The Chicago Bears’ 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, Sept. 28, won’t go down in NFL lore like the "Fog Bowl" or "Double Doink" playoff wins Da Bears snatched from Philly at Soldier Field in years past.
But the “MNF” victory could mark an important waypoint in Chicago’s season as the team survived its first game without injured QB Caleb Williams (hamstring) since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2024. It wasn’t necessarily pretty, but head coach Ben Johnson dug into his bag and his depth chart while helping engineer a win that prevented the reigning NFC North champions from falling off the divisional pace currently being set by the undefeated Minnesota Vikings. The victory also allows Williams to continue his rehab without any
notion he needs to rush back into the lineup.
A look at the winners and losers of Week 3’s final game beyond the result on the scoreboard:
WINNERS
Case Keenum
The 14th-year journeyman – technically the Bears’ third-string quarterback – made his debut for this eighth NFL team, starting his first regular-season game in more than 1,000 days while filling in for Williams. All Keenum did was pass for 247 yards and a pair of TDs while also scoring his first rushing touchdown since 2019. Hard to believe he didn’t earn himself another start in Week 4 against the New York Jets.
Luther Burden III
He missed most of training camp and the entire preseason with a groin injury, but is now rounding into form as the guy who seems likely to take over as the Bears' WR1 sooner than later. He scored Chicago’s first TD on Monday – largely a spectacular individual effort as he bulled his way in from 8 yards.
LUTHER BURDEN III TOUCHDOWN ON THE OPENING DRIVE!@PHIvsCHI on ESPN
— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/nIcigJhv1e
Zach Ertz
A hero of the Eagles’ first Super Bowl championship in 2017, the veteran tight end – back in town following Dallas Goedert’s knee injury – caught his first pass in a Philly uniform since being traded to the Arizona Cardinals midway through the 2021 season. Welcome back.
Eagles' NFC East rivals
Philly’s first loss drops the Eagles into a first-place tie with the New York Giants and leaves them only a game ahead of the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders in the typically contested division. And now the Eagles face a short week before a salty Los Angeles Rams team returns to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
LOSERS
Jalen Hurts
While the Eagles got off to a 2-0 start, wins over the Commanders and Tennessee Titans didn’t provide a great barometer of their progress under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion – and they were certainly lucky to escape Nashville with a win in Week 2. But Monday’s loss is going to resurface the same old questions about Hurts’ efficacy as a passer, particularly in a system that requires elements – motions, pre-snap adjustments, throws over the middle – that he’s historically not employed and allegedly reportedly doesn’t favor. While he did a nice job executing a "Tush Push" touchdown from the 1-yard line as time expired at the end of the first half, he wasn’t effective with his arm – completing 16 of 25 throws for 153 yards and a horrendous third-quarter INT to former teammate T.J. Edwards that effectively killed any chance at a comeback. Hurts also missed a wide-open Dontayvion Wicks for a fourth-quarter TD that might have given the Eagles life. Alas.
Andy Dalton
The Eagles’ QB2 made his regular-season debut with the team while Hurts was being checked for a concussion (he cleared the protocol shortly thereafter) in the second quarter, a turn of events that stunted rare offensive momentum on this night. And Dalton’s cameo was sufficiently long for the 38-year-old to throw a drive-killing interception in the end zone on his only throw of the night. Maybe Philly should consider fourth-year backup Tanner McKee next time.
Tyson Bagent
The Bears’ QB2 cleared concussion protocol over the weekend but lost out on a precious opportunity to start a game, which Bagent hasn’t had a chance to do since Williams was drafted. Seems likely that will remain the case this Sunday, too.
Bears' run game
It ripped through the Eagles for 281 yards in Chicago’s 24-15 win on Black Friday last season. It wasn’t nearly as effective Monday, though that was to be expected without the threat Williams provides on play-action and RPOs. Ultimately, the Bears were able to milk the clock late in the game, but they finished with a pedestrian 128 yards on 35 attempts.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Hurts ineffective, Case Keenum exceptional: Winners and losers from MNF
