Bears Dominate Eagles 27-7 as Keenum Shines in First Start Since 2023

Keenum Delivers in First Start in Nearly Three Years

Case Keenum stepped into the starting lineup and delivered a vintage performance, helping the Chicago Bears cruise past the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 on Monday Night Football. Starting in place of Caleb Williams, who was sidelined by a right hamstring injury, Keenum completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

He also added a rushing touchdown, his first since 2019, as Chicago improved to 2-1 on the season. It was Keenum’s first start since 2023 and his first NFL action since starting for the Houston Texans in a 36-22 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 24, 2023. Tyson Bagent served as Keenum’s backup after clearing the NFL’s concussion protocol Sunday.

Bears Offense Controls the Game

Chicago opened the scoring on its first drive when Keenum capped a long possession with an 8-yard shovel pass touchdown to rookie Luther Burden. Keenum later connected with Kalif Raymond on a 41-yard touchdown pass, giving the Bears another explosive play and pushing their advantage to 20-7.

Raymond finished with six receptions for 90 yards and the touchdown, providing a major spark for a Chicago offense that was coming off an ugly 9-3 loss to Minnesota. Keenum put the game away with 7:19 remaining when he scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, capping a 13-play drive that consumed more than eight minutes.

The drive also featured a crucial fourth down play. On fourth-and-2 from the Philadelphia 39, Keenum drew an offsides penalty on Eagles defensive lineman Moro Ojomo to keep the possession alive. Chicago finished with 24 first downs and 128 rushing yards, consistently moving the chains while keeping Philadelphia’s offense off the field.

Eagles Struggle to Generate Offense

Philadelphia’s offense never found its rhythm against a Chicago defense that consistently made life difficult for Jalen Hurts. Hurts completed 16 of 25 passes for 153 yards, while Saquon Barkley rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries. The Eagles managed only 248 total yards, with just 62 coming after halftime.

Philadelphia also committed three turnovers and has failed to record a takeaway in each of its first three games. The Eagles had a chance to build momentum in the second quarter when Hurts drove the offense deep into Chicago territory. But Hurts took a late hit from linebacker D’Marco Jackson along the sideline and was removed from the game to be evaluated for a concussion.

Andy Dalton entered in his place and immediately faced a difficult situation. With 6:14 remaining in the first half, Dalton was intercepted by rookie Dillon Thieneman in the back of the end zone. Hurts said afterward that he was waiting to receive clearance to return when Dalton threw the interception. Hurts eventually returned and scored on a quarterback sneak as time expired in the first half, cutting Chicago’s lead to 13-7.

Chicago Defense Takes Control After Halftime

The Eagles’ offense had few answers after the break. Philadelphia lined up to go for it on fourth and 1 from its own 49 with roughly four minutes remaining in the third quarter, but Hurts was unable to draw Chicago offside. The Eagles then took a delay-of-game penalty before punting the ball away.

Hurts was intercepted by T.J. Edwards on a fourth-and-5 attempt from the Chicago 46 late in the third quarter, another missed opportunity for Philadelphia. Edwards had already come close to creating a turnover earlier in the half, dropping a potential interception on third down during Philadelphia’s opening possession of the second half.

From there, Chicago continued to control the game on both sides of the ball. The Bears ran effectively, sustained drives and prevented the Eagles from mounting a comeback.

Bears Bounce Back While Eagles Fall to 2-1

The victory was an important response for Chicago after its disappointing loss to Minnesota. The Bears had also defeated Philadelphia 24-15 in their previous meeting last season, when Chicago recorded 28 first downs and 281 rushing yards. Monday’s victory followed a similar formula, with Chicago controlling possession and establishing the running game while its defense kept the Eagles from making big plays.

For Keenum, the performance provided a strong answer after being called upon unexpectedly to start. With Williams unavailable, Keenum gave Chicago an efficient passing game, made plays with his legs and avoided the mistakes that could have allowed Philadelphia back into the contest. The Eagles, meanwhile, leave Monday night with questions on both sides of the ball after turning the ball over three times and failing to force a turnover for the third straight game.

Next Sunday Matchup

The Eagles will look to bounce back when they host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The Bears return home Sunday to face the New York Jets as they look to build on their 2-1 start.