Case Keenum walked into a brutal spot on Monday night and turned it into one of the Bears’ most unforgettable wins in years.
The 38-year-old third-string quarterback stepped in for the injured Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent, then guided Chicago to a 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. On Monday Night Football, Keenum looked calm, sharp, and far more comfortable than anyone could have reasonably expected in his first start for the Bears.
He finished 24 of 34 for 247 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He also added four carries for six yards and punched in a one-yard touchdown in the second half to help put the game away.
What stood out most was how he handled constant heat. The Eagles were getting plenty of pressure on him all night, but Keenum kept finding ways to stay upright, work through the pocket, and deliver throws with bodies flying around him.
He is a pocket passer by nature, and that showed in the best possible way. Even with defenders closing in and his footing disrupted, he kept firing accurately.
That accuracy was the engine of the whole night. Keenum made plenty of throws with a hand in his face or while fading off his back foot, and he still put the ball where it needed to be. For a quarterback in that kind of situation, that’s as impressive as it gets.
He also distributed the ball well. Colston Loveland finally got involved with four catches and nearly came down with a touchdown if he had stretched a little farther. Kalif Raymond and Luther Burden III were especially important targets, combining for 13 of Chicago’s 24 receptions.
The Bears did not lean on the ground game for much help. Chicago averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, which left a lot on Keenum’s shoulders. He took that challenge and delivered.
It wasn’t flawless, though. There were probably three or four throws that sailed on him and could have turned into interceptions in the wrong spot. One low pass nearly ended up in the hands of Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba, but Philadelphia corner Riq Woolen was flagged on the play anyway.
Even with those shaky moments, this was the kind of performance that deserves to be remembered. Keenum came in cold, took over as a starter for the first time in three years, and did it against a strong Eagles defense on a national stage. He made it look easy, and in the process, he carved out a place in Bears lore.
In Other News...
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
Conner Weigmans debut stretch at Houston is already drawing national attention, and the senior quarterback picked up two weekly honors after powering the Cougars past Georgia Southern. He landed on the Manning Award Stars of the Week and the Davey OBrien Great Eight lists, recognition that comes on the heels of one of the most productive outings of his college career.
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 🡒]