38-year-old backup Case Keenum leads Bears to 27-7 win over Eagles
Case Keenum led the Chicago Bears to a 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Monday night's NFL game, throwing two touchdown passes and adding a rushing score. He completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards.
The 38-year-old was making his first start in almost three years and it was his first action since he started for Houston in a 36-22 loss to Cleveland on Christmas Eve 2023. Caleb Williams was sidelined by a right hamstring injury for the game, and Tyson Bagent served as Keenum’s backup after Keenum cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol on Sunday. The Bears improved to 2-1 with the win and Philadelphia fell to 2-1.
Keenum opened Chicago’s scoring with a shovel pass to Luther Burden on the team’s first drive for an eight-yard touchdown. In the second half he connected on a 41-yard touchdown to a wide-open Kalif Raymond, and Keenum finished the game with a one-yard rushing touchdown with 7:19 remaining that capped a 13-play drive lasting more than eight minutes.
Raymond finished with six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown as the Bears bounced back from a 9-3 loss to Minnesota in Week 2. Keenum’s passing totals were 24 of 34 for 247 yards, with the two touchdown throws accounting for Chicago’s bulk of the scoring.
Philadelphia committed three turnovers and, for the third consecutive game to begin the season, failed to record a takeaway. Jalen Hurts completed 16 of 25 passes for 153 yards and threw an interception; Saquon Barkley carried 15 times for 82 yards.
Trailing 7-0 in the second quarter, Hurts drove Philadelphia deep before absorbing a late hit by linebacker D’Marco Jackson along the sideline and was removed for a concussion check. Backup Andy Dalton was intercepted by rookie Dillon Thieneman in the back of the end zone during that sequence; Hurts returned and scored on a quarterback sneak as time expired in the first half, after which Chicago controlled the final two periods to close out the victory.
The win came in Keenum’s 14th NFL season and with the Bears becoming his eighth franchise. Speaking after the game, Keenum said: “I really don’t have any words, there’s so much emotion,” and added, “Man, these guys I play with in this locker room are incredible … It was so much fun … Just an incredible opportunity, I love this city. This Texas boy loves Chicago. It’s a cool spot.” He also noted the personal significance of playing with his children in the stands: “We kept it exciting for them, I’m going to have fun watching the game with them tomorrow on the couch, or probably just Bluey,” said Keenum. “It’s so special, I love my family.”
The result moved Chicago to 2-1 on the season while Philadelphia dropped to 2-1.