In some ways, the Bears aren't so very different from the Browns squad the Eagles dismantled in Week 1. There are a lot more familiar faces on the Bears, who don't as much resemble an expansion team, so they should provide more of a challenge at least. In terms of strengths and weaknesses though, there are quite a few similarities.
Like the Browns, the Bears may have an experienced quarterback with a big arm and a few weapons to throw to, but they are not a sound football team up front on either side of the ball. That means if the Eagles can win in the trenches — and they are built to — they should be able to win this game.
Here's a closer look at exactly who the Bears will be going to battle with on Monday night..
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Jay Cutler
There are no mysteries with Jay Cutler after 11 seasons in the NFL. He's a classic dropback passer with good size and a big arm to make all the throws, but he holds on to the ball too long and will make mistakes when he's pressured. 2015 was one of Cutler's best years statistically, taking fewer sacks (29), keeping turnovers to a minimum (11 interceptions, five fumbles lost) and setting a new career with a 92.3 passer rating. 7.6 yards per attempt also matched his personal best. Of course, that was under offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who left for the head coaching job in Miami. Cutler was back to looking to his regular self in a Week 1 loss to Houston, completing 55 percent of his passes, getting sacked five times, fumbling twice and throwing an interception.
Strength: Wide receiver
Philadelphia Eagles
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If Cutler is comfortable in the pocket and has time to san the field, he has the weapons to carve up an Eagles secondary that will be without one of its starting quarterbacks in Leodis McKelvin.
Obviously, Alshon Jeffery is one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL — when he's healthy. The fifth-year wideout finished in the top 10 in receptions (89) and receiving yards (1,421) in his Pro Bowl season of 2013, then followed up that up with another 1,000-yard campaign and 10 touchdowns. At 6-foot-3, 218 pounds, Jeffery is a threat both in the red zone and deep, his 15.0 yards per catch good for 12th among all active players. After an injury-plagued season last year, he was back at in Week 1, going over the century mark with a touchdown.
The Bears are solid in the slot as well, where veteran Eddie Royal continues to make a living in his ninth season. However, the X-factor in the group is 2015 first-round draft pick Kevin White out of West Virginia. White is 6-3, 216 pounds with 4.3 speed, but missed all of last season, so nobody knows what they have in him just yet. Still, the raw talent obviously is there, and lining up across from Jeffery, he's somebody defenses will have to account for.
With Jeremy Langford as the unspectacular primary running back, the Bears will likely need to win the game through the air. They have to like the potential matchup of Jeffery on rookie corner Jalen Mills, although Rodney McLeod will be a big help playing centerfield on any attempts by this speedy crew to go over the top.
Weakness: Offensive line
If Cutler is going to be your quarterback, you better be able to run the football and keep him right. The Bears don't do either of these particularly well.
The only established player on the offensive line is Kyle Long, who's wound up in the Pro Bowl all three years he's been in the league. After a year at tackle, Long is back inside at right guard, so at least that spot is a strength.
The rest of the unit, on the other hand, is a collection of castoffs with a rookie at center. Unwanted in Arizona, right tackle Bobby Massie joined the Bears in free agency, while starting left guard Josh Sitton was straight up released by Green Bay out of training camp. At left tackle, the Bears have 2014 seventh-round draft pick Charles Leno learning on the job for the past year. The only real promising prospect other than Long is second-round draft pick Cody Whitehair out of Kansas State.
Cutler was sacked five times last week, while Bears running backs averaged slightly under three yards per carry. In theory, the Eagles defensive line should be able to dominate up front, particularly on the edge where Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry are all capable of wreaking havoc.
DEFENSE
Strength: Interior linebacker
One thing the Bears should do very well defensively this year is control the middle of the field. At least they've invested enough money there. Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman were the big offseason additions for this unit, and while neither one is necessarily a star, they are both very good linebackers with a nose for the football. That much was evident right off the bat in Week 1, as the duo combined for 20 tackles and a sack.
Trevathan became a name en route to the Broncos' Super Bowl championship last season, finishing with 131 tackles and two interceptions, including playoffs. A former CFL star, Freeman racked up 12.0 sacks, four interceptions and eight forced fumbles in four seasons with the Colts. The pairing should make it difficult for running backs to find second-level yards, as both are sound tacklers, while their athleticism should go a long way toward fixing the Bears' problems with tight ends in recent years — sorry, Ryan Mathews and Brent Celek.
Weakness: Pass-rush
The Chicago fans may not make Carson Wentz feel at home on Monday night, but the rookie signal-caller should be able to get comfortable in the pocket at least. The Bears' most feared pass-rusher is Lamarr Houston, not to be mistaken for Kansas City's Justin Houston, who is a prolific sack artist. Lamarr Houston, on the other hand, has 25.0 sacks in 89 career games. At the opposite outside linebacker spot, Willie Young once recorded double-digit sacks in a season, but finished with only 6.5 last season, good for second on the team.
There's little to speak of in terms of a pass-rush from the interior defensive linemen as well. Eddie Goldman was the only returning member of that group to get the quarterback more than once in 2015. The Bears could try to generate extra pressure by means of the blitz, perhaps sending their versatile interior linebackers up the A gap, but in terms of their front going straight up against the Eagles offensive line, they should be able to keep Wentz clean.
X-Factor: Kyle Fuller
Fuller is the X-factor here in part because it's unclear whether he'll even be on the field. The 2014 first-round pick missed opening day with a knee injury and was listed as questionable after being limited in practice all week.
If he's active, the Bears defense gains a playmaker. Fuller has been far from shutdown corner in his first two seasons in the NFL — in fact, he could wind up fighting for his job if he doesn't become more consistent — but the 24-year-old has flashed a knack for getting his hands on the football at times, with 19 pass breakups, six interceptions and three forced fumbles in his brief career.
If Fuller can't go, the situation at cornerback is a little dicey for the Bears. Solid Tracy Porter has one job locked down, but the rest of the options are inexperienced. Undrafted second-year players Jacoby Glenn and Bryce Callahan saw the bulk of the action in Houston, with Glenn playing in his second NFL game and making his first start. Fourth-round rookie Deiondre Hall out of FCS Northern Iowa also got some work.
Needless to say, it's a group Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor could exploit with or without Hall, but the odds seemingly increase without. It might be hard to get vertical, as the Bears will probably play their safeties deep, but the intermediate routes will be there.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bears have solid if unspectacular special teams. They made a surprising change at kicker prior to the season, dumping Robbie Gould in favor of Connor Barth. Eddie Royal is a capable punt returner as well. Their kick coverage unit is said to be outstanding though thanks to special teamers Sherrick McManis and former Eagle Chris Prosinski. The Eagles may not get much of an edge, if any, from their return game.
HEAD COACH
John Fox (second season with Bears, 125-100 all-time)
Eagles fans certainly should be familiar with Fox, who spent nine years on the sideline in Carolina and won a certain NFC Championship game during the 2003 season. Not much has changed since then, other than adding another loss in the Super Bowl to his resume during a stint in Denver. Fox remains a proponent of the 3-4 defense, and he'd probably prefer for his offense to control the game with a hard-nosed ground attack, something the Bears lack. Six wins last season were his second-fewest in 14 seasons as a head coach in the NFL, as his teams generally maintain a tough identity, so while his roster might be a little lacking in talent, they will battle to the end.
