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Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
It seems more times than not — that when Chicago and Philadelphia meet on the NFL gridiron — it becomes significant for both teams. The Eagles Super Bowl hopes were cut short in 1988 at Soldier Field during the Fog Bowl, the Eagles beat the Bears in December of 2022 on their way to another, and in the 2002 NFC Divisional Playoffs — Philly won in Chicago for the first time in 20 years and advanced to the city’s first NFC Championship Game in almost two decades.
Last season — the Eagles rolled out all black alternate uniforms last year on the day after Thanksgiving. It didn’t seem to matter — as the Bears won at Lincoln Financial Field 24–15 after running for nearly 285 yards. The Eagles would fall short in defending their Lombardi Trophy and had an early playoff exit — and the Bears would end up in the Divisional Round of the 2026 NFC Playoffs.
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One hundred years ago — the Bears coached by the legendary George Halas played another local NFL Team at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. In front of 10,000 fans — the game would come down to a late fourth-down — where the Frankford Yellow Jackets would score a touchdown thanks to a reception from “Two-Bits” Homan. The extra point gave Frankford the win.
A quarter decade ago — Donovan McNabb and the Eagles rolled into Soldier Field after defeating Tampa Bay in the Wildcard Round a week prior. The resounding playoff win — including Hugh Douglas knocking Bears quarterback Jim Miller from the game — sent the Eagles on a run that would take them to the top of the NFC for the next several years and was the final game played at the old Soldier Field.
Even without star quarterback Caleb Williams — Monday night’s matchup is an early season predictor of things to come from two NFL franchises both with Super Bowl aspirations. If history is any judge — it will give us a glimpse into whose season is going up and which is going down.
Ninety-five years ago next month those same Yellow Jackets were forced to play their final games on the road due to a fire at Frankford Stadium and financial ruin. The franchises’ very last win was at Wrigley Field in October of 1931 in front of some 26,000 fans. Five years earlier — what was the significance of a December of 1926 Yellow Jackets win over the Bears late in the 4th quarter?
It was Philadelphia’s first NFL Championship. Will this Eagles team be the next one in 2027? A win over the Bears could very well set us on that path.
At least — that is what history tells us.
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