Two weeks, two road wins, zero games that let anybody breathe. Now the Birds get the big stage: Monday night, Soldier Field, 8:15 on ESPN. It's the Bears' home opener. Their crowd, their lakefront wind, and, if the injury report holds, their third-string quarterback.
We'll take it. We're not proud.
Who's Throwing for Chicago?
Honest answer: nobody knows yet. Caleb Williams has a hamstring and Ben Johnson is calling him week-to-week. His backup, Tyson Bagent, took a concussion against Minnesota in Week 2 and opened the week in the protocol. That leaves Case Keenum, 38 years old, who hasn't played a regular-season snap since 2023.
Yes, that Case Keenum. The guy who walked into the Linc for the NFC Championship in January 2018 and left on the wrong end of 38-7. If he starts Monday, somebody in Section 200-whatever of Soldier Field is going to be wearing a Foles jersey out of pure spite, and it should be you.
Vic Fangio against a third-stringer who's been off the field for two years is the matchup Philly has circled. Fangio said this week he doesn't have enough information yet. Sure, Vic. You've already watched every Keenum snap since the Obama administration.
The Grudge
Don't forget how last year's meeting went. Black Friday, at the Linc, Bears 24, Eagles 15, and it wasn't as close as that score makes it look. They came into our building on a holiday and pushed us around. This is the rematch, and it's on their turf.
The Birds Aren't Exactly Healthy Either
Before you start booking the 3-0 parade, look at our own injury report:
Dallas Goedert sprained his MCL in Nashville and is out for multiple weeks. The fix? Zach Ertz is back in midnight green. Let that sink in. Ertz. Back. The Philly Special guy. The universe is healing.
Saquon Barkley took a stinger on his first carry against Tennessee but was back at practice on a limited basis and reportedly expects to play. Good thing, because Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley both sat out Thursday. That's all three backs on the roster banged up.
DeVonta Smith missed Thursday with a hamstring, the same area that cost him time in camp. That's the one to watch over the weekend.
Jalen Carter is playing through a wrist injury with a cast on, Jonathan Greenard might finally make his Eagles debut, and the offensive line is still shuffling with Landon Dickerson on IR.
Where This Game Gets Decided
The trenches. Cliché, but true. The Eagles have not stopped the run through two weeks, and the Bears block it well. If you're Chicago with a backup-backup at quarterback, you run the ball, you shorten the game, and you keep Keenum out of third-and-long. If the Eagles let them do that, this gets uncomfortable.
On the flip side, Chicago got flat-out outcoached by Minnesota last week, and a Bears defense with a short-handed offense in front of it is going to be on the field a lot. Jalen already showed in Nashville he can put this team on his back when it counts. Nine seconds, remember?
As of Friday the Birds are 4.5-point favorites with a total of 41.5. Also worth knowing: the last three times the Eagles started 2-0 (2022, 2023 and 2025), they made the playoffs. We're not saying. We're just saying.
Our Pick
Eagles 24, Bears 13. Fangio eats, Saquon plays through it, Ertz catches a touchdown because of course he does, and the Black Friday debt gets paid in full.
Monday Night Assignment
Kickoff is 8:15 on ESPN, and 94WIP on the radio if you're stuck in the car. That's a late one on a work night, so plan accordingly and hydrate like a professional.
Dress for it: the No One Likes Us Tee is the correct road-game energy, the Grease the Poles Tee is for anyone already manifesting a January on Broad Street, and a Go Birds Pint Glass is non-negotiable. The whole Football collection is right here.
Go Birds.
Real question: if it's Keenum under center, are you nervous at all, or is this the most confident you've been about a road game in years? Tell us in the comments.
