The 8-3 Chicago Bears will play the 8-3 Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in a Week 13 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (2 p.m., Prime Video).
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5 things to watch — plus our predictions
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley carries the ball against the Cowboys on Nov. 23, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
A national audience will tune into Friday’s showdown, curious to see if the Bears’ 8-3 start stands up to the defending champions’ 8-3 record.
But the Bears aren’t viewing it as a litmus test of their legitimacy.
“We don’t put that type of energy, that type of effort, that type of pressure on any other game,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “We go into each game (with the) focus on being 1-0. You don’t look over there (and) compare yourself to their record, their team, their coaches, their players, or anything like that. We focus on us.” Read more here.
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How to watch Friday’s game
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams looks to pass during the second quarter against the Steelers on Nov. 23, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
As things stand, with both 8-3 teams near the top of the NFC, this game could have big playoff implications. If the Bears and Eagles were to finish the season with identical records, their head-to-head result would be the first tiebreaker in determining which team earns the higher seed for the postseason.
This is a pivotal stretch for the Bears, who face the Eagles, Packers (twice), Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Lions over their final six games. Read more here.
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Meet the architect of one of the NFL’s best offensive lines
Bears offensive line coach Dan Roushar talks to players on the bench in the first quarter against the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Nov. 16, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
For as long as the Bears have been piecing things together on the offensive line, this season’s transformation from one of the worst units in the NFL to one of the best has happened with remarkable quickness and little fanfare.
Directing the unit behind the scenes is 65-year-old Dan Roushar, who was about a month into retirement when the opportunity came along. He’s an old-school coach with a knack for reaching Gen Z, and while he’s not particularly interested in sharing his story, it’s quite a tale of commitment to the craft for a guy from Clinton, Iowa, who grew up a Bears fan and played quarterback at Northern Illinois. Read more here.
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About last week
Dennis Allen hasn’t blinked when asked about various fill-ins the Bears have called upon on defense this season. In turn, it’s hard to find an example of a reserve who has blinked when pressed into action.
A Bears defense missing five starters Sunday at Soldier Field was too good for a Steelers team missing future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In a season in which unlikely heroes are arising on an almost weekly basis, it was some of the most recently promoted who delivered big plays in a 31-28 victory.
It marks the second four-game winning streak this season for a team that began the year with consecutive losses. The Bears (8-3) have won eight of their last nine, remain atop the NFC North and need one more victory in their final six games to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2018. Read more here.
DJ Moore scores 2 TDs and Caleb Williams overcomes miscues in Bears’ win: ‘Winning in every fashion’
Backup LBs D’Marco Jackson and Amen Ogbongbemiga help Bears defense keep rolling with the punches
NFC North roundup: Lions win in OT while Packers pound Vikings 23-6
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/chicago-bears-philadelphia-eagles-week-13-updates/
