Eagles-Bears: Who Picked the Birds?

Photo by Jeff Fusco.

Carson Wentz and the Eagles are on the national stage for Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears at 8:30.

Here’s how the national and local media picked the Week 2 finale.

Birds 24/7 Picks

All three of us are picking the Eagles to improve to 2-0 on the short season. You can see the rest of our picks and vote for the rest of this week’s games here.

National Writers Predictions

Tim McManus and Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com think Wentz will come back to reality. McManus has the Bears winning, 27-24, while Dickerson also picks the Bears, 20-17.

After a dazzling debut, rookie quarterback Carson Wentz will likely come back down to earth when he steps onto Soldier Field on Monday night against the Bears. The Eagles’ defense should be able to get after Jay Cutler — after all, Houston registered five sacks and 12 quarterback hits on him in Week 1 — but that won’t stop Alshon Jeffery and the Chicago receiving corps from having a big night against what could be a depleted Eagles secondary.

Carson Wentz looked great in Week 1 — against Cleveland. No matter how the outside world views the Bears, Wentz is about to face a step up in competition. Expect Chicago’s defense, led by veteran coordinator Vic Fangio, to be ready for this year’s No. 2 draft pick. Jay Cutler has thrown eight touchdowns and just two interceptions (91.4 passer rating) in four career starts versus Philadelphia.

Although he likes the Bears and their offense against the Eagles defense, Elliot Harrison of NFL.com picks the Eagles to start off 2-0, 24-17.

Carson Wentz can’t possibly start 2-0, can he? Stranger things have happened for Philadelphia sports fans. James Thrash was once a WR1. Von Hayes once hit two home runs in the first inning. Tyrone Hill put up 18 points and 13 rebounds in an NBA Finals game. (I just wanted to mention Tyrone Hill.) It might be hard to fathom, but I like the Bears’ offense against Jim Schwartz‘s D less than Wentz and Co. vs. the Monsters of the Midway. Chicago’s defensive group looked like Charlize Theron in “Monster” last Sunday. They stayed on the field F.O.R.E.V.E.R., allowing the Texans 36:19 in time of possession. A possible solution to that for the Bears: Get running back Jeremy Langford off to a fast start.

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco expects the Bears to play well for a full 60 minutes. He has the Bears winning, 21-17.

This will be the first road start for rookie Carson Wentz for the Eagles. That’s always a challenge. The Bears are better than the Browns, who he carved up last week. Chicago played well for a half against the Texans on the road. They will do it for an entire game here.

Only two CBS Sports writers pick the Eagles to win.

Wentz will get tested, but Chris Burke of SI.com believes the Eagles can pull out the win, 23-21.

One win does not a career make. What Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio throws at Carson Wentz this week will test the rookie QB far more than anything Cleveland did in Week 1. A few sacks, maybe even a turnover or two, are inevitable. But the Eagles also should move the football at times, if only because Chicago’s defense can be run on. The real X-factor in this upset pick: Jim Schwartz. The Eagles’ defensive coordinator knows Jay Cutler inside and out from Schwartz’s days in Detroit.

Watchability Score: 7. Wentz made himself a must-see TV QB with his victory over the Browns. Now, he gets the spotlight on Monday night.

Four of ESPN’s experts like the Eagles’ chances.

Two of Fox Sports’ panelists think the Eagles will stay undefeated.

Three SB Nation writers have the Eagles coming out on top.

Beat Writer Predictions

Jimmy Kempski, PhillyVoice: Eagles win, 26-16.

Martin Frank, The News Journal: Bears win, 23-17.