nfl coach of the year
nfl coach of the year
The Chicago Bears may not be able to replace Caleb Williams, but they can replace some of what he gives them. If Williams misses Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles and Tyson Bagent cannot clear concussion protocol, Chicago could be forced to start Case Keenum. That would dramatically lower the offense’s margin for error.
It would also make the running game the Bears’ most important weapon. Fortunately for Chicago, the blueprint already exists.
The Bears stunned Philadelphia last season in a 24-15 road victory built around an overwhelming rushing attack. D’Andre Swift carried 18 times for 125 yards. Kyle Monangai added 130 yards on 22 attempts. It was the first time in 40 years that the Bears had two 100-yard rushers in the same game.
The most surprising part was how little Chicago got from Williams through the air. He completed only 47.2% of his passes for 154 yards, with his lowest passer rating of the season at 56.9. The Bears won anyway because they controlled the game with their backs, doubled Philadelphia in first downs and nearly doubled the Eagles in time of possession.
That formula suddenly looks relevant again.
NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears3
Sep 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) lies on the field with an apparent injury against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Williams is considered week-to-week with a right hamstring injury and is not expected to practice this week. Bagent, who was expected to start if Williams could not play, is now in the concussion protocol. If neither quarterback is cleared, Keenum would make his first regular-season start in nearly three years.
Chicago cannot ask Keenum to imitate Williams. He does not have the same mobility, arm talent or ability to turn a broken play into an explosive gain. There’s a reason why nobody has asked him to throw a pass in a while. The offense has to make the game simpler, more physical and less dependent on quarterback improvisation.
That begins with Swift and Monangai.
NFL: Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers3
Sep 13, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Bears center Garrett Bradbury (67) reacts to a touchdown scored by running back D’Andre Swift (4) in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The Bears already showed in Week 1 that they can dominate on the ground. They rushed for 291 yards against Carolina, with Swift scoring three touchdowns and Monangai breaking off a 61-yard touchdown run. Minnesota slowed that attack the following week, but the Vikings also presented one of the league’s most difficult fronts and used constant movement to disrupt Chicago’s run schemes.
Philadelphia will bring a different challenge. The Eagles have elite talent up front, including Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, but Chicago can still make them defend the entire width of the field. Outside runs, motion, split-flow concepts and misdirection can force Philadelphia’s defensive tackles to move laterally instead of simply attacking downhill. That matters even more if Keenum starts.
The Bears need to give their quarterback favorable down-and-distance situations. That means avoiding the third-and-long situations that allowed Brian Flores to dictate everything last Sunday. It means taking four or five yards when they are available instead of waiting for a perfect shot. Most importantly, it means making Philadelphia tackle repeatedly.
The Bears’ own film breakdown pointed toward the same answer. During the Minnesota game, the Vikings repeatedly changed their front before and after the snap, creating confusion for Chicago’s blockers. Tom Thayer explained on the Bears’ official Bears, etc. program that the Bears could also benefit from emphasizing quick throws to their backs and shortening routes so the quarterback can get the ball out before pressure arrives.
That approach would fit Keenum particularly well. He has spent his career beating the odds with timing, anticipation and distribution rather than overpowering arm strength. Swift and Monangai can function as runners, outlets and matchup problems, while Chicago’s receivers attack a defense that has been forced to creep toward the line of scrimmage.
Week 3 NFL Defense Rankings, Chicago bears3
Sep 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs after a catch against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The run game also protects the defense. Chicago’s defense played far better against Minnesota than it did in the opener, holding the Vikings to nine points and creating consistent pressure on Carson Wentz. If the Bears can keep the Eagles from controlling possession, Dennis Allen’s unit has a chance to keep the game close enough for a late drive to matter.
That is the real lesson from last season’s Philadelphia upset. The Bears did not need Williams to play like a superstar. They needed the offensive line to create movement, the running backs to finish runs and the defense to force Philadelphia to play from behind. Johnson knows the challenge is different this time. He said on Monday that the Bears have “three guys that can win football games,” but he also acknowledged that the offense may need to adapt depending on who starts.
If Williams returns, Chicago can expand the playbook; if Bagent clears protocol, the Bears can lean on what he knows, and if Keenum is forced into the lineup, the running game becomes non-negotiable.
The Bears already proved they can beat the Eagles with a quarterback who had one of his worst passing performances of the season. They may need to prove it again with an even bigger burden on the ground.