The Chicago Bears are about to reap what they sowed. They quietly put together one of the most impressive quarterback rooms in football, not only featuring a true franchise-caliber guy but also two proven veterans.
With Caleb Williams (hamstring) and Tyson Bagent (concussion) more than likely to miss Monday night's contest with the Philadelphia Eagles, it'll be Case Keenum's turn to take the reins of Ben Johnson's offense.
Keenum is one of the most experienced backup quarterbacks out there, and as a journeyman, he's gone up against most veteran defensive coordinators, including Vic Fangio. And as Patrick Norton of CHGO Sports pointed out on X, he's actually done pretty well against him.
Bears' Case Keenum is undefeated against Vic Fangio's defenses
Keenum holds a perfect 3-0 record against Fangio-coached defenses. He's completed 59 of 83 passes for 528 passing yards, three touchdowns, and no picks. Those numbers don't necessarily pop up, but he has bragging rights over one of the savviest defensive coordinators in the game.
Of course, it's also worth noting that Keenum hasn't played against Coach Fangio since Week 7 of the 2021 season. A lot has transpired since, but Fangio continues to run the same two-high safety scheme centered on limiting explosive plays.
The Eagles have a great secondary. Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, and Riq Woolen are a deadly cornerback trio, and Andrew Mukuba has shown steady signs of improvement from his rookie season.
That said, even without Williams, the Bears still have one of the most stacked — if not the most stacked — sets of weapons in the game, not to mention a sturdy running game to lean on and one of the sharpest offensive play designers in today's league.
Keenum doesn't need to light it up in this one. He's never had the strongest arm, but his ability to anticipate and read coverage, plus his extensive experience against all types of defenses, should give him a bit of an edge in this matchup. Fangio and the Eagles won't know what to expect, while the Bears will have weeks' worth of game film on them.
At the end of the day, it'll never be the same when Williams isn't out there, and almost every quarterback out there would obviously be a downgrade. However, this Bears team knows how crucial it is to have someone who can get a win or two if the main guy has to miss time, and props to Ryan Poles for sparing no effort in putting together this quarterback room.
Let's make it 4-0.
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