The Philadelphia Eaglesleft the Windy City with plenty of questions. They committed ten penalties, and their defense failed to force a turnover. Their defense struggled against a 38-year-old third-string quarterbackwhom they knew might play. They watched their offense, one that showed a little promise during the first two weeks, grind to a halt for much of the evening.
Losses like Monday night's 27-7 defeat to the Chicago Bears tend to magnify every flaw. That's part of the deal when expectations are high. The criticism is deserved, and the Eagles have plenty to clean up before hosting the Los Angeles Rams.
Still, even ugly losses can reveal a few positive developments. While the final score won't leave anyone feeling good, Philadelphia wasn't
without encouraging signs.
Makai Lemon took another step forward.
The box score won't tell the entire story, but this felt like Makai Lemon's most encouraging performance of the season. The Eagles made a concerted effort to involve him early, and the rookie responded with two receptions for 32 yards. Now, they need to scrap that screen pass that hasn't fooled anyone.
More importantly, Lemon looked increasingly comfortable within the offense. The hesitation that sometimes accompanies young players working their way into a new system appeared less noticeable, and there were moments when his athleticism and playmaking ability became evident.
Philadelphia doesn't need Lemon to carry the offense. It does, however, need him to continue progressing. Monday night's performance suggested he's moving in the right direction.
The final drive of the first half looked like real Eagles football.
For much of the evening, the offense struggled to find any rhythm. Then, as the second quarter wound down, everything briefly clicked. Jalen Hurts completed five of six passes during a 67-yard scoring drive that showcased tempo, efficiency, and decisiveness. DeVonta Smith repeatedly found openings in the secondary, and Hurts looked confident operating the offense.
The possession ended with a quarterback sneak touchdown as time expired, but the process was every bit as encouraging as the result. That drive won't erase three quarters of offensive frustration, but it reminded everyone the unit can still function at a high level when everything works together.
The running game was productive when given opportunities
One of the more frustrating aspects of the loss is that the Eagles actually found success on the ground. Saquon Barkley rushed for 82 yards, and 73 of those yards came before halftime. Philadelphia attacked Chicago with split-zone and outside-zone concepts and consistently generated positive yardage early in the game.
The issue wasn't effectiveness. The issue was sustainability. As the score became more lopsided, the rushing attack faded into the background. The encouraging takeaway is that the Eagles discovered something that worked. Against a Rams defense that can be challenged on the ground, that lesson could matter quickly.
Quinyon Mitchell continues to look like a difference-maker
Had one play unfolded slightly differently, this entire game may have felt different. After a turnover deep in Eagles territory, the Bears appeared poised to seize complete control. Instead, Quinyon Mitchell nearly delivered a 100-yard interception return that would have dramatically shifted momentum.
The play ultimately resulted in a pass breakup rather than a takeaway, but it was another example of Mitchell's instincts and playmaking ability showing up in a critical moment. Philadelphia's defense is still searching for its first takeaway of the season. Mitchell came closer than anyone to ending that drought.
The Eagles deserved every bit of criticism that came their way following Monday night's performance. They were undisciplined, inconsistent, and thoroughly outplayed by a Bears team that looked sharper in every phase.
Even so, losses are rarely as all-encompassing as they feel in the moment. Lemon continued his development, Barkley found room to run, Mitchell flashed again, and the offense assembled one excellent two-minute drive before halftime. None of those developments changed the outcome, but they provide a few reasons to believe better football is still ahead. The challenge now is turning those isolated bright spots into something larger when the Rams arrive in Philadelphia next Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 4 silver linings from the Eagles’ ugly loss to the Bears
