Can Eagles QB Win His First Career Road Start On MNF?

The NFL serves us up a bit of a dud on Monday Night Football this week as the Chicago Bears host the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chicago is a 3-point favourite, and the Over/Under is 42.5 at most sportsbooks. (For the latest odds, visit our Live Odds Page.)

Both the Eagles and Bears were expected to be bottom feeders in their respective divisions, though Philadelphia started the season well last week with a 29-10 rout of the Cleveland Browns.

That game was the debut of Eagles rookie QB Carson Wentz, and he accounted for himself quite nicely. Wentz went 22-for-37 for 278 yards, two touchdowns and, most importantly, zero interceptions.

Now the question is whether Wentz can duplicate that success in his first career road start. He played his collegiate career at North Dakota State, where the biggest crowd he faced in enemy territory was the University of Montana (25,000 seats). Playing in Soldier Field for the Bears’ home opener will obviously be much different.

“We expect it to be a loud environment,” Wentz told CSNPhilly.com. “We’re going to have to work on a silent snap count and some different things, and it’s going to be Monday Night Football. Everybody is going to be pretty hyped and ready to go, so we’ve just gotta focus in and we’ll be ready.”

Those who have seen Wentz say nothing fazes him. These aren’t exactly the 86 Bears he’ll be facing Monday night, but the first road start is still a huge test for any rookie QB.

Here’s a couple of other things to consider for this week’s Monday nighter:

The Bears stink at home

Over the past 2 seasons, the Bears are 3-13 at Solider Field. Last year, Chicago won just once on its home field, compared to a 5-3 record on the road.

On the plus side, Chicago has won 9 of its last 10 games at home when facing a rookie QB.

Will the Bears stick with the run game?

In their season-opening 19-10 loss at Houston last week, the Bears ran the ball just 20 times for 73 yards.

The Texans feasted on Chicago’s pass-heavy attack, sacking Jay Cutler 5 times.

Chicago should have an easier time moving the ball on the ground this week. The Eagles ranked dead last in the NFL last year in rushing yards allowed per game.

Bears/Eagles prediction

We like the Bears, who should be able to run the ball well and open up opportunities for Jay Cutler to throw the ball down the field as well.

We bet Chicago -3 at +102 odds at Pinnacle.