Case Keenum has been around so long his college football career overlapped with Bears head coach Ben Johnson's for two seasons, in 2006 and 2007. Different schools. Different trajectories into the NFL. And now two decades later the 38yr old Keenum and the 40yr old Johnson are patting each other on the back in the Bears locker room at Soldier Field after delivering a winning game plan against the Eagles, 27-7.
'Yeah, it was special. It was really special." Keenum says
"He (Johnson) is the best play caller, play designer, game planner I've been around. And really it was fun to do it at this stage in my career where I see the game a lot like him. Being able to execute it like he sees it tonight means a lot."
Subbing for Caleb Williams, who's hamstring injury is expected to keep him out another three to four weeks, Keenum completes a laser accurate 71-percent of his passes (24-34) for 247 yards and 2 TD's, plus 1 TD run. No sacks. No interceptions. Johnson had a strong feeling Keenum was more than prepared for primetime.
"The night before the game we always do our quarterback meeting and he ran the show." Johnson says.
"The coaching staff kind of took a back seat. There were no reminders from us, he was just going through the list over every single play that was on the plan. That right there is a good indicator of what it is going to look like on game day and we needed him to play that well."
The 38 years old, 15 year veteran Keenum was playing in his first game in nearly three years (December 2023). On their opening drive he completed an eight yard shovel pass TD to Luther Burden with a little tush push into the endzone, and late in the third quarter landed a 41 yard catch-and-run dart to Khalif Raymond to put the home team ahead by 13 points.
"This week asked for that particular play me and case worked after practice." Raymond says.
"He (Case) goes, 'Hey man, if we get a certain look, certain things happen, it is coming to you.' and certain things started happening!"
Raymond comes down with six grabs for 90 yards.
Cairo Santos connects on both of his field goal attempts.
The Bears offense outplays the Eagles on all fronts. More 1st downs; 24-14. More total yards; 375-248. More total plays; 69-47. More time of poss 36:53 to 23:07.
The Bears Defense gets 3 turnovers including interceptions from T.J. Edwards and Dillon Thieneman, the first of the rookie's career.
"So I saw that first over coming and I was like, 'a second one is most likely coming.'" Thineman says.
"One goes in and another one is going to come in. So I was waiting in that second window and the ball was just right there."
Thienamen and the Bears "D" neutralize Eagles QB Jalen Hurts with a pair of sacks and an interception.
"I'm in my office after the game trying to highlight, OK, 'who stood out and just had a monster game on defense?'" Johnson says.
"It is hard to say just one guy did it. It felt like the whole unit that second half, they were flying around."
Over the last two games the Bears have allowed only 16 points.
Johnson is not saying yet if Keenum will start again when the (2-1) Bears play next, hosting the (1-2) Jets at Soldier Field Sunday at Noon.
