Despite the risk of falling into the holiday trap, fans have a lot to be grateful for, as do all of the Halas Hall staff. The bears are winning. They are doing this dramatically. And they are having fun doing it.
This is a stark contrast from last Thanksgiving, which was Matt Eberflus’ final game as head coach. In 2022 and 2023, the Bears were 3–8 entering the holidays. In 2021, Matt Nagy’s final season, Thanksgiving week was filled with rumors of a possible in-season firing.
The Black Friday game in Philadelphia marks the beginning of the toughest stretch of the season, which means every moment before kickoff is a good time to be thankful for the 8-3 start, the early impact of head coach Ben Johnson, the progress of quarterback Caleb Williams and the relevant games in the winter.
Now, to your questions.
Note: Submitted questions may have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Tremaine Edmunds looked like one of the Bears with a solid case for postseason recognition before his stint on injured reserve. Now, which Bears players, if any, should be in the All-Pro team conversation? — Eric T.
All-Pro teams are the hardest to make. The 12-4 Bears produced three All-Pro players in 2018. This team probably has two: guard Joe Thuney and safety Kevin Byard. There are also some Pro Bowl options. Let’s break it down.
Edmonds was playing at an extremely high level. He is tied with Devin Lloyd of the Jacksonville Jaguars for most interceptions (four) for a linebacker this season and leads his position in passes defensed (nine). Missing at least a month probably puts him out of consideration.
Cornerbacks Nahshon Wright and Byrd will draw attention for their takeaways. He’s tied for the league lead in interceptions, and that will matter to voters, especially Byrd, who has some name recognition. He has been a first-team All-Pro twice in his career.
such a fuss @colstonlovelan1
📺: Fox pic.twitter.com/cykM6UbWoN
– Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) 9 November 2025
Defensive end Montez Sweat could get a Pro Bowl berth if he keeps up his rushing speed. He ranks sixth in the NFC in sacks. But he has to stay warm.
On offense, Thuney will likely play for another All-Pro and Pro Bowl. He has name ID, he hasn’t allowed a sack (per Pro Football Focus), and the Bears’ offense is one of the best in the league. He would be the team’s first All-Pro offensive lineman since Olin Creutz in 2006. I can see center Drew Dallman getting some Pro Bowl love.
Right tackle Darnell Wright deserves postseason praise. He has allowed only one sack, per PFF, and has had few highlight-reel blocks this season. At the very least, he should be on track to be a Pro Bowl as long as he stays healthy and his offense doesn’t grind to a halt over the next few weeks.
Tight end Colston Loveland may not be getting postseason honors this year, but over the past four weeks, he ranks third in the league among tight ends in receiving yards. Let’s see how he ends the year.
How good has Wright really been? I feel like he gets penalties and gives up a big play every game, yet I also think he’s been pretty good. What is truth sir, can two things be true simultaneously? —Andy S.
It’s a corner life, isn’t it? You’re going to give up some big plays and make some, especially with someone like Wright, who has only started three times this season and naturally is going to be targeted often, especially with Tyreek Stevenson on the other side.
According to Pro Football Reference, Wright has been targeted a team-high 67 times and has allowed 39 catches for 491 yards and five touchdowns. He had five picks, 10 passes defensed and only two pass interference penalties. However, he has five other flags.
Johnson was also sure to highlight earlier this week how effective Wright has been as a run defender. He was credited with three run stuffs (one stop for no gain), second among corners, and three tackles for loss.
he was bad, @nahwrig
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/czclXbpp9O
– Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) 23 November 2025
He’s been better than anyone expected, but he’s going to miss big plays here and there. We’ll see how the Bears handle the cornerback spot when Jaylon Johnson returns, but the coaches have certainly expressed a desire to find ways to keep him on the field.
Where do the Bears currently rank for personnel package on offense? I’m especially curious how much of their 12 personnel they have compared to the rest of the league or whether they even have an extra lineman. —Michael S.
The Bears have been in 12 personnel with two tight ends on the field for 30.3 percent of games, which ranks eighth in the league. This is the highest ever for the Bears since 2013, when TruMedia began charting offensive personnel percentages, 7 percent more than the previous most consistent 12-personnel team (2020, with Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet, 23.5 percent).
We’ve seen 37 games this season when the Bears have had a sixth offensive lineman on the field. This has usually been OG Trapillo, although it was Theo Benedette in Week 1, so if the Bears swap out left tackles, Benedette will be back in that role. Luke Newman took it against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is ranked 12th in the league. However, since Week 8, the Bears have run 32 plays with an extra offensive lineman, sixth-most in the NFL. Williams is completing 7 of 9 passes playing with six linemen.
The research highlighted another annoyance: The Bears have been in no-running-back formation on only 2.5 percent of snaps, or .01 personnel with four receivers and a tight end, but that’s the most in the league. Usually when they do, DJ Moore or Kmet are lined up in the backfield.
Interesting facts related to bear-eagle
• The Bears lead the all-time series 30–17–1, including a 1–3 postseason record against the Philadelphia Eagles.
• After defeating the New Orleans Saints earlier this season, it is now the Bears’ longest losing streak to an opponent. They have lost six in a row to the Eagles.
• Chicago’s last win over Philadelphia was on November 7, 2011. Matt Forte rushed for 133 yards, and Jay Cutler threw two touchdowns on “Monday Night Football” at Lincoln Financial Field.
• The Eagles are the only NFC team the Bears have yet to beat in the post-Lovie Smith era.
• This will be the fourth Bears game on Friday. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams in 1966, defeated the Cleveland Rams in 1939, and defeated the Cleveland Indians in 1931.
• Congratulations to Mailbag reader Eli Kay for this: The Bears have lost three in a row to the defending Super Bowl champs. Their last win over the defending champions came in 2013 over the Baltimore Ravens.
• In Jalen Hurts’ lone start against the Bears, he threw for 315 yards and two picks in a 25-20 Eagles win at Soldier Field.
• As a 7-plus-point road underdog since 2016, the Bears are 2-23 and 9-16 against the spread. They won their most recent game as a touchdown underdog away from Chicago when they defeated the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 season finale.
Game Selection: Bears at Eagles (+7), 2 PM CT on Amazon Prime and FOX 32
Kevin Fishbein: Eagles 25, Bears 16
(8-3 straight up, 5-6 against the spread)
This is not a great matchup for the Bears…if the Eagles play the way the Eagles can play. They don’t turn it over, and they have a running back who is capable of breaking off any carry for a touchdown. The atmosphere couldn’t be more different for two 8-3 teams, and the Bears are without pressure. They are playing with the house’s money. But it could play out just like the game in Baltimore, when the defense couldn’t find a way and ultimately sagged while the offense thrived in the red zone.
Dan Wiederer: Eagles 26, Bears 20
(7-4, 6-5)
The Super Bowl champion Eagles are not invincible. Far from it, as Sunday’s collapse in Dallas shows. Bears should head into Lincoln Financial Region with full confidence that they can pull off the upset. Still, the Vic Fangio vs. Williams part of this battle is concerning, especially in a short week. The Eagles, led by Fangio, are excellent in camouflage coverage and do a good job of staying on top of the defense. Williams’ patience and preparation will be tested. Additionally, Philly has taken care of the football better than every other team in the league, with only six turnovers through 11 games. The Eagles have also been solid inside the red zone on both sides of the ball, ranking first in offense and fourth in defense.
Dan Pompey: Eagles 26, Bears 22
(8-3, 8-3)
The Eagles represent a big step up in class for the Bears. And although there’s been a lot of confidence earned by the Bears, it could falter against a team with this much talent. The Eagles offense can find answers that have been elusive against a banged-up Bears defense, and Fangio will be a handful for Philly “Dee” Williams.
John Greenberg: Eagles 23, Bears 13
(7-4, 5-6)
The Bears have used “make no apologies for winning” as the odd foundation of their postgame media interactions. At ages 8-3, no one is telling them not to be proud of their accomplishments. It’s been an entertaining and unpredictable season, but we all know a team’s success is based on turnover differential. The Bears lead the league with plus-16 (24 takeaways, eight giveaways). Unfortunately, this week, they are the league leader in not turning the ball over. Fangio will limit the big plays of Williams and Co., and the Eagles will cover the spread.
Zach Berman (Eagles beat writer): Eagles 30, Bears 20
As 7-point home favorites after a second-half loss against Dallas, the Eagles have a chance to make a statement against the upstart Bears in a single-time-slot game. If there’s ever a day for Saquon Barkley to get out of his self-described “funk,” it’s against a Bears run defense ranked No. 27 in DVOA and undermanned at linebacker. My guess is that the Eagles countered on offense and avoided turnovers against an opportunistic Bears defense. Fangio’s defense will be tested, but it may look a lot like last month’s Bears-Ravens game.
Brooks Kubena (Eagles beat writer): Eagles 20, Bears 16
I still need to see the Eagles wake up offensively against a good team before I predict them doing that. But I still think their defense will help them win this game. The Bears have been playing well offensively lately, but it would be too much to expect the Eagles to fall apart defensively once again. The Cowboys achieved success as George Pickens and C.D. Lamb made excellent catches on deep balls. Rome Odunze and Moore aren’t as dangerous, even against an Eagles secondary that is now missing starting rookie safety Drew Mukuba. Williams ranks 24th in EPA among quarterbacks per dropback against four-man rushes or less. The Eagles do not attack often with their reinforced defensive front. I don’t think they have to do that.
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