Biggest sleeper of Eagles-Bears: One more playoff moment for Eagles' Darren Sproles?

Frank Schwab

A few weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles‘ chances to make the playoffs were slim.

Philadelphia was 6-7 and facing a couple of tough games without quarterback Carson Wentz. But Nick Foles helped lead wins over the Rams, Texans and Redskins, Philadelphia got some help and snuck into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the NFC. The defending Super Bowl champions are still alive.

The Eagles’ late-season surge came right after the return to the lineup of an old, popular veteran, who is one of the key sleepers in Sunday’s wild-card game against the Chicago Bears:

Philadelphia Eagles RB Darren Sproles

It seemed Sproles’ career might be done when he broke his arm and tore his ACL on the same play in 2017. He turned 35 last offseason, and most running backs don’t last that long in the NFL.

Sproles returned, and it didn’t seem worth it early on. Sproles played in the season opener, then was out until December with a hamstring injury. With the Eagles seemingly done in the playoff race, it seemed like a lost season.

Then it turned around. Sproles came back and played a key role in a banged-up backfield. The Eagles made the playoffs. And now Sproles has a chance to play a key role against a tough Bears defense.

Sproles has 11 catches for 138 yards in the Eagles’ last four games, and that’s his greatest value to the offense. He also has two receiving touchdowns. Against a Bears defense that doesn’t allow much in the passing game, Sproles could be a weapon if he finds a mismatch or two. He still has the quickness to hit a big play.

At the end of the 2008 season, Sproles had a monster performance in a playoff win. He had 105 rushing yards, 55 receiving yards and 73 return yards, scoring two touchdowns in a Chargers win over Peyton Manning and the Colts. Sproles scored the overtime game-winner on a 22-yard run. Sproles isn’t the type of player who could have that type of game anymore, but he can still make a key play or two against the league’s toughest defense.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles (43) has been a key contributor to his team's offense since returning from injury. (AP)
Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles (43) has been a key contributor to his team’s offense since returning from injury. (AP)

Chicago Bears WR Taylor Gabriel

The Bears have plenty of big names on both sides of the ball, so Gabriel gets obscured at times. But he’s capable of making plays. Last week against the Vikings, his fantastic diving catch set up a touchdown in Chicago’s win.

Gabriel hasn’t had a huge season after he signed as a free agent from the Falcons, but he had 688 yards and was reliable. He caught 72 percent of the passes thrown his way, tops among Bears receivers.

The Eagles have suffered many injuries at cornerback this season. As a result, none of their top three cornerbacks have ever played in a playoff game, according to their official site. Cre’von LeBlanc, a former Bear, has been pressed into duty as the slot cornerback. Gabriel isn’t a full-time slot receiver, but he lined up 21.7 percent of the time in the slot, according to PlayerProfiler.com. It would make sense if the Bears want to spread the field and test the Eagles’ cornerbacks, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Gabriel get some snaps against LeBlanc. He could exploit that matchup.

Gabriel was part of the Bears’ offseason overhaul, and that has worked out very well. Gabriel could end up paying off even more in the playoffs.

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Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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