A Veteran Takes the Field
The Chicago Bears have made their choice for Monday Night Football. Veteran quarterback Case Keenum will start against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to reports. This decision comes after backup Tyson Bagent cleared the concussion protocol but missed most of the week’s practice time. Starter Caleb Williams sits out with a grade 1 hamstring injury that will keep him on the sidelines for several weeks. Since 2023, Keenum, who is 38 years old, has not started a regular-season game. He brings 66 career starts to this assignment, but it marks his first time leading Ben Johnson’s offense.
The Eagles defense spent the week preparing for three different quarterbacks. Now they know exactly who stands behind the center. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told reporters that the team is focusing on the scheme rather than the player. “We’re preparing for Chicago’s offense,” Fangio said. He remarked that their offense will not change much schematically, so that is the focus of preparation. This approach suggests the Eagles do not expect a major shift in strategy just because the starter changed.
A History of Losses
Keenum faces a daunting task given his past results against Philadelphia. Yahoo Sports reports that Keenum holds a 0-2 career record against the Eagles. His first start against them happened during the 2018 NFC Championship game. That was an enormous stage where the Vikings needed a win to reach the Super Bowl. The Eagles dominated that game to the tune of 38-7. Keenum threw for 271 yards and a touchdown, but he also tossed two interceptions. The Eagles already held total control of the game when most of his yards were gained.
His second start came in Week 1 of the 2019 season while he played for the Washington Commanders. In that matchup, Keenum actually delivered a very productive performance. He threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Despite those strong numbers, it was not enough to win. The Eagles pulled out a 32-27 victory to start their season. Carson Wentz threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns for Philadelphia in that contest. On Monday night, the Eagles aim to ensure Keenum moves to 0-3 against them.
The Run Game Factor
While Keenum is the main story, the Bears running game remains a key threat. Chicago has averaged 212.5 rushing yards through their first two games. An experienced quarterback can be shielded from tough passing scenarios by their running backs. The Eagles defense faces a different dynamic because Keenum is less apt than Williams to scramble on broken plays. However, the Eagles cannot assume Chicago will abandon its strengths. They must stop the run to force Keenum into obvious passing downs.
Bagent will serve as the backup if Keenum cannot finish the game. His clearance gives Chicago an available option behind the starter. The Eagles are currently 4.5-point road favorites on FanDuel. This line moved briefly when news broke about Bagent’s clearance but has since moved back.
