Eagles Win Wild, Back And Forth Nailbiter Over Bears

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The underdogs have done it again.

In an intense, back-and-forth affair that came down to the final seconds, the Eagles held on to defeat the Bears, 16-15.

The Bears missed what would have been a game-winning field goal with just five seconds left. It came following a harrowing 60 seconds of football for both fanbases, as Soldier Field roared and the Bears made an improbable charge immediately following an Eagles touchdown that ultimately won the game.

The field goal hit the post. Almost impossibly, it marked the fifth time a Bears field goal has missed by hitting the post this season.

It was yet another unlikely win for the heavy underdog Eagles, whose season seemed all but over just a few weeks ago. They will head down to New Orleans next week to battle the top-seeded Saints. The Cowboys will face the Rams, and the winners will meet in the NFC Championship two weeks from now.

>>Bizarre Play In The Eagles Vs. Bears Game Leaves Fans Dumbfounded

The Eagles fought tooth and nail with the Bears through a bizarre first half that featured the Eagles dropping two interceptions, Nick Foles uncharacteristically throwing two of his own, and an anomalous play and ensuing referee call that left players and fans alike scratching their heads.

The Birds were not without their early chances. They had a very strong drive going into Bears territory in the second quarter with a shot at the endzone before Foles, under pressure, threw into quadruple coverage and it was intercepted.

The Birds almost had another chance just moments later on the Bears first snap of the ensuing drive, when Avante Maddox appeared to make an incredible diving interception, but a review showed that his feet were not in bounds.

The Bears drove down at the end of the first half and ultimately scored, but along the way was the one of strangest plays in recent football history. A pass was caught by Bears receiver Anthony Miller, but Eagles cornerback Cre'Von LeBLanc wedged his arm in and knocked the ball out. The ball bounced several feet away, but LeBlanc and Miller paid it no mind. Players on the field seemed to assume the ball was dead and that there had been no reception. The whistle blew and officials ruled no catch.

A review showed it had clearly been a catch, then a fumble, but the official was the only person to "recover" the fumble. According to official NFL rules, as announcers later discovered, there's a little known provision that states that if there's no clear recovery, it can't be ruled a catch. So the play was essentially nullified.

It all ended with the Bears getting just a field goal as time expired in the first half. However, the Eagles roared back early in the third with a quick drive, capped off by a lengthy toss from the 20 by Foles to Dallas Goedert. The Bears, it turned out, accidentally went out for that play a man down, with only 10 players on the field.

The Bears followed that up with another field goal, which included a huge stop by the Eagles deep in their own territory. But the Bears quickly got the ball back again and cut through the Eagles defense effortlessly, driving 80 yards in six plays for a touchdown. They missed the two point conversion, and led the Eagles 15-10 with under ten minutes left.

The winning drive all started with a huge stop by the Eagles. They rapidly drove down the field and got down to the Bears two-yard line. The Bears, probably the best defense in all of football, stopped the next three plays: two abortive runs and an incomplete pass. But on fourth down, Foles fired out to Golden Tate for the score.

Heading into Sunday's matchup, the NFC North champion, 12-4 Bears were six point favorites. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, who finished the season 9-7 and squeaked into the playoffs in the final minutes of the regular season, will continue to wear the mantle of true underdogs as long as they're alive this year.

Next week they head down to New Orleans to face the top seeded Saints, and they'll face an even tougher battle than they did Sunday in Chicago. The 13-3 Saints drubbed the Eagles, 48-7, back in November, sounding what appeared to be a death knell to the team's hopes of defending their title.

It turned out to be a wake up call. Since that loss on Nov. 18, the Eagles are 6-1, including wins over three playoff teams: the Rams, the Texans, and now the Bears.

Check out some of our recent Eagles coverage:

• 5 Things To Know Ahead Of Eagles Vs. Bears Playoff Game Sunday
• Eagles Beat Redskins, Advance To Playoffs
• Here's How Eagles Make Playoffs After Sunday's Win Against Texans

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