The Bears‘ 24-15 win over the Eagles went a long way toward legitimizing their surprising run this season, with several players saying they’re „changing the culture“ after winning nine of their past 10 games.
PHILADELPHIA — The Chicago Bears are finally ready to start thinking about the postseason.
Friday’s 24-15 win over the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field went a long way toward legitimizing the run Chicago has experienced in its first 12 games under Ben Johnson. The Bears have won nine of their past 10 games and moved to the No. 2 seed in the NFC, the position previously held by the Eagles.
Like the Bears, the Eagles entered Week 13 in first place in their division and with an identical record. Philadelphia had ventured through the same one-score battles that have become synonymous with Chicago’s season and had one more win (7) than the Bears (6) in those tight contests.
That served as the backdrop for Chicago’s biggest test to date. The message sent after toppling a true contender in their conference in a prime-time window?
„[That] we’re for real“, running back D’Andre Swift said.
Weeks ago, as the Bears began compiling their current five-game winning streak, their longest stretch of victories since 2018, players and coaches weren’t ready to think about the playoffs. After a win of this magnitude, that attitude has shifted.
„We should be confident in ourselves“, safety Jaquan Brisker said. „We shouldn’t shy away for anything like that. We’re on the roll right now, and we could just keep getting better. But that’s what we should be thinking [the playoffs]. I mean, we got a whole bunch of dogs in the locker room and things like that, and that’s the way we’re trending and we’re changing the culture. So yeah, that’s how we should think.“
That confidence extended to the postgame locker room. During Johnson’s weekly „Good, Better, Best“ chant, the 38-year-old coach ripped off his shirt in celebration.
