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Case Keenum leads the Bears past the Eagles 27-7
Chicago, IllinoisPublished 29 Sep 2026
Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Case Keenum, starting for the injured Caleb Williams, threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as Chicago beat previously unbeaten Philadelphia 27-7 at Soldier Field.
The Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 on Monday night at Soldier Field. Third-string quarterback Case Keenum, starting in place of injured Caleb Williams, completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns and scored on a short run. Philadelphia turned the ball over three times.
Case Keenum Drives Chicago to 3 Touchdowns as the Bears Beat the Eagles 27-7
Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026
Facts
The score capped a 13-play drive that took more than eight minutes.
The Eagles failed to record a takeaway for the third consecutive game.
The Eagles lined up to go for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 49 with about four minutes left in the third quarter.
Jalen Hurts was unable to draw an offside flag.
The Eagles took a delay-of-game penalty before punting.
T.J. Edwards dropped a potential interception on third down on Philadelphia's first drive of the second half.
Philadelphia was trailing 7-0.
The rushing score was Case Keenum's seventh career rushing touchdown.
Jalen Hurts said he was waiting for clearance when Andy Dalton turned it over.
Chicago finished with 24 first downs.
Jalen Hurts said he was waiting for the thumbs-up.
Chicago finished with 128 yards rushing.
Jalen Hurts said he felt fine and that the check was already done.
Jalen Hurts said he does not know the extent of the process.
Zach Ertz had one reception for 9 yards in his first game of the season.
Braxton Jones left with 10:22 left in the third because of a knee injury.
Zach Ertz was signed to the team's practice squad last week.
The 35-year-old Zach Ertz spent his first eight-plus seasons with the Eagles and made three Pro Bowls.
Kalif Raymond was shaken up on a punt return with 3:12 left in the third and returned.
Cam Lewis had a hip injury.
Opinion
The Associated Press said Case Keenum was on target and on time all night.
The Associated Press said the Bears' third-string quarterback is pretty good.
Nick Sirianni said everyone has to own that loss.
Nick Sirianni said he does not think anybody coached well.
Nick Sirianni said he does not think anyone played well.
Nick Sirianni called it a true team loss.
Nick Sirianni said he has to look at himself first.
Nick Sirianni said he liked the decision to go for it on fourth-and-5.
Nick Sirianni said in hindsight he should have gone for it on fourth-and-1 1/2.
Kalif Raymond called Case Keenum poised, calm, and a guy having fun.
Kalif Raymond said Case Keenum was having fun and loves the game.
Jalen Hurts said he wished the check could have been expedited.
The Associated Press said Chicago controlled the final two periods.
QB3 Case Keenum, Bears defense shock Eagles in MNF rout
Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026
Facts
1,009 days had passed since Case Keenum started a regular-season game.
Case Keenum was 11 of 11 for 145 yards and two touchdowns against the blitz.
The takeaways included two interceptions of Jalen Hurts passes.
Case Keenum left 4-0 as a starter against Vic Fangio defenses.
Case Keenum made throws to Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland.
That tied for the fourth-most completions without an incompletion in 20 years of ESPN blitz tracking.
Kalif Raymond said Case Keenum told teammates this was not his first rodeo.
Chicago's takeaway total is 39 since the start of last season, most in the NFL.
This is the Bears' eighth game with at least three takeaways since Dennis Allen was hired in 2025, most in the NFL in that span.
The Bears are 8-0 in those games.
Against Carolina in Week 1 the Bears rushed for 291 yards, 7.5 per attempt.
Since then the Bears averaged 4.3 yards per rush against Minnesota and 3.7 against the Eagles.
One of the turnovers was by Andy Dalton in the first half.
The Bears scored two rushing touchdowns on the ground against Philadelphia last November.
Jalen Hurts has 15 interceptions on Monday Night Football, the most since 2020.
Jalen Hurts led the Eagles to wins against the Commanders and Titans in the first two weeks.
Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith were animated on the sideline after Hurts' third-quarter interception.
Zack Baun allowed five catches for 86 yards and a touchdown on six targets, per NextGen Stats.
The Eagles matched the number of penalties they accumulated over the first two games.
Opinion
ESPN said Case Keenum showed no rust.
ESPN said the passing game looked terrific.
ESPN said the offense thrived with Case Keenum instead of only staying afloat without Caleb Williams.
Kalif Raymond said there was a lot of confidence in Case Keenum and that Keenum had confidence in himself.
Kalif Raymond said the team did not expect anything different from Case Keenum.
ESPN said the defense got handled in a troubling performance on both sides of the ball.
ESPN said Chicago still pulled off an impressive win without that run-game help.
ESPN said the assignment was supposed to be easier against a third-string quarterback.
ESPN called it a dud of a performance.
ESPN said Jalen Hurts struggled to find a rhythm against Chicago.
ESPN said the Eagles' defense has been unusually leaky through three weeks, particularly over the middle.
38-year-old Case Keenum shines as Bears demolish Eagles: 'As a kid you dream about it'
Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026
Facts
Case Keenum became the oldest Bears player to score a rushing touchdown, at 38 years and 223 days, passing Dave Krieg's mark of 38 years and 49 days.
Case Keenum added four runs for six yards.
Case Keenum averaged 12.4 yards per attempt against the blitz and 9.9 yards per attempt when pressured.
Case Keenum's 14-year NFL career has included the Minneapolis Miracle.
The Bears aligned under center on 58.0% of offensive plays, their highest rate since Week 14 of 2025, per Next Gen Stats.
From under center the Bears averaged 6.9 yards per play, with a 46.2% rushing success rate and an 85.7% passing success rate.
Ben Johnson declined to say who would start in Week 4 against the Jets.
Opinion
NFL.com said Case Keenum dusted off a gunslinger persona.
NFL.com called the win resounding.
NFL.com called that sort of night remarkable.
NFL.com said Case Keenum was nearly flawless, getting the ball to the right target on time.
NFL.com said Case Keenum washed out as a regular starter.
NFL.com said Case Keenum has always had the smarts and arm to get the ball where it needed to go.
Ben Johnson said the Bears needed Case Keenum to play that well because the run game was off schedule for three quarters.
NFL.com said Monday showed Case Keenum was a perfect distributor in Ben Johnson's offense.
NFL.com said the Bears had Vic Fangio's defense running in circles.
NFL.com said Philadelphia stymied the run for three quarters and Case Keenum's quick throws bled the defense.
NFL.com said Case Keenum got away with a couple of throws that can be set aside after three years away.
Ben Johnson said Case Keenum tackled the week with enthusiasm and that the Bears have one of the best quarterback rooms.
Ben Johnson said the night reflected that quarterback room.
NFL.com said Case Keenum was particularly good when Vic Fangio brought pressure.
NFL.com said the 38-year-old's familiarity with Ben Johnson's offense showed.
Ben Johnson said Vic Fangio threw a lot at Case Keenum.
NFL.com said the Bears did it with seeming ease against an NFC contender.
NFL.com said Chicago is not fretting about who gets the start.
The Case Keenum Game: 3 Takeaways From Bears
Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026
Facts
Case Keenum threw touchdown passes to Luther Burden and Kalif Raymond.
New York traded a fifth-round pick to acquire quarterback J.J.
The Vikings are 3-0.
The Lions are 2-1.
The list includes the Texans and the Rams in both St. Louis and Los Angeles.
The Bears then face a bigger test at Green Bay in Week 5.
The Commanders got their first win Sunday, upsetting the Seahawks.
The Cowboys are 1-2.
That Bears defense gave up 37 points to Carolina two weeks ago.
The first half had two and nearly three drives that reached the 1 and did not produce points.
Saquon Barkley did not get into the end zone for a third game in a row.
The Eagles then drove to the 1-yard line.
The Eagles also have a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Giants and Eagles play in Philadelphia in Week 9 and at MetLife in Week 18.
Saquon Barkley was dropped for a 1-yard loss.
With no timeouts and 11 seconds left, Jalen Hurts's pass to DeVonta Smith was stopped at the 1.
There were 81 drives of 90 yards or longer last year, and only five failed to yield points.
Before Monday, the Eagles' last 11 drives of 90-plus yards had all been touchdowns.
Two of those failed long drives came against Chicago, including a Dak Prescott interception.
Opinion
FOX Sports said Case Keenum played nearly flawless football.
FOX Sports said the Bears needed Case Keenum to provide a steady presence.
FOX Sports said Case Keenum delivered, and then some.
FOX Sports called that answer a resounding yes.
FOX Sports said the game tested whether Ben Johnson could get a big win with a backup quarterback.
FOX Sports said the Bears are keeping pace in the NFC North.
FOX Sports said the Cowboys have the highest-scoring offense and defense in the division.
FOX Sports said Philadelphia's offensive woes continued on Monday.
FOX Sports said the Giants could be alone atop the NFC East entering Week 6.
FOX Sports said the Eagles nearly did it again just before halftime.
FOX Sports said it did not look like Jalen Hurts would have gotten a spike off in time.
FOX Sports asked how rare it is to drive 90-plus yards and not score.
Game Recap: Case Keenum, defense lead Bears to dominant victory over Eagles
Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026
Facts
The defense held Jalen Hurts to a 64.2 passer rating.
The drive was 11 plays and 66 yards.
On third-and-2, Luther Burden scored on a shovel pass with a push from Braxton Jones.
Those completions gained 45 yards.
Xavier Woods recovered at the Philadelphia 15.
Case Keenum hit Colston Loveland for an apparent 6-yard touchdown.
The Eagles marched from their own 3 to the Bears' 1.
The Bears' defense got a takeaway on the Eagles' second possession.
The defense stopped Saquon Barkley on back-to-back runs.
Ben Johnson said he thought the play was only going to get a first down.
Cairo Santos kicked a 29-yard field goal.
The kick made it 10-0 with 1:52 left in the second quarter.
The drive was 8 plays and 62 yards.
The Bears outscored the Eagles 17-0 in the second half.
Case Keenum had completed 5 of 7 passes for 75 yards on that possession.
Dillon Thieneman said the Eagles ran an over and he was waiting for another receiver.
T.J. Edwards had three pass breakups.
Five teammates had at least five tackles.
Case Keenum said that is a play they work on and the moment was huge.
Opinion
Ben Johnson said the way the defense played in the second half was extraordinary.
Ben Johnson said it felt like Philadelphia moved the ball in a first half that produced only seven points.
Ben Johnson said the line finishing and pushing the pile showed the offense's identity.
The Bears' site said the team played complementary football.
Ben Johnson said it was hard to single out one defender.
Ben Johnson called the sneak a Mike Martz special.
Ben Johnson said he was proud of the whole team.
The Bears' site called the win dominant.
Monday Night Football: Case Keenum, Bears beat Eagles 27-7
Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026
Facts
It was Case Keenum's 67th career start.
Luther Burden added seven catches for 61 yards.
The Bears outgained the Eagles 375 yards to 248.
The Bears held the ball for 36:53.
Those possessions gained 12 yards.
It was rookie Dillon Thieneman's first career interception.
DeVonta Smith caught six passes for 65 yards.
The Eagles committed 10 penalties, including four on defense.
Opinion
ProFootballTalk said the Bears dominated the Eagles without Caleb Williams.
ProFootballTalk called it a blowout.
ProFootballTalk said the Eagles shot themselves in the cleat all night.
Case Keenum puts on masterful performance with on Caleb Williams sidelines for MNF
Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026
Facts
One quarterback threw an interception, threw no touchdowns, and had a 64.2 rating.
Tyson Bagent missed most of the week with a concussion.
Ben Johnson called and pitched Case Keenum on mentoring Caleb Williams.
The Eagles came in as one of six teams still unbeaten.
Case Keenum's career included stops in eight cities over 12 years.
That drive included a 16-yard pass to Sam Roush on fourth down.
Pro Football Reference rated that defense fifth-best against the pass.
On the next series Case Keenum was 4 for 4.
Back-to-back 12-yard completions set up a 48-yard Cairo Santos field goal.
Opinion
USA Today said Case Keenum put on one of the more masterful performances of his career on a night he had every excuse to struggle.
USA Today said Case Keenum outplayed Jalen Hurts.
USA Today asked which passer was the Super Bowl MVP from two seasons ago and which was the 38-year-old in his first game since 2023.
USA Today said the win gives the Bears confidence they will be fine until Caleb Williams returns.
USA Today said Case Keenum was ready to retire two years ago.
USA Today said almost no one expected Case Keenum to play except maybe in mop-up time.
USA Today said the injuries changed that plan.
USA Today said Ben Johnson expressed confidence in Case Keenum all week and almost no one else did.
USA Today said Case Keenum was in control from the first series.
USA Today said Case Keenum did not try to do too much and was not only a game manager.
USA Today said Case Keenum stepped on the gas in the third quarter.
USA Today said no one will clamor for Case Keenum to take Caleb Williams's job.
USA Today said Caleb Williams is a former No. 1 pick with generational skills and improving field vision.
USA Today said Caleb Williams is the Bears' present and future.
USA Today said Chicago needs this not to be a lost season by the time Caleb Williams returns, and that Case Keenum showed he can make that happen.
