Eagles Stymie Overmatched Bears to Improve to 10-1

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) — Typically Jim Schwartz likes to try to make any opposing offense one-dimensional.

The Eagles defensive coordinator didn't exactly have to put together one of his best game plans to accomplish that this week because the Chicago Bears are one-dimensional getting off the bus with overmatched rookie Mitchell Trubisky playing quarterback.

So Schwartz and his defense rose the bar and somehow made an NFL team no-dimensional. The Bears couldn't do anything at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday during a 31-3 setback to the now 10-1 Eagles.

Chicago didn't record a first down until early in the third quarter and its vaunted running game accounted for six yards of a dismal 140 yards of total offense, with 56 of that coming against Philadelphia's reserves on a meaningless last drive ending when Corey Graham picked off the last of Trubisky's woefully inaccurate passes on the afternoon and nearly turned it into a pick-six.

"That was the biggest emphasis this week," defensive end Brandon Graham said of stopping the Chicago rushing attack. "We just wanted to go out there and do our job. We made it about us and obviously we got the job done today."

Trubisky, the second overall pick in April's draft, finished 17-of-33 for 147 yards and two interceptions for a dismal 38.3 passer rating.

Conversely, the Eagles were on fire behind MVP candidate Carson Wentz, scoring 30 points-or-more for a fifth consecutive time.

Wentz completed 23-of-36 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns, one apiece to Zach Ertz, Nelson Agholor and Alshon Jeffery, as the Eagles accumulated 420 yards of total offense.

With the win, Philadelphia eliminated Washington from the NFC East race and will clinch the division if the Redskins beat the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.

Any Eagles win or Dallas loss the rest of the way would also clinch the division as Philadelphia turns its attention to the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC. Currently, Philadelphia leads 9-2 Minnesota in that race by one game.

"We just have to stay humble," defensive tackle Fletcher Cox insisted. "We can't go out and be a big rah-rah team. We have to keep everything about us and continue to show the league what we can do on Sundays."

AND 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

-After a somewhat slow start from a numbers perspective, Jeffery has now accounted for 17 catches for 265 yards and five touchdowns over his past four games. In an offense that strives to move the ball around to its different playmakers that's a significant development for a team looking for a consistent presence outside the numbers. More so his seventh TD of the season against his old team triggered a $250,000 incentive clause in his contract so it was a very productive day for Jeffery.

"It felt the same," the receiver said of facing off with the Bears. "There were a couple of guys that I used to compete with. At the same time, it is business, just a regular game."

-That consistent presence already exists inside where Zach Ertz continued his career year 10 receptions for 103 yards and a score, becoming the first Eagles player to pass the century mark in receiving yards this season. Wentz and Ertz have had tremendous chemistry throughout the season and connected on nine consecutive targets until a misfire in the fourth quarter. Overall Ertz caught 10 of the 12 balls thrown his way.

-The third TD maker - Nelson Agholor -- had two, one on a brilliant juke of Bears safety Eddie Jackson and the other stemming from a hustle play after a Jay Ajayi fumble near the end zone in which Agholor played Johnny on the spot by jumping on the ball.

"I had a lot of fun with the first one and the second one I'm happy I could be there for my teammates," Agholor said.

-It was a LeGarrette Blount day for the Eagles rushing attack as the 250-pounder nearly had his second 100-yard game of the year, finishing with 97 on 15 carries. Ajayi struggled a bit until the 30-yard gallop that was ruined by the fumble and saved by Agholor. In Ajayi's four other runs, he totaled minus-four yards.

"I just run the plays the coaches call," Ajayi said of his role. I'm happy we're winning."

-The Bears longest offensive play of the day was a 19-yard pass to Dontrelle Inman.

"They were short some receivers," Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said. "We thought we matched up well in the back end. They didn't get any big plays down the field which always helps."

-The six rushing yards allowed by the Eagles were the fewest in a single game by the franchise since 1950, a stunning span of nearly 70 years, The 140 total yards were the fewest in over two decades since allowing 121 on Dec. 1, 1996 against the New York Giants.

-The Eagles have won by 28 points now in three consecutive games for the first time in franchise history, beating Denver, Dallas and Chicago by an almost outrageous combined score of 119-35.

"It just comes down to the way these guys practice," coach Doug Pederson said of his team's dominance. "The way they practice during the week and they prepare. The way the coaches put the game plans together and the way we -- our plan to attack a defense and it's all about just execution."

-The Birds have now won eight consecutive games at Lincoln Financial Field dating back to Week 16 last season, their longest home winning streak since a 10-game run that spanned over a calendar year (Nov. 17, 2013 to Nov. 23, 2014). Philadelphia is now 12-2 at home under Pederson.

-The Eagles are the only NFL team to score 20-or-more points in every game this season and the Eagles are tied with New England for the most 20-plus point games (24) since the Pederson era began.

-Defensive end Chris Long obviously won the bragging rights over his brother Kyle, a Pro Bowl offensive guard with the Bears, but there were no sour grapes coming from the losing side.

"Being out there with one of my best friends {Chris], all these guys are my really good friends but that is my brother and an opportunity to put some hands on him," Kyle said. "It was fun out there, keep it light. It's a rare opportunity to get and you want to make the most of it."

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen