Case Keenum walked into a difficult spot and left with one of the most memorable starts in Bears history.
The 38-year-old third-string quarterback stepped in for the injured Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent and helped Chicago cruise past the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 in Week 3 on Monday Night Football. Keenum finished 24 of 34 for 247 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, then added four carries for six yards and a one-yard rushing touchdown in the second half to help put the game away.
What made the night stand out wasn’t just the numbers. Philadelphia got steady pressure on Keenum throughout the game, but he kept finding ways to stay composed in the pocket, absorb contact and still deliver throws. For a quarterback whose game is built around timing and rhythm more than mobility, that mattered.
His accuracy held up even with bodies around him. Keenum kept making throws with pressure in his face and his base disrupted, and he was able to work the back foot effectively against the Eagles’ pass rush.
He also did a good job spreading the ball around. Colston Loveland got involved with four catches and nearly came down with a touchdown if he had stretched out for it. Kalif Raymond and Luther Burden III were the main targets, combining for 13 of Chicago’s 24 receptions.
The Bears didn’t give Keenum much help on the ground for most of the night, either. Chicago averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, which put even more on his shoulders. He handled it.
There were a few throws he would probably want back. Three or four balls sailed on him and could have turned into trouble if they landed in the wrong place. On one low throw, Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba nearly came away with an interception, but the play was wiped out by a penalty on Eagles corner Riq Woolen.
Even with those blemishes, the overall body of work was strong enough to draw plenty of praise. Keenum was thrust into a starting role for the first time in three years, on national television, against a tough Eagles defense, and he made it look almost effortless. That kind of debut is the sort of thing Bears fans won’t forget anytime soon.
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Houston Finally Has A Big 12 Opportunity Fans Can Feel
Houstons climb into the AP top 20 after beating Georgia Southern has given the program something it has been waiting on since joining the Big 12: a chance to play the role of a real league contender with the rankings to back it up. The comparison to the 2021 season is hard to miss, but this version feels different because the Cougars have paired strong playmakers with a roster that has, for the most part, backed up the buzz with results.
The next stretch will say a lot about how real this opportunity is, especially with No. 19 Oklahoma State waiting on the schedule. Houstons pass defense remains the clearest concern, and in a league this deep, one vulnerable spot can quickly turn a promising run into a stressful one. If the Cougars are going to keep this momentum rolling, they will have to prove the ranking is a sign of something sturdier than a hot start. [Read more 🡒]
Conner Weigman Is Turning Houstons Hot Start Into Something Bigger
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Weigman was efficient and explosive all at once, completing 17 of 22 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns through the air while adding two more scores on the ground. For Houston, the bigger takeaway is what the hot start suggests about the ceiling of an offense that has quickly found a rhythm behind its new leader. [Read more 🡒]
UCFs Big 12 Road Suddenly Looks Tougher Than Fans Expected
Houston finished out its non-conference slate with a 42-28 win over Georgia Southern, and the payoff was more than just a clean exit from September. The Cougars moved up from No. 25 to No. 20 in the AP poll, a sign that the early momentum is starting to carry real weight as they turn fully toward league play.
For UCF, the Big 12 road now looks a little steeper than it did a week ago. Oklahoma States 41-24 win over West Virginia pushed the Cowboys into the Top 25, while Georgia State answered its loss to UCF by beating Northern Illinois 35-14 behind a strong showing from quarterback Taron Dickens. The early results around the conference are starting to sort contenders from hopefuls, and the Knights are about to find out how much margin they really have. [Read more 🡒]