Starting his first National Football League game since December 2023, the 38-year-old veteran turned back the clock on the shores of Lake Michigan. Keenum completed an efficient passing performance, throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns, while also showcasing his veteran poise by rushing for an additional score. The masterclass from the veteran signal-caller not only energized the Chicago faithful but also wrote his name into the franchise’s history books, as he became the oldest player ever to score a rushing touchdown for the Bears. Furthermore, the multi-touchdown game marked a significant milestone for Keenum, representing the first time he has thrown multiple scoring passes in a single contest since October 2019.
The improbable heroics came out of sheer necessity for the Bears coaching staff. Keenum, a quintessential NFL journeyman currently playing for his eighth different franchise, was thrust into the starting lineup due to a compounding sequence of injuries in the Chicago quarterback room. Regular starter Caleb Williams was sidelined with a knee injury, while backup Tyson Bagent was unavailable after suffering a concussion, leaving the team with few options other than turning to their seasoned veteran to steady the ship against one of the league’s most formidable opponents.
Despite the long layoff between starts, Keenum’s teammates expressed absolute confidence in his ability to command the offense. Wide receiver Kalif Raymond, who hauled in a touchdown pass during the dominant display, offered insight into the quarterback’s calm and collected demeanor heading into the high-stakes matchup.
"He was like, ‘I may not be a cowboy, but this is definitely not my first rodeo’—a lot of confidence in him; a lot of confidence in himself," Raymond said of his veteran teammate after the game. "He practises, preps every week, but particularly this week. We didn’t expect anything different from him."
That preparation bore fruit right from the opening whistle. Keenum wasted no time establishing a rhythm with his offensive weapons, engineering an opening drive that set the tone for the afternoon. His very first possession culminated in a scoring strike to Luther Burden III, giving the Bears an early advantage that they would never relinquish. Cairo Santos extended the lead later in the opening half with a 24-yard field goal, though the Eagles managed to stay within striking distance before the break. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts orchestrated a scoring drive capped off by a rushing touchdown of his own, cutting the Bears’ half-time lead to a narrow 10-7 margin and keeping the contest competitive heading into the locker rooms.
As the second half commenced, any hopes the Eagles had of mounting a comeback were quickly dismantled by a combination of efficient offensive execution and suffocating defensive pressure from the hosts. Santos added his second field goal of the game early in the third quarter to stretch the lead, establishing a firmer cushion for the home side. From that point onward, the Bears seized total control of the momentum, reeling off two more touchdowns as part of a decisive run of 17 unanswered points that put the game out of reach for the previously unbeaten visitors.
While Keenum commanded the headlines with his inspirational play under center, the Chicago defence played a monumental role in stifling the high-powered Philadelphia attack. The Bears defensive unit completely bottled up the Eagles, limiting them to a meager 248 total yards of offense throughout the afternoon. Beyond containing Philadelphia’s multifaceted ground and air attacks, the Chicago defense made crucial plays when it mattered most, intercepting passes from both Jalen Hurts and his eventual replacement, Andy Dalton, to slam the door shut on any potential late-game heroics and secure the statement victory in front of the ecstatic home crowd at Soldier Field.