Ugh, I'm so stressed about the Eagles' defense ! One week they're on fire, the next they're getting carved up like a turkey at Thanksgiving dinner . I mean, 282 yards rushing against the Bears? That's just crazy talk! And don't even get me started on the pass rush - I know they added some new faces but come on, can't they sustain that level of performance for more than one game? It's like they're all over the place. I'm not sure what's going on with the linebackers and front four, it looks like they've lost their mojo . This is a huge problem if Philly wants to make a deep playoff run...

I'm not buying all this hype around Caleb Williams being the next big thing . He's still got some major issues with his accuracy and decision-making on the field. And don't even get me started on that pass rush - I mean, it was solid against the Bears, but how long can they keep up this level of performance? Their stats are always gonna look good when there aren't a ton of defenders in their face . And what's up with all these tipped passes? Can't they just sack the QB like normal?

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I'm really worried about the Eagles' defense right now . I mean, they were supposed to be one of the strongest units on that team, but against the Bears, it looked like they got completely outsmarted and outrun . 282 rushing yards is just insane! And don't even get me started on Caleb Williams, he's been struggling to stay healthy all season...

But you know what really gets me? The fact that they had that great pass rush in Week 12 and then suddenly it disappears . I'm hoping they can figure out a way to fix the run defense before it's too late, but at this rate, I'm getting pretty anxious about their chances of making a deep playoff run . Time to regroup and get back on track!

just saw that the eagles defense has gone from strong to whack... all of a sudden those guys who were making plays in week 12 are nowhere to be found now what's going on? think it's time for coach Nagy to shake things up a bit might need to bring back some veteran players or try new schemes. can't keep relying on the same old playbook if they want to stay ahead of the pack

Eagles' defense is like their fanbase - always hoping they'll bounce back from a slump

OMG, I'm so confused about the Eagles' defense rn ! One minute they're shutting down teams, and the next they're getting torched on the ground like crazy . I get it, injuries happen, but if Jalen Hurts is our QB, shouldn't we have a solid defense to back him up? The Bears' D was so hyped before this game, and Philly came out looking like a bunch of rookie mistakes . It's a bummer 'cause I really think we had the team to take down the Chiefs in the playoffs... now I'm not so sure .

Man, what's going on with that run defense? I mean, they're supposed to be one of the best units on the team and now they're getting got by those Bears backs like it's nothing . And Caleb Williams is just chucking up passes willy-nilly... how does a QB get away from defenders like that?! It's like their whole unit is phoning it in right now. I'm worried about the playoffs, to be honest. They can't keep getting torched on the ground and still expect to compete with anyone in the NFC

I'm getting so worried about our Eagles defense ... I mean, they were so solid all season but now it's like they're just having an off day every week . The run defense is a major concern, I've got a nephew who loves football and he was saying the same thing, how can they let those guys run wild like that? And it's not just one player, the whole unit looks lost... I hope they can regroup quickly for their game against the Chargers on Monday . Maybe they need to sit some of these younger players down and get some more experience under their belts... we'll see what happens .

I'm not buying that the Eagles' defense is as bad as it looks... I mean, sure, they got torched by those Bears dual backs, but it's not like they didn't have any other options . The pass rush was actually pretty solid, especially with Jaelan Phillips and Brandon Graham on board . They tipped some passes and even managed to bring a few QBs down . Of course, the run defense has been a major issue, but I'm not convinced it's all on the linebackers and front four... maybe they just needed a game like that to wake them up . Still, with a couple of days off before facing the Chargers, the Eagles should be able to regroup and address their defensive woes .

I'm telling you, their defense is like a puzzle that's not fitting together right . They've got all these great pieces, but somehow they just can't seem to put it all together. And let's be real, 282 yards on the ground is a whole lotta yards . I mean, what's going on with their run defense? Are they getting burned by these rookie backs or something? And don't even get me started on the pass rush... one day it's all over the place and the next it's like "oh, we're unstoppable" . I'm just saying, if Philly wants to make a deep run in the playoffs, they need to sort out this defense ASAP

The Eagles' defensive woes are super worrying , especially after their dominant start to the season. It's like they've hit a wall and can't seem to find their footing . I'm not sure what's causing this slump, but it's gotta be addressed ASAP . They need to go back and watch that game some more, figure out where they're getting torched on the ground . And while their pass rush is looking decent, can they keep up this level of performance? The stats don't lie – 17 completions without a defender in his face is just crazy . I'm not expecting miracles from this unit right now , but for the Eagles to return to title contention, they need some serious defensive rejuvenation .

Ugh, I'm getting worried about the Eagles ... Their defense was all over the place against the Bears! Like, how do you get torched on the ground like that? And it's not just one guy who's struggling, the whole unit looked off. They need to figure out what's going wrong and fix it fast or else their title hopes will be shot . The pass rush was decent but it's not enough to make up for the run defense nightmare . Can't believe they allowed 282 rushing yards... that's just crazy!

I'm so frustrated with the Eagles right now ... I mean, they're supposed to be a top team, but their defense is just not stepping up when it matters most. I was watching that game and I couldn't believe what was happening - those two backs just ran all over them! It's like the whole unit is just not on the same page. And the pass rush, which was supposed to be their strong suit, was basically invisible ... it's gotta be fixed ASAP if they wanna make a deep run in the playoffs.

And you know what really gets me? They're still considered one of the top teams in the league ... I mean, what's going on? Have they just fallen asleep or something? I'm not saying they can't recover from this slump - we've all been there before - but it's gotta start with their defense. If they don't figure out a way to stop those runs and get some pressure on the QB, they're gonna be donezo .

Ugh, Eagles fans are losing their minds over here ... I mean, who is that guy coaching them? Should've benched him after that loss !

omg I'm so confused about what's going on with that Eagles defense like they're having a major identity crisis or something idk how a team that was supposed to be the best in the league can just fall apart like this and yeah the pass rush is solid but what's up with the run defense? those guys were getting destroyed by Swift and Monangai I hope they get it together for the Chargers game next week, Philly needs them to win