On a Monday night at Soldier Field that felt more like a statement than a surprise, the Chicago Bears took a 2-0 Philadelphia Eagles team that had been talking about unfinished business from last November and buried them 27-7, turning primetime into a Case Keenum clinic on old-man football, and a much-maligned defense with a statment to the NFL – all at once. Coming off a grim 9-3 Week 2 slog in Minnesota, Chicago controlled the ball for nearly 37 minutes, forced three turnovers, never coughed one
up, and watched a 38-year-old backup quarterback throw for two scores, run for a third, and look every bit the veteran who still knows how to win a football game. Luther Burden punched in the opener, Kalif Raymond took a 41-yard strike to the house, Cairo Santos did the rest, and by the time Keenum walked in from a yard out in the fourth, the only thing left for the Windy City was to enjoy a rare, clean, 20-point Monday night beatdown of a supposed NFC contender. Let’s get into it Bears fans!
Box Score for Bears 27, Eagles 7 from ESPN.
1st Quarter
It is clear from the outset that Case Keenum has complete control of this offense as he makes efficient play after efficient play. The only deficiencies in his game are physical – he has the mental game on lock.
Swift, who had his struggles in the game against the Vikings, including a fumble from the one, comes out as a rejuvenated back in this game. He is running with confidence and elusiveness.
Luther Burden has arrived in this game – as Keenum targets him multiple times and he shows his YAC super-power over and over again.
We get some 4th and 1 redemption for Sam Roush, as Ben Johnson dials up a play for the tight end that gets the first down and more. Unfortunately Roush gives back the redemption with a bad play on the Tory Taylor punt to the one where he foolishly covers it and the ball comes out to the 20.
But Booker picks up the rookie with a big turnover as he Peanut Punches the ball out on the Eagles posession and Xavier Woods recovers it for Bear ball within the Red Zone.
2nd Quarter
Colton Loveland appears to have the touchdown live but upon the review it is clear he is a few inches short of the touchdown. On the next play Swift loses 2 yards, and then on 3rd down – it looks like Rome has an easy touchdown but he takes the ball off of his facemask – and while he secures it on the second try he doesn’t get both feet down. Come on, Rome. 4th down his a missed pass to Burden and Bears turn it over.
Gooch note: I really struggle to understand why these carries don’t go to Monangai on short-yardage and goal-to-go situations.
On the ensuing Bears posession we commit a bad penalty that lets the Eagles out of the shadow of their endzone. They are running the ball down our throat on multiple downs. The Eagles get it deep into Bears territory. Then on a play where Sweat is clearly held (flag goes down) Hurts scrambles to his right and is running for the 1st down marker. D. Jackson comes with the big hit right at the marker – and the Striped Ones call it “unnecessary roughness” despite the fact that Hurts had a foot in bounds at contact and was clearly a runner. Penalties offset. Hurts has to leave the game as the overhead observers force a tent visit. Andy Dalton comes in for the Eagles.
Bears make a goal line stand. The Eagles are pushed back from the goalline when JVDB pushes his man 3 yards into the backfield and Bush cleans up the play by tackling Barkley for a loss. And the drive then ends in a Thineman INTERCEPTION of Andy Dalton. Bears ball on the 20 yard line.
After Bears punt, Eagles drive the length of the field. On a pass play that should have ended the half, the Eagles, somehow, get set, and instead of a spike, Hurts does the Tush Push for a touchdown. Controversy ends the half. Clock showed zeros when Hurts got the ball. Questionable whether they got the snap off but it’s 10-7 Bears at the half.
HALFTIME
GOOCH Observations: Well, Case Keenum has been everything we could have hoped for in the first half. He has protected the ball. He has been efficient and an excellent decision maker. He has put the Bears in good position executing BJ’s game plan. Frankly, the Bears dominated the first half and the 10-7 score doesn’t illustrate how well the Bears played. On defense the Bears were opportunistic, but the Eagles and Barkley gashed them in the run game.
3rd Quarter
The Eagles start with the ball in the third quarter and the Bears earn their first three-and-out as TJ Edwards drops a sure interception on third down when Austin Booker’s pressure forces Hurts to throw the ball blind into the flat. Still – Eagles punt.
Bears drive the ball and get a field goal to move the score to 13-7.
On the next Eagles posession the Bears defense again looks good. Perhaps Dennis Allen made some halftime adjustments that are coming into play. JJ avoids a blocker and spikes Makai Lemon for a three yard loss. And TJ Edwards (man, I have to apologize for my TJ hate don’t I) again shows up to force the Eagles again into a punting situation.
GOOCH Observation: It is clear that BJ came in with a plan of playing inverse to Eagles expectations given we had our 3rd QB starting the game. BJ correctly anticipated the Eagles would expect a run-heavy approach, so BJ has spammed the play action in pretty much every run down-distance scenario, and the Eagles haven’t had an answer.
The Bears with the ball and Monangai is finally getting his touches and making the most of them as the Bears get first down after first down. Then Case Keenum hits Kalif Raymond on the crosser and it is 41 yards and in! Touchdown! Touchdown Bears!
Cairo Santos continues to have kick off problems as his kick hits short of the 20 and the Eagles start with great field position. They get it out almost to the 50. Bears shut them down and force a 4th and short. For some reason Nick Sirano does NOT go for it on 4th down – instead tries to force the offsides – and takes the delay-of-game and punts. From a win probability perspective, that’s an insanely dumb decision by the Eagles head coach.
As we go into the 4th quarter, the Bears lead the Eagles 20-7.
4th Quarter
My notes are rather sparse in the 4th quarter as I spent quite a bit of it high-fiving and dabbing up my son. None the less, a few notes.
On the Eagles posession TJ finally gets his interception on third down and its a TJ kind of night, as he torches his former team on the defensive side of the ball!
As the Bears have the ball on the one foot line the clock is expiring – just as it was in the first half when Hurts got his tush push touchdown – and right as the clock goes to zeros – Keenum takes the snap and sneaks it into the endzone as the ultimate: “anything you can do, I can do better.” Bears go up 27-7 and the rout is on.
On the ensuing Eagles drive the Bears defense again shows up, and a MOTIVATED DAYO gets the sack on Hurts. Bears Ball. Bears Win.
William (my son) to WCG: “WILLY IS EXCITED!!!!”
Bear down, my guys. We are 2-1 on the season and we have thirty-eight year old Case Keenum to thank for it. As Case said: Give glory to God.
Gooch out.
