4 key matchups to watch in Bears vs. Eagles Black Friday showdown

Chicago Bears fans will wake up from their Thanksgiving food comas just in time for the biggest game of the Bears’ season.

Chicago (8-3) travels to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles (8-3) in a Black Friday showdown that could dictate the direction of the rest of the 2025 season.

NFL experts aren’t feeling good about the Bears’ chances to win this game — only 9% picked Chicago — but that’s only because Chicago hasn’t announced their arrival as a legitimate contender with a signature win.

A victory over the Eagles could change perception, but it won’t come easily.

Here are the four key matchups the Bears must win in order to emerge victorious.

Ben Johnson vs. Vic Fangio

Let’s begin with the obvious. Ben Johnson must prove to be the most talented play-caller on the field on Friday, but he’ll be challenged by a coordinator Johnson called ‘the Godfather.”

“He’s outstanding at what he does,” Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said of Fangio. “Everywhere he’s been, he’s coached top-level defenses. Go all the way back to the freaking Dome Patrol back in New Orleans, he was part of all those things. I got a lot of respect for him and what he’s been able to accomplish defensively.”

Johnson has his work cut out for him.

The Eagles’ defense ranks eighth in points allowed per game, including third in redzone touchdown percentage allowed. As a result, the Bears will need big plays to produce points on Friday.

And that should be in Johnson’s wheelhouse.

Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon vs. Eagles receivers

The Bears have been without their top two cornerbacks for what feels like the entire 2025 NFL season. Getting them both back for Week 13 against the Eagles is perfect timing.

Philadelphia’s dynamic duo of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith is among the best 1-2 punches at wide receiver in the NFL. The Bears need all hands on deck in their secondary to compete.

Granted, the Eagles’ offense hasn’t been very explosive this year, and Brown has made his frustrations known. But Philadelphia has the offensive firepower to dump a lot of points on any given Sunday (or Friday).

It’ll be up to Johnson and Gordon to lead the way on the Bears’ defense.

Bears linebackers vs. Saquon Barkley

If there’s any matchup that should give Chicago Bears fans nightmares, it’s this one. The Bears will be without their top four linebackers on Friday, meaning the second level of the defense, which is usually charged with clean-up duty against the run, will rely on practice-squad players to stop the NFL’s best running back.

D’Marco Jackson? Amen Ogbongemiga? Carl Jones Jr.? Jalen Reeves-Maybin?

Yeah, good luck.

Dennis Allen better have a plan in place to get Jaquan Brisker on the hunt. Otherwise, it could be a long day for the Bears’ run defense that’s already one of the NFL’s worst. Chicago enters Week 13 ranked 28th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game.

Chicago’s offensive line vs. Philadelphia’s defensive line

Football games are won in the trenches, and Bears fans will see that firsthand on Black Friday.

The Eagles enter Week 13th ranked No. 8 on Pro Football Focus’s defensive line rankings, while the Bears’ offensive line ranks No. 4 on PFF’s O-Line rankings.

And remember: Bears GM Ryan Poles passed on now-Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter and instead selected right tackle Darnell Wright in the 2023 NFL Draft. Both players have ascended into the top tier of their respective positions. It will be fun to see which player performs better on Black Friday.

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