Eagles lead Bears 24-3 at halftime

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(AP) Nick Foles threw two touchdown passes, LeSean McCoy scored on a 1-yard run and the Philadelphia Eagles led the Chicago Bears 24-3 at halftime Sunday night in a matchup of division leaders.

The Bears (8-6) came in needing a win to clinch the NFC North and secure the No. 3 seed while Philadelphia had little on the line. The Eagles (8-6) have to beat the Cowboys (8-7) in Dallas next Sunday to win the NFC East so they were only playing for a No. 3 seed if they win the division.

But it seemed the Eagles were already in playoff mode as they tried to complete a worst-to-first season under rookie coach Chip Kelly.

Trent Cole sacked Jay Cutler to force a three-and-out on Chicago’s first possession, and the Eagles went right down the field and scored when Foles hit Riley Cooper going across the back of the end zone on a 5-yard pass.

Bradley Fletcher then forced Devin Hester to fumble after a 36-yard kickoff return and Cary Williams recovered at the Bears 39. Foles connected with Zach Ertz for 27 yards and McCoy ran in from the 1 to make it 14-0.

The Bears went three-and-out again and Foles drove the Eagles 72 yards, tossing a 10-yard TD pass to Brent Celek on third down.

Alex Henery kicked a 49-yard field goal to increase the lead to 24-0 late in the second quarter. Chicago’s Robbie Gould kicked a 50-yarder at the end of the half.

Foles was 14 of 17 for 145 yards passing and McCoy, the NFL’s leading rusher, had 64 yards on the ground.

Bears seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs returned to the lineup after missing seven games because of a fractured shoulder. He wasn’t much help.

The Eagles outgained Chicago 246-124 in total yards in the first half.

Cutler was 10 of 20 for 127 yards. Brandon Marshall had just one catch for 14 yards. Matt Forte had 11 total yards.

The Bears had a chance to secure a division title because Green Bay lost to Pittsburgh and the New York Giants eliminated Detroit from playoff contention.

The game became less important for Philadelphia when Dallas rallied to beat Washington. If the Eagles beat the Bears, however, a tie against the Cowboys also would secure a division crown.