Eagles vs. Bears: 3 things to watch

LeSean McCoy says he wants even more of the offense on his shoulders.
Credit: Getty Images

The Eagles will play their final home game with a lot on the line and a national audience watching them for just the second time this season — and first since Week 3.

The Cowboys play the Redskins early in the afternoon, meaning the Eagles will already know if a loss could cost them sole possession of the NFC East lead, and set up an epic clash at Jerry World in the final game of the season.

Metro gives you three things to watch for in Sunday night’s game (8:30 p.m., NBC):

1. Catch-2

The dynamic pairing of Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall could spell disaster for the Eagles. If you’ve been watching all season, you know just how big of a problem the Eagles’ secondary has been. Even before allowing has-been Matt Cassel to tear them up last week they were in the dregs of the league in pass defense. They fell to No. 31 — second to last, only to Dallas, where defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is being run out of town — after allowing 370 yards to the Vikings. The secondary has been banged up all season, especially Cary Williams, but Brandon Boykin says he plans to play this weekend bouncing back from a concussion. They’ll need both to be successful.

2. On my back

The Eagles used LeSean McCoy for just 15 touches last week against the Vikings, which brought all kinds of questions for head coach Chip Kelly. The general excuse for Kelly and McCoy was that the game got out of hand and they needed to focus more on the pass than the run. But the game was just 17-9 at the half. McCoy has been talking big this week, saying he needs to be a bigger presence.

“I feel like this game, I’ve got to put the offense on my back,” McCoy told reporters on Wednesday. “I don’t have to tell [Kelly] I want the ball, I need the ball. He knows the right plays to run.”

3. The little things

The Eagles have said all the right things coming off the loss last week, but it did bring some fear to fans. Eagles linebacker DeMeco Ryans says the team has already moved on to this week’s game.

“Our mindset doesn’t change,” Ryans said. “It’s focusing on the little things. It may sound like a cliche, but we focus on little things. We continue to keep our focus small, not try to do too much and the big picture things we’ll do very well and continue to grow as a team and get better.”