.Chicago, Illinois - Perhaps the biggest upset of this NFL season occurred last night in Chicago. With the Super Bowl contenders Philadelphia Eagles on one side, the Chicago Bears were forced to field their third-ranked quarterback, 38-year-old Case Keenum. But no one expected this compulsion to turn into a memorable victory. Led by a brilliant performance from Keenum, the Bears defeated the Eagles 27-7 on Monday Night Football. The game was played on the night of September 28th at Soldier Field, Chicago.
This wasn't just a victory, it was a story—the story of a veteran who was forgotten, but who proved everyone wrong by returning 1,009 days later.
Why did Keenum get a chance? The Bears are in a fix
This season has been full of injuries for the Bears. Their star quarterback and No. 1 pick in the 2024 Draft, Caleb Williams, is out with a hamstring injury. His backup, Tyson Bagent, who was impressive last season, also suffered a concussion. Bagent had cleared concussion protocol on Sunday, but head coach Ben Johnson said he wasn't fully prepared for the game plan.
So the team had to look to their QB3, Case Keenum. Keenum, currently one of the NFL's oldest quarterbacks, made his last start on December 24, 2023, when he played for the Houston Texans and lost 36-22 to the Cleveland Browns. From that day until last night - a gap of *1009 days*. Playing against a team like the Eagles on Monday Night at the age of 38, without a start for so long, is a lot of pressure for any player.
How Keenum created a stir - you'll be stunned after reading the stats.
But Keenum didn't let the pressure get to him. He played as if he had been playing with this team for years.
Check out his stats:
Passing: 24 of 34 pass completions, 247 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Rushing: 6 yards, 1 rushing touchdown
His rushing touchdown came in the 4th quarter, when he dived into the end zone on 3rd-and-goal. This was his first rushing touchdown since 2019.
- By achieving this feat at this age, he became the *oldest player in Bears history* to score a rushing TD – 38 years and 223 days.
- According to NFL Research, he became one of only six quarterbacks in NFL history to have 240+ passing yards, 2+ passing TDs, and 1+ rushing TD in a single game at the age of 38. This list includes legends like *Tom Brady, Drew Brees, John Elway, Doug Flutie, and Fran Tarkenton*.
Most notably, when the Eagles' defense blitzed, i.e., created pressure by sending in too many players, Keenum became even more dangerous. Against the blitz, he completed 11 of 11 passes, for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns. That means he turned the Eagles' biggest strength into their weakness.
Coach Ben Johnson also praised him highly. This was the first time Johnson called plays for a backup quarterback. After the win, he even took a slight jab at Detroit QB Jared Goff, with whom he has worked before.
Defense Also Showed Power
This victory wasn't just due to Keenum. The Bears' defense also completely shut down the Eagles. They held the Eagles to just 248 total yards, while the Bears generated 375. The Bears also led in time of possession – they had the ball for nearly 37 minutes.
Eagles star QB Jalen Hurts was poor - 16/25, just 153 yards, and 3 takeaways. The Bears' defense gave up the ball 3 times. In the entire game, the Bears committed only 5 penalties, while the Eagles committed 12. This means the Bears appeared to be a more disciplined and better-coached team.
Emotional Family Angle - First Time in Front of Children
This victory was made even more memorable by Keenum's family perspective. Speaking to ESPN's Laura Rutledge after the match, Keenum said it was the first time his two young children were watching him play live in the stadium.
He said, "I hope he was awake. I hope he didn't fall asleep there. We kept it exciting for him. Tomorrow I'll sit on the couch with him and watch the game, or maybe just Bluey. He'll probably say, 'We've seen it once, Dad.'"
He also thanked his wife, Kimberly, "This is very special. I love my family, my wife, Kimberly. She's been here the whole trip. I wouldn't be here without her."
What's next? Will Keenum be the starter?
The biggest question after this win is whether Case Keenum will remain the starter. The answer is no. Reports indicate that Tyson Bagent will be QB2 until Caleb Williams is fully fit, but he will become QB1 once Williams is fit. He is the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Draft and the future of the franchise.
But this win proved one thing: why the Bears have Keenum as their third QB. When you have to call on your third QB, you expect him to minimize the damage. But Keenum didn't just dodge the damage, he delivered the win. The Bears' record became 2-1, and the Eagles' was 2-1.
The greatest moment of Keenum's career remains the Minneapolis Miracle, when he led the Vikings to a miraculous victory in 2017. But losing to the Eagles on Monday Night, 1009 days after the start of the season, at the age of 38, is a chapter in his story that will always be remembered.
