Start spreading the news. The Chicago Bears are for real after their big win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears ran over the reigning Super Bowl champions, winning 24-15 behind a dominant rushing attack and stifling defensive performance. The win pushed the Bears to 9-3, assuring them of their first winning season since 2018.
Head coach Ben Johnson had his squad ready from the start, orchestrating multiple long drives on offense to set the tone against the Eagles with a 10-3 first-half lead. The Bears never trailed against the Eagles, who had problems overcoming Chicago's defense. Philadelphia didn't score their first touchdown until the third quarter, and just when it seemed like the Bears were bound to break, they rebounded with key defensive turnovers and a dangerous rushing attack from their two running backs.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementD'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined for 255 rushing yards and two scores as the Bears ran it down Philadelphia's throat for much of the second half. The Bears put the dagger in the Eagles on a long touchdown throw from Caleb Williams to Cole Kmet. Philadelphia was unable to overcome the deficit as boo birds rang out from Lincoln Financial Field on a regular basis.
From start to finish, the Bears dominated the Eagles and continue to show that this is a special season in Chicago. Here are our takeaways from Friday's win:
1. The Bears are officially contenders
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 28: Cole Kmet #85 of the Chicago Bears celebrates with Colston Loveland #84 after scoring a 28 yard touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter in the game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)The Bears are pretenders no more. The soft schedule that many complained about has passed, and yet, this team keeps finding ways to win. They're officially contenders in the NFC, and everyone just saw why. They have the coaching staff in place that preaches a physical brand of football while also out-scheming their counterparts on the opposing sideline. The players have fully bought in, and they're playing their best ball going into December—just like Ben Johnson predicted.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe playoffs, which once looked like a bonus, are now the expectation. And a path is even now opening up for the Bears to possibly make the Super Bowl. Imagine telling yourself that after they started 0-2 back in September? There are still five more games to get through, including two against the Green Bay Packers. Don't break out the confetti yet, but keep it nearby. The Bears can beat anyone in this league.
2. Nahshon Wright changed the game
Nov 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright (26) celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesMonths ago when the Bears were going through training camp in the summer heat, a lengthy cornerback kept flashing with big plays on defense. It was Nahshon Wright, who was projected at best to be a depth player in a deep secondary and didn't appear to be any sort of threat to play meaningful snaps. What a difference four months makes.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWright has been the biggest surprise this season and continues to change games with his playmaking ability. His strip of Jalen Hurts during the Eagles' lone tush push attempt deep in Bears territory thwarted any momentum Philadelphia had following the Bears' own turnover. That was the Eagles' bread and butter play, and Wright ripped it apart. It was also a makeup for his earlier touchdown to AJ Brown, where Wright just barely misplayed the ball.
It's been a special season for all of the Bears players, but especially for Wright. He may not make all the plays, but he shows up at the best times.
3. The Bears offensive line is elite
Nov 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) passes the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesD'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai deserve so much credit for the punishing ground game unleashed in Philadelphia on Friday night. They each totaled at least 125 rushing yards and became the first Bears duo to rush for more than 100 yards since 1985. The entire rushing attack eclipsed 280 yards for the second time this season, a first since 1984. We're seeing rushing totals that have only ever happened during the best Bears stretch of the Super Bowl era. None of it happens without the offensive line, though.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis has to be the best offensive line we've ever seen in Chicago. At least in my lifetime. The combination of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, and now Ozzy Trapilo is lethal for opposing defenses. That Eagles front is one of the best in the league with Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. The Bears made them irrelevant for much of the night. Both Swift and Monangai combined for over 100 yards before contact, according to Next Gen Stats. That's a testament to the blocking up front.
We knew individually that these players could have success, but they are gelling as a unit so well in recent weeks. And they've been durable as well. The interior linemen have yet to miss a game, while Wright has been out just once. Left tackle has been a bit of a revolving door, but playing next to Thuney has helped Trapilo and Theo Benedet throughout the year. It's a group that deserves at least three Pro Bowl nods and possibly an All-Pro or two. This is one of the elite offensive lines in the NFL.
4. The passing attack was out of sync
Nov 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesWhile the ground attack was lethal, the passing game left much to be desired. Quarterback Caleb Williams was up and down on Friday, but so were the receivers. Williams completed 17 of 36 passes for a season-low 154 yards, one touchdown, and one interception for a passer rating of 56.9, also his lowest of the season. While he dialed back in following his unfortunate pick, going 5 of 7 for 62 yards and the score, the entire operation couldn't get on the same page. The weather was partly to blame, with wind gusts affecting how the Bears could throw the ball, but it still left much to be desired.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen Williams would fire accurate passes, receivers like DJ Moore and Luther Burden couldn't keep their feet and fell to the ground before the pass reached them. When they had beaten their defenders, Williams' passes would be off target. It was just one of those games, and thankfully, the run game did the work for them. If Williams can become more consistent with his passes, this team will be elite for a long time.
5. This was the biggest win of the decade
Nov 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) reacts after the Philadelphia Eagles were unable to complete a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesEvery now and then, we see a Bears victory that makes everyone take notice of what they're doing. A game that lets everyone know that Chicago is for real. It happened in 2010 against the Eagles later in the year when Jay Cutler tossed four touchdown passes, and it happened in 2018 against the Los Angeles Rams when the defense forced four interceptions off Jared Goff. This was one of those games, and it is easily the best win of the decade so far.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor the most part, the 2020s haven't been kind to the Bears. Prior to this season, they were 29-55 with no winning seasons. Coaching changes, front office turmoil, and poor quarterback development were the story for this franchise that had consistently been at the bottom for the better part of five years. This season had started to change that narrative, but we will look back at this game against the reigning Super Bowl champions as the moment everything changed. And for good measure, it was the Bears' ninth win of the season, assuring them a winning record for the first time since 2018.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 takeaways from the Bears' statement win over the Eagles
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