Case Keenum stepped back in time on Monday night and led the Chicago Bears to a 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The backup quarterback, making his first NFL start in almost three years, completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a one-yard touchdown on a 13-play drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock.
Caleb Williams sat out with a right hamstring injury, which pushed Keenum back into action. Keenum had last played in December 2023, when he started for Houston in a 36-22 loss to Cleveland. Tyson Bagent served as his backup after Keenum passed the NFL’s concussion protocol on Sunday.
Keenum’s First Drive Sets the Pace
Chicago’s opening drive ended with Keenum throwing a shovel pass to Luther Burden for an eight-yard touchdown. Later, he found Kalif Raymond wide open on a 41-yard touchdown in the second half.
Kalif Raymond had six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown. Chicago have won two and lost one game this season, bouncing back after an ugly 9-3 loss to Minnesota.
Hurts Struggles as the Eagles Turn Over the Ball
The Eagles entered this contest with a record of 2-1 this season, and they committed three turnovers while failing to force any takeaways for the third straight game to start their campaign.
Hurts completed 16 of his 25 pass attempts for 153 yards while throwing an interception, and Barkley gained 82 yards on 15 rushes.
Philadelphia’s Hurts took the team deep into Chicago territory during the second quarter, but he got hit hard by linebacker D’Marco Jackson near the sideline late in the period. He had to be removed from the field so doctors could check him for a possible concussion. With Hurts out, Andy Dalton came in to play backup quarterback. Just over six minutes before half-time, Dalton threw an interception caught by rookie Dillon Thieneman in the back of the end zone.
Hurts said he was waiting for clearance to go back in when Dalton turned it over. “I was just waiting for the thumbs up,” Hurts said. “I felt fine, we already checked it. I don’t know the extent of the process. Obviously, I wish we could have expedited things. I know I felt fine.”
The game opened with Hurts scoring on a quarterback sneak as time expired in the first half, though Chicago dominated the final two periods. He was intercepted by linebacker TJ Edwards late in the third quarter. Edwards also dropped a possible interception on third down during Philadelphia’s opening drive of the second half.
A Comeback Win Built on Patience
With seven minutes and 19 seconds remaining on the clock, Keenum capped a drive that highlighted his experience with a rushing touchdown. That coolness under pressure set the tone for the rest of the contest.
The win was a statement moment for a player who has spent his career getting knocked down and bouncing back. “To get a shot again like this? You dream of it,” Keenum said. “That’s why I’m still here doing this when I get knocked down. I got knocked down my whole career. I just keep getting up, coming to work, just keep bouncing back.”
Bears coach Ben Johnson praised Keenum’s command of the offense. “He [Keenum] knows where everyone is supposed to be on every single play and so he is really quick to recognise coverage,” Johnson said. “He knows why we’re calling the play and 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 playing that position in this league.”
Last season, Chicago managed just 24 first downs and 128 rushing yards against Philadelphia. The team recorded 28 first downs and 281 yards on the ground in a 24-15 victory at the Linc.
The Numbers Behind the Win
- Passing: Case Keenum, 24/34, 247 yards, two touchdowns
- Rushing: D’Andre Swift, 20 carries, 84 yards
- Receiving: Kalif Raymond, six receptions, 90 yards, one touchdown
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Passing: Jalen Hurts, 16/25, 153 yards, one interception
- Rushing: Saquon Barkley, 15 carries, 82 yards
- Receiving: DeVonta Smith, six receptions, 65 yards
The victory served as a reminder that football frequently comes down to timing, and Keenum discovered his at precisely the right moment. The rally depended on patience, accuracy and a determination to push through whatever the game threw at him.
See the video the story is built around at Sky Sports.
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