2022 Week 15: Eagles 25, Bears 20 (Dynasty/Fantasy Analysis Game Report)
The Eagles mostly controlled this game throughout, but the Bears wouldn’t go away. The Eagles are the better version of the Bears -- both led by highly mobile QBs and tough defenses, but the Eagles QB is more polished right now with a better O-Line and the Eagles have a mature defense and the Bears an upstart still mistake prone defense.
As the Bears were watching the Eagles play this game, they were unwittingly looking at their future selves…in short order. I have mocked the Bears franchise management for years, but Justin Fields has completely changed his game and is now one of the most dangerous, exciting players in the league and Matt Eberflus is a great designer of defense -- the Fields + defense foundation will become a playoff team with a couple more O-Linemen upgrades, and that will occur (the playoffs) in 2023.
Chicago has lost six in a row and nine of their last 10 to fall to (3-10). That’s OK. They’re playing for the future and that future has a chance to be decent/bright. Of Chicago’s last nine losses they were facing 6-7 current or going to be playoff teams. Chicago was leading in the 2nd-half of many of those games. In another year or two, the Bears will be part of the toughest division in football -- the NFC North.
Philadelphia gets a big win to get to (13-1) and on the doorstep of an NFC East title and #1 seed. One more win does the trick for both. They will be the #1 seed and will face the winner of Dallas/Tampa in the 2nd-round of the playoffs.
*Note any fractional numbers in parentheses (4/2) or (2/3), etc., are a ‘split’ stat on our definition of a ‘quality start’ (or not) marker on a player -- using 14 PPR points in a game for RB-WR-TE and 21 for a QB…point levels that are good/productive/well above average starts for a Fantasy week. Trying to identify trends, consistency (or not) in players we might not normally realize.
A (3/2), for example, means: 3 times the player hit at/above the mark, and 2 times they did not.
Fantasy Player Notes…
-- I’ll go through it more this offseason, but Justin Fields (14-21 for 152 yards, 2 TDs/0 INT, 11-95-0) is now great for FF…and the NFL. I’m totally onboard. I will go to my grave believing he didn’t realize how easy it would be for him to run on NFL defenses…and that he DEFINITELY did not want to be a running QB but he’s so good at it, so natural and effective he just went with it and ‘surprise’ he found a superpower after fighting it for a year+ in the NFL. He was not much of a runner in college either…capable but not desiring to…just a scrambler when flushed. Now he’s a running weapon.
Watching Fields and Hurts operate in the same game, to compare and contrast -- no comparison, Fields is more gifted. Fields is a way better, faster runner and Fields has a way better arm. Hurts is very good and is more polished and a better leader, but Fields is the better raw prospect now.
Fields Week 16 in a frozen, windy tundra vs. Buffalo…I wouldn’t bet against Fields running for FF points.
-- Jalen Hurts (22-37 for 315 yards, 0 TD/2 INT, 17-61-3) is going to miss Week 16, which makes sense…Philly has a cushion so as not to push Hurts and risk further injury. Also, Gardner Minshew is a good QB.
How will the offense/FF output change? Well, probably not too much…all the numbers Hurts takes will now get scattered to the rest of the offense. More carries for the RBs. Solid enough hope in the WR/TEs. But Philly will likely run it more and be less likely to throw for 300+ yards…but it won’t be some dreadful 150 yards passing death either. Probably 200-250 yards passing depending upon if Philly gets control and can sit on the game…or if they get down and have to chase.
-- Khalil Herbert has been activated, but he will likely stay as a limited relief back with David Montgomery (12-53-1, 3-38-1/3)…only getting extra work or a full start Week 18, meaningless Week 18.
-- Byron Pringle (2-39-1/2) got left open in coverage when Fields scrambled around on a play and the defense got sucked in -- which is part of the new greatness of Fields. His running is so good it paralyzes defenses to worry about/chase him and then he pulls up and just tosses TD passes to guys who are left open by 10+ yards. Fields doesn’t have to be Tom Brady to be an FF success.
-- Cole Kmet (4-25-0/5) is a winner from Fields' paralyzing running ways as well. Often drifting open for Fields when the defense is scared of/focused on Fields. Tough call for him Week 16 in 25 mph winds, however.
-- The Eagles defense got 6 sacks here…that’s the gamble defenses have to take -- blitz or pressure Fields to try and stop him before he gets going, but for every one time the blitz/pressure works…Fields escapes or overcomes it 2-3-4-5 times for every one he doesn’t.
-- Jack Sanborn got hurt halfway in and got put on IR this week. Watch if UDFA Sterling Weatherford gets the start/push while Sanborn is out -- another great preseason pull from the 53-man cutdown day (like Sanborn).
-- The Bears-DST was a fighter here…just young and sloppy too much, but also aggressive and good at times. This will be a future DST1.
Snap Counts of Interest:
53 = Pringle
47 = Pettis
40 = Velus
10 = Webster
40 = Sanders
29 = Gainwell
04 = Scott
