JEFF ALLEN GAME PREVIEW: PHILADELPHIA at CHICAGO
This week’s Monday Night Football offering introduces Carson Wentz, the second overall pick in last
April’s NFL draft, to the world. The 6’5″ 230 pound Wentz out of North Dakota was impressive (22-37,
287, 2-0) in his debut albeit at home and versus the awful Cleveland Browns. Wentz makes his first
road start and moves up in class slightly as the Eagles face a struggling Chicago Bear outfit at Soldier
Field. The Bears are rebuilding in their second year under John Fox and sadddled with the monster
contact of quarterback Jay Cutler who to this point is yet to prove that he’s an elite NFL signal caller.
As previously mentioned, the 1-0 Eagles rolled the Browns 29-10 in their opener. This is the type of
game that Philly needs to win as they head into the meat of their schedule with a home game against
Pittsburgh and four of their next five after on the road including their first three division games. The Bears
led the Houston Texans 14-10 at the half only to get shutout the rest of the way in a 23-14 loss. There
were some encouraging signs however as Alshon Jeffery had four catches for 105 yards and Jeremy
Langford (the heir apparent to Matt Forte) ran hard for 57 yards and a score.
The line opened with the Bears as -2.5 point favorites with the total 42 1/2. Early money sent Chicago
to -3.5 and the total 43 1/2 before settling in at Bears -3 and 43. Weather could be a factor with early
forecasts predicting a 50% chance of thunderstorms for the 8:30 PM EST ESPN kickoff.
Wentz is still an unknown commodity at this point. He played 24 snaps in the first week of preseason
and was unimpressive before a hairline fracture of a rub kept him out the rest of August. Wentz does
have some weapons to work with in Ryan Mathews in the backfield and Jordan Mathews wide but TE
Zach Ertz who had six catches in Week One will likely miss with a sore shoulder and ribs. The Bears
will need to get pressure up the middle as Wentz’ chief struggle to this point has been throwing the
ball on the run from side to side.
Chicago could also use a win here as something to build on. There is no doubt that Fox will get this
team back on track if given the time and the Bears look to upgrade their talent and depth. The biggest
obstacle facing the onetime Monsters f the Midway is line play, especially on the offense. Cutler has
had a history of getting beaten up through the year and was sacked five times at Reliant. The Bears
would be helped greatly with a more consistent ground game but Langford, primarily a north/south
power back could manage just 3.4 yards per carry at Houston.
For World Champion Jeff Allen’s official play on this game, follow him on twitter and Facebook at Jeff
Allen Sports and at his home site of www.vegasscoresandodds.com.