The Chicago Bears held a previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles team to only seven points during their Week 3 Monday Night Football matchup, but what were the things that made that happen? Case Keenum led the offense for an impressive game, but Keenum can't be responsible for keeping the Eagles to only seven points.
Takeaways set the tone
The 2025 Bears weren't a particularly impressive defensive unit, but they were defined by one very important characteristic: turnovers. It was a superpower that any team would be happy to replicate, and that includes the Bears. But this showed up on Monday night.
The Bears managed to take the ball away three times, and capitalized by adding ten points to the score on those possessions. Notably, the Bears are 8-0 under Dennis Allen when they achieve three takeaways or more.
Eliminate the run game
One of the most lethal parts of the Eagles is their run game. Saquon Barkley stands as one of the most prominent running backs in football, and his impressive ability is largely responsible for their Super Bowl win a few seasons ago.
On Monday, the Bears limited Barkley to only 82 yards on 15 carries and no touchdowns. 82 yards isn't nothing, but it's not enough to make a difference in a game that resulted 27-7.
Second half shutdown
The only score the Eagles managed came a split-second before halftime, when Jalen Hurts made the decision to rush the ball in. Outside of that, the entire second half was a wash for Philadelphia. They posted three straight three-and-outs immediately after receiving the second half kickoff.
Dillon Thieneman again led the Bears in tackles in his most recent impressive showing since the Bears drafted him in the first round. His excellent defense stopped a 95 yard drive at the goal line in the second quarter and Thieneman walked away with his first career interception.
After giving up 37 points to the Carolina Panthers in the season opener, the Bears defense has only allowed 16 points. They've also only allowed a single touchdown, a stat line any head coach would be proud of. If the Bears can keep this sort of defense up, then the Minnesota Vikings won't be the only team in the NFC North with an impressive defense.
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