Philadelphia Eagles 29-14 Chicago Bears
Tuesday 20 September 2016 13:12, UK
A torrid second half for the Chicago Bears saw Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles rack up 26 unanswered points to win 29-14 in Soldier Field.
A crucial interception late in the third quarter, followed by Jeremy Langford's fumble, were both turned into Eagles touchdowns, handing Philadelphia a 2-0 start to the season.
In 140 Characters...
Wentz commands Eagles offence and leads team to 2-0. Cutler throws costly interception and leaves game with hand injury.
MVP
Though his numbers weren't particularly impressive, Carson Wentz showed he was able to handle the physicality of this Bears defence. On several occasions, Wentz was forced into the ground, but he continued to look downfield and make plays happen.
Game-changer
Ryan Mathews scored on a three-yard rush to give the Eagles a 16-7 lead, and on the very next play Bears quarterback Jay Cutler threw an interception to linebacker Nigel Bradham. The Eagles offence took over from two yards and Trey Burton scored the first touchdown of his NFL career.
Stat of the Night
0 - Carson Wentz is the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to start the season with two wins and zero turnovers.
The Game
On his opening drive, Wentz led the Eagles down the field making eight of nine receptions, including a nine-yard pass to Dorial Green-Beckham on 4th and 2, before settling for a field goal from 26 yards.
A 49-yard pass from Cutler to Alshon Jeffery set up the response and, aided by a pass interference penalty by Nolan Carroll on Jeffery, Jeremy Langford finished the drive with a one-yard run o give Chicago a 7-3 lead.
Wentz looked comfortable in the pocket, despite taking monster hits from Jerrell Freeman and then Akiem Hicks in the second quarter. With five minutes to go, the rookie quarterback led his team down the field, throwing to Jordan Matthews for a 32-yard gain. However he was again held up in the red zone, the Bears forcing the Philadelphia to accept the field goal.
The Eagles retook the lead just before half-time with their third kick of the night, this time a 53-yard conversion to make it 9-7, but it wasn't until the end of the third quarter when Philadelphia took charge. An eight-play, 64-yard drive ended with Ryan Mathews scoring a three-yard run to extend the lead to 16-7.
Immediately, Cutler threw a costly interception to Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham, who ran the ball back to within two yards of the goal line. Trey Burton, making his first appearance of the season took advantage to score, and it got worse for the Bears when Cutler was taken to the locker room to examine a bruised hand.
On his first drive back-up QB Brian Hoyer, who was released from the Houston Texans in the summer, connected with Langford but the running back spilled the ball and it was recovered by the Eagles. Philadelphia took advantage and, having not scored a touchdown in the first half, got their third of the night as Mathews ran into the corner of the end zone to give Philadelphia a 29-7 lead.
With five minutes left Eddie Royal, one of the only bright spots in a poor Bears attack, returned a punt 65 yards to double the Bears' score, but the damage was done as the Eagles were able to run down the clock and claim their second win of the season.
