Eagles Vs. Bears Black Friday Football: What To Know

PHILADELPHIA, PA — For the first time in their history, the Eagles are playing the day after Thanksgiving in a critical match up with the Chicago Bears.

Here's what to know ahead of the big Black Friday game.

Kickoff time, how to watch

The Bears will come to Lincoln Financial Field for a 3 p.m. kickoff Friday.

The game will be livestreamed on Amazon Prime.

Top seed in the NFC on the line

The Birds and the Bears have identical records, at 8-3, and currently sit as the number 2 and 3 seeds in the NFC, respectively. It's certainly possible the NFC champion will have to pass through Chicago, or Philadelphia.

The winner will move to just a half game behind the 9-2 Los Angeles Rams for the top seed in the NFC. The loser will face increased pressure from upstarts within their division. The Bears come into this match with arguably more desperation, as they are clutching on to a tiny lead over the 8-3-1 Green Bay Packers, and a looming 7-5 Detroit Lions squad.

Cowboys charging

No one in Philly wanted to root for Patrick Mahomes pulling off another trademark Kansas City comeback late Thanksgiving evening, but everyone was. The Chiefs ultimately wound up falling to the Dallas Cowboys, 31-28, marking consecutive wins for the Cowboys against the defending conference champions.

The Cowboys are now 6-5-1, but they remain on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, currently 9th in the overall depth chart. If the Birds lose Friday, Dallas will pull within "just" two games of Philly. It's still a comfortable lead for the Birds, but it's pressure they surely would rather be without.

DeVonta Smith's status, other injuries

The Birds announced hours before the game Friday that star wide receive DeVonta Smith had been cleared to play after battling an injury.

However, the Eagles will be without Myles Hinton, Lane Johnson, and Xavier Gipson.

Offensive questions

With Smith possibly not at full strength, and season-long questions about the Birds offensive strategies under renewed scrutiny after last week's loss to Dallas, all eyes will be on the Philly game plan Friday.

Saquon Barkley has not been playing at his typical superstar level. Much has been made of AJ Brown's supposed frustration with Jalen Hurts. Yet the Birds have still pulled out victories and offensive production against some of the NFL's best. The Bears have surrendered more yards this season than all but five teams in the league, so it's a big opportunity for the Birds to capitalize.

A new Black Friday tradition

While Thanskgiving Day and football have a tradition as old as the sport itself, this year marks just the third Black Friday NFL matchup in history. It is the first time the Eagles have played in the game.