Good morning, Bears fans!
Tell your friends around the NFL the Bears season is officially back on track, thanks to the Case Wagon. In the history of third-string quarterback wins, that one has to be way up there.
Headlines
Bears blow out Eagles on MNF Case Keenum threw for two scores and ran for another as the Bears brushed aside the Caleb Williams injury and moved to 2-1 on the season.
Defense records three takeaways Dillon Thieneman and TJ Edwards had interceptions while Austin Booker forced a fumble that Xavier Woods recovered. Meanwhile, the Bears offense didn’t turn the ball over once.
Kalif Raymond’s big game The wide receiver continued to make a big impact, catching six passes for 90 yards and a third-quarter touchdown that made it a two-score game.
Braxton Jones hurt The left tackle left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury.
Game Balls Keenum and Dennis Allen. Here’s the Good Better Best video if you didn’t stay up late enough.
Quotable
“I’m going to remember this night forever. This is incredible.”
Case Keenum
The Case Keenum Game
The most incredible thing about Case Keenum’s performance on Monday Night Football was that it may not have guaranteed him another start.
Bears coach Ben Johnson was non-committal when asked if Keenum would start against the New York Jets at Soldier Field on Sunday.
He also noted that Tyson Bagent was named QB2 “for a reason.”
After putting on a masterclass with a 38-year-old quarterback who hadn’t played in almost three years, one wonders if Johnson wants to prove he can do it with Bagent as well.
Johnson, after all, acknowledged that he’d heard talk during the week that he’d always had a No. 1 pick at his disposal, whether it was Jared Goff in Detroit or Caleb Williams here in Chicago.
But while it’s fun to think Johnson would be petty enough to try and win with two undrafted quarterbacks in as many weeks, the more likely explanation is the old code that an injury should never cost a football player his job.
And without a concussion suffered on last week’s final drive, who’s to say that Bagent isn’t the one making headlines against the Eagles?
The only thing we know for sure is that Keenum made the most of an unlikely opportunity. Locked in from the opening drive, Keenum completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
He added one score on the ground with a fourth-quarter plunge that gave the Bears their final 20-point margin.
Keenum didn’t turn the ball over either on a night when Eagles backup Andy Dalton threw one in the end zone during a brief cameo and starter Jalen Hurts threw another in the second half.
Not many thought Keenum had it in him, including yours truly. While I thought he’d be fine-ish, it was hard to see a 38-year-old perform that well after being on the shelf for so long.
But doubt Johnson’s gameplanning at your own peril. Freed from the awful weather that doomed last week’s game against Minnesota, Johnson dialed up an attack that got the ball out quickly and never exposed Keenum’s limitations.
Combine that with a stellar second-half performance from Dennis Allen’s defense and the Bears notched a victory in their first game during Caleb’s projected 3-4 week absence.
It’s still unclear when Williams will return, but Monday’s game may have shown there’s no reason to rush before he’s ready.
No matter who Ben decides to play.
Bears By 7 Postgame Show
Three Standout Stats
Keenum was 11-for-11 for 145 yards and two touchdowns against the blitz on Monday night. According to ESPN Insights, that’s “one shy of the most such completions with 100% accuracy since ESPN began tracking pass rushers in 2006”
Three quarterbacks in the history of the NFL have thrown multiple pass TDs and rushed for another in a 20+ point win: Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Keenum. 🤝 Greg Harvey
Eagles DT Jalen Carter didn’t record a single pressure, the first time he was shut out in a game with 26 or more pass rush snaps. 🤝 Ryan Fowler
Bears By 7 Member Game Takes
“‘That escalated’ … nicely!” - Andrea Szykowny
“It was great how the coaching staff created an offensive game plan to Case Keenum’s skills instead of forcing Case Keenum to be Caleb Williams!” - Chuck K.
“I can’t believe we have a coach like Ben Johnson. We just started our third-string quarterback and the offense didn’t skip a beat. Also, kudos to the defense. That was actual pressure being created during the second half. Keep it up.” - Greg Smith
Become a member to get a take in next Monday’s newsletter!
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Worth Your Time
• Steve Greenberg says that Tyson Bagent’s time can continue to wait. (Sun-Times)
• Case’s appearance with Scott Van Pelt was special. (Twitter)
• Khari Thompson said Dillon Thieneman’s first NFL interception couldn’t have come at a better time. (Windy City Gridiron)
Postgame Takeaways Column
Will hit for members later today.
Extra Point
Sexy time!