Case Keenum’s performance for the Chicago Bears in their Monday Night Football win was another reminder that oddsmakers have mis-priced backup quarterbacks all season, Craig Mucklow, vice president of trading at Caesars Sportsbook, said.

“The Eagles drew heavy support in a perceived No. 1 versus No. 3 quarterback mismatch, but with backups now 7-3 straight up, the bigger mistake has been in the original numbers, not the betting that followed,” he said.

The Bears, without starting quarterbacks Caleb William and Tyson Bagent, both out with injuries, turned to 38-year-old Keenum, who hadn’t started a game since 2023, when he was with the Houston Texans.

Keenum led the Bears to a 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles Monday (Sept. 28), going 24-of-34 for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Chicago entered the game as 3.5-point underdogs.

The Seattle Seahawks went 2-0 with Drew Lock at quarterback while Sam Darnold was injured. The New York Giants won with Jameis Winston at quarterback on Sunday (Sept. 27), but are 1-1 overall. The Atlanta Falcons, with Cooper Rush, were 0-2. The Minnesota Vikings, led by Carson Wentz, went 2-0. 

On Sunday, the Washington Commanders, led by Marcus Mariota at quarterback, upset defending champion Seattle 33-31. Then Monday night Chicago beat Philadelphia, with Keenum.

“Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good,” said Mucklow.

Week 3 was a rough week for several sizable favorites – Green Bay Packers (-4.5), Seattle Seahawks (-8.5), Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5), Carolina Panthers (-1.5) and the Eagles (-3.5) all lost outright. San Francisco won but failed to cover -7.5, while the Detroit Lions also failed to cover -7.5.