CHICAGO (104.3 The Score) — What a Monday night it was for 38-year-old quarterback Case Keenum and the Bears, who earned a 27-7 win over the Eagles in primetime at Soldier Field.
A third-stringer, Keenum got the starting nod amid injury woes and led the Bears to a dominant victory in the national spotlight. Here are observations from this game.
Case closed
Keenum’s story is one to celebrate in Chicago.
Back in 2012, Keenum was fortunate to garner a chance as an undrafted free agent out of Houston. Despite putting up historic numbers in the college level, he was initially doubted entering the NFL. Keenum is now in his 15th season in the league, and he had a terrific performance in completing 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards while accounting for three total touchdowns Monday.
Part of what made Keenum’s performance refreshing was that it wasn’t a referendum or data point for a long-term decision for the Bears. Caleb Williams is a budding franchise quarterback, so the veteran Keenum’s sensational performance could be enjoyed in the moment without any worry of controversy.
That wasn’t the case as recently as 2023, when Tyson Bagent stepped in for the injured, struggling Justin Fields and created debate as to whom the Bears should trust at quarterback. The same could be said 10 years earlier, when Josh McCown’s work off the bench in place of the injured Jay Cutler created an unsettling debate. Before that, there were countless conversations over the likes of Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton.
On Monday, Keenum played on time and in rhythm just as head coach Ben Johnson desires in his offensive system. That’s ultimately what the Bears want Williams to master and consistently showcase as he continues to develop in the NFL.
Of course, the 24-year-old Williams is still growing and just settling into his third NFL season. Keenum has had endless reps under his belt.
"He knows where everybody is supposed to be on every single play,” Johnson said. “So, he's really quick to recognize coverage, he knows why we're calling the play, what we're looking for, and if we're not getting that he's accelerating through it really quickly. That's what you get when you're 15-plus years in this league playing this position."
Williams is already starting to shine in that regard and becoming more of an extension of Johnson on the field. Keenum has that aspect mastered.
During the Bears’ quarterback meeting Sunday night, the Bears coaching staff sat back and let Keenum take charge, Johnson said. His veteran savvy was on display there and again on the field Monday night.
These types of nights don’t come around often in the NFL, when a feel-good story like Keenum directs an unlikely victory. For his part, Keenum thought the betting line was at least 10 points in favor of the Eagles.
This reporter in the front row corrected him by noting is was set around five points.
“Ten sounds better,” Keenum said with a laugh.
No matter what the odds were, this was an underdog worth celebrating in Chicago.
Bears pull the sneak
Johnson has been clear that he isn’t a fan of the Eagles’ tush push play.
“Man, I tell you what. Does it become an explosive play ever? Have you ever seen it become an explosive play? I like explosive plays,” Johnson said last May as the Eagles’ controversial play was being voted upon by the NFL’s competition committee. “I like big plays. I’m not a big tush push guy myself.”
On Monday, Johnson pulled a different type of quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter. With the Bears facing third-and-goal from the Eagles’ 1-yard line, Johnson dialed up a play call that coaching mentor Mike Martz made famous.
The Bears pulled left guard Joe Thuney and right guard Jonah Jackson away from the play – drawing the Eagles’ defensive line away from the A gap – as Keenum dove up the middle through a clean alley.
“It's an old but a good play right there,” Johnson said.
The play was on the opposite end of the spectrum of the tush push, which draws as many bodies as possible into a large scrum.
While Johnson hasn’t been combative toward the tush push – it was the Packers who tried to get the play banned – he found a way to one-up it.
Defense balls out
In the Bears’ win against the Panthers in their season opener, they allowed 37 points and 478 total yards of offense. In the two games since, they’ve surrendered a combined 16 points – and only one touchdown – and an average of 247 yards.
There was a lot that went into the first two defensive performances, including game flow and weather. The effort Monday was a showing of the Bears defense’s best form and a credit to all involved. Chicago had three takeaways in the win.
“We take a lot of pride in that,” said Bears rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, who hauled in his first career interception.
As Johnson handed out his game balls in the postgame locker room, he didn’t know if he’d have enough for all the individuals who played well on the Bears’ defense. So he handed one to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, whose group played at a high level once again.
After early concern, it’s clear the Bears defense can be a a key part of victories.
Extra points
--- Outside The Score studios Monday afternoon, there were chants of “E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!” echoing throughout downtown Chicago. That fan base always travels.
--- Keenum explained that he put his phone on a do-not-disturb setting this week, with only his wife and Johnson allowed to bypass it. “And I’ll let you guess who called more,” Keenum joked.
--- The Eagles’ touchdown in the final second of the first half – on a tush push dive by quarterback Jalen Hurts – was a heck of an effort and good execution as the clock counted toward zeroes. But Philadelphia’s offense was uninspiring throughout the rest of the game.
-- Three games in, veteran receiver Kalif Raymond is the Bears’ leading receiver with 19 receptions.
-- Bears left tackle Braxton Jones (knee) didn’t finish the game Monday and could be looking at an absence. That could open the door for second-year offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo to step back in to the starting role this week as he’s in the final stages of returning from a knee injury.
-- The Bears only got their rushing game going late, led by D’Andre Swift carrying 20 times for 84 yards. The Eagles defense was dialed in against the run, but Keenum beat them through the air.
-- Asked about Johnson’s faith in him, Keenum pointed to the continued emphasis on the passing game.
-- Soldier Field was buzzing throughout this game. That was a tremendous atmosphere.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
