The NFL’s premier contest this week is an NFC matchup between divisional leaders. On Friday, the Chicago Bears (8-3) will head to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles (8-3) in a game with plenty of postseason implications.
The Bears are a surprise entrant into this realm. Chicago rebounded from its 0-2 start, winning eight of their past nine games. The NFC North franchise has a pair of four-game winning streaks this season.
The defending Super Bowl champs were an expected playoff team. Philadelphia had its recent four-game winning streak snapped by the Cowboys, falling 24-21 last week to their NFC East rivals in Dallas.
Can the Bears or Eagles emerge as a contender for the NFC’s top playoff seed? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player props for Friday’s game.
The growth of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams in Chicago is impressive. Currently, Williams is 10th in the league with 2,568 passing yards. He’s completed just under 60 percent of his passes, netting 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He’s finished with 210 yards or more in eight of his 11 contests thus far despite the team’s ability to run the football in 2025.
Earlier this season, bettors would have selected the under on Williams’ passing prop wager. Philadelphia started the year among the league’s best against the pass. That’s faded as the season progressed, and the Eagles have allowed over 600 passing yards in their past two outings. Bettors should take Williams to cover his passing prop on Friday.
Philly quarterback Jalen Hurts has been impressive this year. The 27-year-old has completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,284 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only one interception. He’s also accumulated 298 rushing yards on 80 carries, scoring eight times via the ground game.
Mobile quarterbacks are a problem for Chicago. The Bears have allowed four signal-callers to surpass the 30-yard mark this season. That’s why Hurts has an excellent chance to finish above his 31.5-yard rushing mark to cover this prop bet total.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is questionable heading into Friday’s game, but bettors should expect him to play. Philadelphia needs his services as he’s rushed for 684 yards and four touchdowns thus far, and Barkley has caught 35 passes for 259 yards and two more scores.
Teams that utilize running backs in the passing game have had success against Philadelphia. Seven of their 11 opponents have had their running backs exceed 20 yards through the air, showing that an aggressive defense like the Eagles is susceptible to screens.
While Barkley may also cover his 76.5-yard rushing prop, the running back is more likely to surpass his receiving prop total. Take him to finish with at least 20 receiving yards on Friday.
Let me be clear that Philadelphia should win this contest. But the Eagles haven’t been dominating opponents. Seven of their eight wins have been by a touchdown or less, showing that the NFC East team is flirting with disaster each game.
Chicago has something to prove. There’s little doubt that the Bears will come ready to play, and the NFC North squad will make this a game throughout. That’s why bettors should take Chicago to cover the seven-point spread on Friday.
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