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CHICAGO - Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown insisted all week that he was not going to let his strained hamstring keep him out of the lineup against Chicago.

Brown, the most durable player on the team, backed up his claim Sunday night. The eight-year veteran played in his 134th consecutive game (including regular season and playoffs) and made his 101st career start.

He was in and out of the lineup, however. Brown was forced to leave the game for a series in the second quarter but was back out there a few minutes later.

Brown initially strained his hamstring in the second quarter of last week's 31-23 loss at San Diego. He returned for a series in the third quarter but was forced to leave the game.

He apparently reinjured his leg while trying to chase Bears running back Kahlil Bell during Bell's 72-yard run early in the second quarter. The 30-year-old Brown was temporarily replaced by Dimitri Patterson, who was called for an illegal contact penalty in the second period. That prompted Brown to try to play again.

Brown's consecutive-games streak is the longest on the team and ranks second among active NFL cornerbacks behind Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber (195).

Brown's personal streak extends well beyond his tenure with the Eagles, however. According to the team's media guide, the 30-year-old has not missed a game since he first started playing football in sixth grade.

He has played through some injuries with the Eagles. Brown revealed earlier this week that he played almost the entire 2003 season with a sports hernia. That injury has sent quite a few Eagles - wide receiver Kevin Curtis, quarterback Donovan McNabb and ex-tight end L.J. Smith among them - to the sideline, but Brown played through it.

Lineup changes

The biggest surprise for the Eagles was on the offensive line, where guard Stacy Andrews was among the players on the inactive list just a week after starting at right guard against San Diego.

Andrews apparently became expendable once left tackle Jason Peters was deemed healthy enough to return to left tackle against the Bears. That enabled Todd Herremans to move from tackle back to left guard. Nick Cole switched to right guard, where he alternated with Max Jean-Gilles instead of Andrews against the Bears.

Andrews has had an inconsistent season, his first with the Eagles after a five-year stint with Cincinnati. He suffered a major knee injury late last season with the Bengals and has yet to return to full strength. Eagles coach Andy Reid benched him for a few games earlier in the season because he seemed to be favoring his leg when he was pass blocking.

On defense, Jeremiah Trotter was the starting middle linebacker, but was quickly replaced by second-year veteran Joe Mays.

Mays, a Chicago native, got his first extended playing time in the middle. Chris Gocong, who started in the middle last week against San Diego, was back at strongside linebacker against the Bears. Will Witherspoon, who started three games in the middle, replaced injured Akeem Jordan (hyperextended knee) at weakside linebacker for the second straight game.

Sunday's game was Mays' shot at redemption. He had an opportunity to be the starter when middle linebacker Stewart Bradley suffered a season-ending knee injury in early August but soon lost the job to Omar Gaither. When Gaither also went down for the year with a Lis Franc foot sprain, Mays was still stuck on the bench behind Witherspoon.

It didn't last long, however. Mays committed enough mistakes to prompt Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott to insert Trotter into the base defense in the third quarter.

Inside the numbers

According to Comcast Sportsnet in Philadelphia, Bell's 72-yard run was the longest against Eagles since New Orleans' Deuce McAllister had a 76-yarder in 2003. ... It was 47 degrees at kickoff. ... McNabb, a Chicago native, entered the game with a 4-1 record at Soldier Field. ... Eagles entered the game 0-7 since NBC started broadcasting "Sunday Night Football." ... The Bears were 0-3 in prime-time games this season before Sunday. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had thrown 11 of his league-high 17 interceptions in those games.

Out of action

In addition to Andrews, Jordan and Westbrook, the Eagles' inactive list also included Curtis, safety Quintin Demps, running back P.J. Hill and center Mike McGlynn. Kevin Kolb was designated as the third quarterback.

Bumps and bruises

Cornerback Asante Samuel suffered a neck stinger in the third quarter and did not return. Patterson replaced him in the Eagles' base defense.

Up ahead

The Eagles return to Lincoln Financial Field next Sunday to face the Washington Redskins. The Redskins (3-7) suffered a 7-6 loss to Dallas. The Eagles won the first matchup of the season with a 27-17 victory on Oct. 24. Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson scored two touchdowns on a 67-yard run and 57-yard reception. The Eagles will be trying sweep the series for the first time since 2006.

Contact David Weinberg:

609-272-7186

DWeinberg@pressofac.com

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1 comment:

• moverightalong (195) posts 2:14 pm

  The beagles are the sorriest team in the NFL period case closed!Sloppy win Not Super Bowl material

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