First-string quarterback? He can rest up. Second-string quarterback? Didn’t need him.
All the Chicago Bears needed was their third-string quarterback. 38-year-old Case Keenum, who hadn’t started a game since Christmas Eve of 2023 — 1,009 days ago — to dominate the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Certainly wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card. Except maybe Scott Van Pelt’s.
THE LEADUP
The only way to describe the whiplash Bears fans went through from Week 1 to Week 2 would be like jumping off the peak of Mount Everest to the depths of the Mariana Trench.
In Week 1, the Bears dropped 59 points and it felt like anything was possible. In Week 2, they scored three points, and their franchise quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury. Anything is possible, but not in a good way.
Not to mention the fact that backup quarterback Tyson Bagent was in concussion protocol all week leading up to the game, meaning Case Keenum would be getting the start. It seemed like all Bears fans could do was just bide their time until Williams returned.
On the other sideline, the Philadelphia Eagles started the season 2-0, but didn’t feel like it. They barely came away with victories over the Commanders and Titans, leaving a lot to be desired from a talented team just two seasons removed from a Super Bowl.
This game presented an opportunity for the Eagles to bounce back with a side of vengeance. These two teams met last year in Philadelphia on Black Friday in a game the Bears had full control of from the opening kickoff. Running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai pounded the Eagles to submission in a 24-15 win.
This was their chance to silence doubters in front of a national audience and assert themselves as the same force to be reckoned with they’ve been for years.
They did not.
OFFENSE
Keenum sliced through the Eagles’ secondary like a thin-crust pizza en route to 247 yards and two passing touchdowns, even getting his first rushing touchdown since 2019. He also wasn’t sacked once against a vaunted Eagles front, a testament to how well his offensive line played.
His years of experience allowed him to get the ball out quickly to receivers who always seemed to be wide-open. The most notable being a 41-yard catch and run to Kalif Raymond for a third quarter score. A pass so deadly it made Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba touch grass.
Raymond led the team in receiving yards for the second time in three weeks with six receptions for 90 yards, showing off his reliability and underrated agility to find open gaps in a zone-heavy defense.
Receiver Luther Burden III scored his first touchdown of the year on a touch pass on Chicago’s opening drive. Fans hope he can develop into the star potential he showcased last year and in college at Mizzou.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) celebrates a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, September 28, 2026 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois (Patrick Gorski / Imagn-Images)
That being said, the passing game wasn’t all sunshine and air raids. Receiver Rome Odunze had an inexcusable drop in the endzone in the second quarter on a drive the Bears ultimately didn’t score. An absolute lollipop of a pass, but Odunze had butterfingers instead.
He’s had many issues with drops over his first few seasons and they don’t seem to be going away. Not what fans want to see from someone drafted in the top ten.
As far as the rushing attack goes, not much to say. Swift had 84 yards and Monangai only had 31. Not great, but enough to let Case Keenum, the real star of the show, do his thing.
DEFENSE
Not to be outshined by the performance of this defense. A unit that was gashed by the Panthers in Week 1 and heavily aided by rain in Week 2 against the Vikings needed to step up with the offense missing their centerpiece. Boy, did they.
Chicago Bears linebacker Devin Bush (12) celebrates a big tackle during the second quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, September 28, 2026 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois (Patrick Gorski / Imagn-Images)
They held an offense with Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Devonta Smith, Makai Lemon, and a talented offensive line to just seven points.
The only points they allowed were right at the first half’s death on a Hurts quarterback sneak that definitely took them off guard.
In the second half, they locked up and didn’t allow a single point, forcing the Eagles to go three-and-out on each of their first three drives.
They also had three takeaways on the night including Austin Booker punching the ball out of Eagles running back Tank Bigsby’s grasp, allowing defensive back Xavier Woods to recover.
T.J. Edwards also notched an interception in the fourth quarter, a little bit of his own revenge against his former team. Edwards was eavesdropping on Philadelphia’s huddle before the play which presumably helped him until he later told The Athletic that, “I had no idea what they were talking about.”
The most notable takeaway came in the second quarter, though. After Hurts was briefly knocked out of the game on a late hit by linebacker D’Marco Jackson, the “Red Rifle” Andy Dalton stepped into the game with the Eagles in the red zone.
After Barkley was stuffed twice at the goal line, the Eagles faced a third-and-goal from the 2. Dalton’s time to shine.
Unfortunately, the red rifle was as effective as a water gun and threw an interception in the end zone to rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, the first of his career.
Twelve plays, 95 yards, nearly eight minutes, just to end in a pick.
SPECIAL TEAMS
A clean operation with kicker Cairo Santos nailing both of his field goals. Punter Tory Taylor nearly had a phenomenal punt that pinned the Eagles at the 1, but yet another mistake by rookie tight end Sam Roush turned the play into a touchback.
GAME BALLS
Dennis Allen: For leading his defensive unit to three takeaways and holding the Philadelphia Eagles to seven points.
Case Keenum: For stepping up and winning his first start in years, playing very efficiently.
THE FUTURE
The Bears are staying home for the third week in a row as they take on the 1-2 New York Jets this Sunday. The Jets have looked more competitive than expected this season, narrowly losing to Chicago’s division rivals, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the past two weeks.
Keenum should get the start again, being the hot hand and all, and will look to repeat his success. While other backups might struggle to string together good performances, Keenum’s done this before. As he said himself, “I may not be a cowboy, but this ain’t my first rodeo.”
Stay tuned in with KRUI
Programming features, updates, special events, and more delivered right to you