Follow-up · Bears 27, Eagles 7
He carried it anyway
We said Case Keenum would not have to carry the Bears. The backs ran for 3.7 a carry and Keenum accounted for three touchdowns. Two of our three reasons held. The backfield did not.
Bears 27, Eagles 7
Grading the preview: The journeyman gets the keys
The calls, graded
- MissKeenum does not have to carry the offense; Swift and Monangai do.Bears ran 35 times for 128 yards (3.7 a carry); Swift 20 for 84, Monangai 10 for 31, no running-back touchdown.
- HitBen Johnson’s trust makes Keenum more than a caretaker: an efficient, mistake-free night.24 of 34 (71%), 247 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 0 sacks.
- HitKeenum stays unbeaten and interception-free against Vic Fangio’s defenses.Won 27-7 with 0 interceptions. Now 4-0 against Fangio defenses.
These were argued as factors in the preview, not stated as predictions.
The result
Chicago beat Philadelphia 27-7 at Soldier Field. Keenum, in his first regular-season start since 2023, completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, ran one in from a yard out, and was not sacked or intercepted.
The Bears outgained the Eagles 375 to 248, held the ball for 36:53, and took the ball away three times.
The miss: the backfield
The preview’s second reason was that Keenum would not have to carry the offense, because D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai would. The volume showed up: 35 runs to 34 passes. The production did not. Swift ran 20 times for 84 yards, Monangai 10 times for 31, and the team averaged 3.7 a carry. No running back scored.
Keenum threw both touchdowns and ran in the third. He carried it.
Hit: the head coach
The first reason was Ben Johnson, and the line backs it: 71 percent completions, no turnovers, no sacks, from a quarterback who had not started a regular-season game in almost three years. Keenum gave the credit straight back after the game: “Ben Johnson was cooking tonight. He was in his bag.”
Hit: Vic Fangio, again
Keenum came in 3-0 against Fangio defenses without an interception. He leaves 4-0, now 83 of 117 for 775 yards, five touchdowns and still no interceptions across the four games.
What we are changing
The preview argued three factors and never stated them as predictions, which made them easy to grade generously. From here on, every preview states its calls up front and names the number that will settle each one.
