Nobody gave the Chicago Bears a chance on Monday night — except, apparently, Case Keenum. The 38-year-old third-string quarterback threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Bears stunned the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 at Soldier Field on Monday Night Football, per Reuters.
It was Keenum’s first NFL start since December 2023, and he made it count: 24-for-34 passing, no interceptions, a 110.8 passer rating, and a place in NFL history. Per NBC Sports, Keenum joined Ryan Fitzpatrick as the only quarterbacks to win starts for seven different NFL teams.
The Case Keenum Game
Keenum was Chicago’s seventh NFL team to enjoy a win he led — and what a win it was. The veteran journeyman was thrust into the starting job for this Week 3 prime-time game after franchise quarterback Caleb Williams went down with a strained hamstring and backup Tyson Bagent suffered a concussion in Week 2. Even after Bagent cleared the league’s concussion protocol on Sunday, September 27, his lack of preparation time through the week led the Bears to stick with Keenum as their starter.
All he did was ball out. Keenum shined on an efficient opening drive, going 5-for-6 for 45 yards and an 8-yard scoring pass to Luther Burden III. He later added a 41-yard touchdown strike to Kalif Raymond, who finished with six catches for 90 yards. His 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter — his first rushing TD since 2019 — sealed the 20-point margin.
“Oh my gosh. Playing well any time in your career feels good,” Keenum said after the game, via USA Today. “To do it on ‘Monday Night Football,’ after you thought you weren’t ever going to play again — multiple times — golly. This is special. It’s really special.”
Bears Defense Dominates the Eagles
While Keenum ran head coach Ben Johnson’s offense with veteran calm, the Chicago defense did the rest. The Bears forced three takeaways and never let Philadelphia find a rhythm. The Eagles, down 10-7 at halftime, punted on their first three possessions of the third quarter, gaining just 7 yards as the Bears pushed the lead to 20-7.
The backbreaker came with 27 seconds left in the third period. Philadelphia drove into Bears territory and faced fourth-and-5 from the Chicago 46 — and T.J. Edwards intercepted Jalen Hurts. Earlier, Andy Dalton had briefly replaced Hurts after the starter was pulled for a concussion check, and Dalton threw an interception into the end zone from the 2-yard line — rookie Dillon Thieneman’s first career pick. Tank Bigsby also lost a fumble that set Chicago up at the Eagles’ 15.
Hurts finished 16-for-25 for 153 yards and an interception with a 64.2 passer rating, adding a rushing touchdown on a tush push as time expired in the first half — Philadelphia’s only score. Saquon Barkley gained 82 yards on 15 carries, and DeVonta Smith had six receptions for 65 yards. The Eagles committed 10 penalties, were 2-of-9 on third downs, and never led at any point.
Both Teams Now 2-1
The Bears outgained the Eagles 375-248 and held the ball for 36:53, dominating in a way few expected from a team starting its third-string quarterback. Chicago took the lead on its first possession and never gave it up, scoring 17 straight points after the Eagles’ second-quarter touchdown.
For Philadelphia, the loss exposed real concerns. The offensive line committed four defensive penalties, the team was sloppy across all three phases, and the second-half offense managed just 62 yards. At 2-1, the Eagles remain in the thick of the NFC race, but this was a night to forget.
For Chicago, the question is what comes next. Keenum’s performance will almost certainly draw trade inquiries from quarterback-needy teams, and head coach Ben Johnson’s play-calling drew rave reviews for its creativity. Whether Keenum holds the job while Williams recovers remains the week’s biggest storyline — but on Monday night, none of that mattered. The 38-year-old journeyman had the game of his life under the lights.
For more NFL coverage, see our recap of the Ravens’ walk-off field goal win over the Cowboys.
FAQs
What was the final score of Bears vs. Eagles?
The Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Soldier Field in Week 3 Monday Night Football.
What were Case Keenum’s stats vs. the Eagles?
Case Keenum went 24-for-34 for 247 yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions, plus a 1-yard rushing touchdown. It was his first NFL start since December 2023 and his 67th career start.
Why was Case Keenum starting for the Bears?
Starter Caleb Williams is out with a strained hamstring, and backup Tyson Bagent was recovering from a concussion. Bagent cleared protocol on September 27 but lacked practice reps, so Chicago stuck with Keenum.
What is the Bears’ and Eagles’ record after the game?
Both teams moved to 2-1 on the 2026 season. The Bears improved to 2-1 while the Eagles fell to 2-1 after the 27-7 result.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.