NFL Black Friday preview: Eagles try to rebound from Cowboys loss as they host Bears

For a team coming off a Super Bowl title and has one of the best records in the NFL this season, the Philadelphia Eagles seem constantly unhappy.

The Eagles, the reigning Super Bowl champs, are 8-3 but you'd never know it. Just about every week, win or lose, there's more angst and drama. Coaches are under fire, star offensive players haven't been producing enough, and a lot of it is playing out in social media or locker room interviews. Coming off of Week 12, there was something to be upset about.

The Eagles took a 21-0 lead at the Dallas Cowboys after their first three possessions, then didn't score again. The Cowboys stormed back to win 24-21. This week, the talking point has been Saquon Barkley and how he hasn't come close to replicating last season's success. Barkley had just 22 yards on 10 carries last week. He rushed for 2,000 yards last season and is on pace to barely pass 1,000 this season.

The Eagles get an interesting test in the 8-3 Chicago Bears on Black Friday. The Bears are in first place of the NFC North but have had trouble getting widespread validation for their start, mostly because they have feasted on a soft schedule and most of their wins have come in close games. A win would get them some respect, and more importantly keep them in first place of the division.

The Bears and Eagles each have 8-3 records, just a game behind the Los Angeles Rams for the best record in the NFC. Yet, both teams still have something to prove.

Who needs it more?

The Eagles are mostly just playing for seeding. It's very hard to imagine them not winning the NFC East, though another loss on Thursday coupled with a Cowboys win over the Chiefs would give Dallas some hope. But the Eagles can't drop too many more games if they want the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Bears are in first place but not close to being the favorites to win the division according to DVOA's projections going into Week 13. The Lions were 42.9% to win the NFC North, the Packers were 41.3% and the Bears were just 15.9% to win the division. That will upset Bears fans, but it reflects Chicago's uneven body of work — the Bears have a -3 point differential this season — and the tough competition in the NFC North. The Bears need this win in a crowded NFC North race.

Key player: Bears QB Caleb Williams

The hope for the Bears when they hired head coach Ben Johnson was that he would accelerate Williams' development in his second season. It's safe to call that a success. Williams is having a fine season. Over Chicago's last four games he has seven touchdown passes and no interceptions. On the season his touchdown-to-interception ratio is 17-to-4. He has 2,568 yards, which puts him on pace for 3,969 yards this season. The Bears have famously never had a 4,000-yard passing season, but Williams is making a run at it. This week is a tough challenge though, against an Eagles defense that has played better over the last few weeks. In Weeks 10 and 11 they gave up a combined 16 points to the Packers and Lions. It's a good test for how far Williams has improved this season.

Betting market watch

It may be surprising to see the Eagles favored over the 8-3 Bears by a full touchdown at BetMGM — especially after Philadelphia blew a 21-0 lead against the Cowboys last week — but the Eagles' metrics (and pedigree) are far superior. Philadelphia 8th in DVOA, while Chicago is 22nd. And not only is Chicago 22nd in DVOA, but the Bears are the worst 8-3 team by DVOA since 1978. Regardless, some bettors feel this line is too high, as early money has come in on the Bears, pushing this down to Eagles -6.5 at some books. — Ben Fawkes

Check out more of Ben’s work at the Yahoo Sports betting hub.

Fantasy football storylines

You might be a little tilted when the pedestrian Sunday slate comes calling this week, but remember how stacked the Thursday and Friday games were — contending teams in every match. Here are some fantasy angles to consider as the Eagles and Bears face off on Black Friday.

What version of Saquon Barkley do we see? While some will blame offensive line injuries and curious play-calling, Barkley deserves his share of the blame for a frustrating regression season (3.7 YPC, after 5.8 last year). This is a good draw for a rebound, as the Bears rank 27th in run defense DVOA and have cluster injuries at linebacker.

Can Colston Loveland keep rolling? Loveland has been terrific over the last month (17-262-3), checking in as the TE4. If you like splash plays, he’s your guy — five catches over 20 yards in this period. The Eagles seam coverage has been outstanding, but Loveland is a viable start against anyone.

How do the Bears handle their backfield? D’Andre Swift received less work last week — perhaps punishment for a lost fumble — while Kyle Monangai scored a touchdown for the third straight game. This looks like a hot-hand situation, though Monangai holds a slightly-better YPC and a higher success rate.. — Scott Pianowski

Check out more of Scott’s work at the Yahoo Sports fantasy hub.