Case Keenum is officially listed as the starting quarterback for the Bears’ game against the Jets, which feels absolutely wild when you consider he only played one single snap in their 23-12 victory. You read that right: one snap, and he’s officially the guy who got the W.
Ben Johnson’s Epic Troll Job
Bears coach Ben Johnson pulled a fast one on Sunday, straight-up trolling the media by starting both Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent. Keenum trotted out for the first snap, with Bagent lined up at wide receiver. That was it for Keenum, literally one snap. Bagent, meanwhile, went on to play all 93 snaps of the game. It was a 23-12 win for the Bears, and while the team got the victory, the story quickly became about that first play.
The NFL Rule That Made Keenum a Winner
You’d think the guy who plays 93 snaps gets the start credit and the win, right? Nope. An NFL spokesman confirmed with the Elias Sports Bureau that Keenum is officially credited with both the start and the victory. Why? Because he was the quarterback who took that very first snap. Coach Johnson, after the game, even sounded a bit amused when told about Keenum’s official win: “Good for him,” he said. “I think the team gets credited for a win.” It’s a bizarre technicality, but the rule is clear: if two quarterbacks are on the field for the first play, the one who takes the snap is the starter. Even if a running back took a wildcat snap with a QB out wide, that QB, as the only one on the field, would still snag the start and the win.
What This Means For the Bears’ QB Room
So, now Keenum’s career record stands at 32-36, including a completely bonkers 2-0 as the Bears’ starter this season. Bagent, the guy who actually played the whole game, is sitting at 2-2. Talk about a confusing stat line! Looking ahead, Bagent is still expected to get the nod and start Sunday’s game against the Packers. The Bears need to figure out their quarterback identity fast, especially with those division games on the horizon. It’s going to be a fascinating watch this Sunday when Bagent is back under center against the Packers. The question isn’t just who gets the start, but who truly leads this team.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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