It was a game that bothered me a lot. The Eagles started slowly in the game and then came on with a rush. They slipped all over Soldier Field. The defense allowed a bunch of big plays. The offense couldn't put the ball in the end zone (just one in five trips to the red zone).

And the Eagles lost a game that, looking back, would have made a huge difference in a season.

So now we're here, nearly a calendar year later, and the teams meet on Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field. Both teams have had their share of ups and downs through seven games. Both teams have high aspirations. Both teams need the victory.

What to make of Chicago? Quarterback Jay Cutler is a very good athlete who has a tremendous arm and who clearly had the Eagles' number last season. Chicago's offense has taken off since coordinator Mike Martz called for shorter drops and quicker passes. Cutler hasn't taken a lot of hits the last couple of games and the Bears have played well.

They have a running back in Matt Forte who is as multi-dimensional and as productive as any this defense will face. Forte is an excellent receiver and it is going to be interesting to see how Juan Castillo matches up with Forte. If you ask me, I will tell you this: Press the Chicago wide receivers and use bracket coverage on Forte and take him out of the game. Make others beat you. Make Chicago's wide receivers beat these cornerbacks in one-on-one coverage.

But that's just me. It is much more complicated than that, of course. Castillo, based on these last couple of games, is gaining a very firm feel for the defense and what the individual pieces can do in the collective scheme.

For Michael Vick and the Eagles offense, the challenge of playing the Bears is the same as it always is: The Bears have an outstanding front seven with an excellent pass rush. The linebackers run to the ball and make plays. Chicago's defense has been good at times this year and it has not not as good, particulary in the area of giving up big plays. The secondary plays a two-deep scheme, designed to not allow the big play over the top of the defense.

So the Eagles must be patient and they must be precise. Vick isn't going to have a lot of time to hold the football. The Eagles have to get into the red zone and have a really good scheme in place, because Chicago's zone thrives in that minus-20 area.

Add on to all of this a Bears special teams group that is second to none and you understand the challenge of Monday night. The Bears are rested and they are hungry and they are, when all is said and done, a good team.

This game has huge meaning as far as the NFC's playoff picture. The Eagles are already losers of three conference games. Losing to a team in a similar position would be devastating.

NEWS, NOTES AND THIS AND THAT

• Eagles record when they have two or fewer turnovers, 3-0. Eagles record with three-plus turnovers, 0-4.
• The Eagles, along with Dallas, Houston, Pittsburgh and San Diego, rank in the top 12 in both total offense and total defense. The Eagles lead the league with a net yards differential of plus 118.7.
• Running back Dion Lewis should play a reasonably important role in the game behind LeSean McCoy. Lewis is one of five draft picks playing big-time minutes. How good has the draft class been? Jason Kelce and Danny Watkins start on the offensive line, Alex Henery is the placekicker and Brian Rolle starts at the weakside linebacker spot. Not a bad way to get the draft class off and making an impact.
• If LeSean McCoy scores against Chicago, he will tie Steve Van Buren's club record with touchdowns in eight straight games. McCoy leads the NFL with 29 carries of 10-plus yards and in first downs gained.
• Will the Eagles kick to Devin Hester, who has one kickoff returned for a touchdown and one punt returned for a touchdown this season?
• Philadelphia beat Washington 59-28 in its last *Monday Night Football *game last November 15.
• The Eagles are an NFC-best 32-18-1 since 1999 in the month of November.
• Just three games ago, the Eagles ranked 30th in the NFL in run defense. Now they are 19th. Certainly the defense has improved and you can see that clearly on the field. It also helps that the team has taken early leads and made offenses one-dimensional. This game will be a test. Forte is the real deal. He has 21 gains of 10-plus yards this season and he leads the league with 1,091 total yards from scrimmage.
• Trent Cole has the fourth-most sacks in the NFL since 2005 with 61. He trails DeMarcus Ware (92), Jared Allen (86 1/2) and Julius Peppers (63).