Bears lead NFL in one category that could save them without Caleb Williams

Bears don't need Case Keenum (or Tyson Bagent) to win the game

If Case Keenum starts, Chicago's biggest mistake would be turning Monday night into a game in which he has to throw 40-plus times. Ben Johnson essentially said as much without explicitly saying it this week.

"It's not just on one player — it never is," Johnson said.

That one player he's referring to is the quarterback. And, in Week 2, that likely means Keenum or Tyson Bagent. Caleb Williams could still return, but it's a long shot.

That's where D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai come in.

Swift rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns against Carolina. Monangai added 100 yards and a touchdown.

The Bears couldn't replicate that production against Minnesota, but Monangai still averaged 4.7 yards per carry.

Bottom line? Chicago has demonstrated they can run the football. Now, they must prove that performance wasn't simply a Week 1 anomaly.

One thing to monitor: Kyle Monangai's health

There's another "injury" Bears fans should be watching closely.

Monangai wasn't seen during the portion of Wednesday's practice open to reporters. Because Chicago plays Monday night, the Bears don't release their first official Week 3 injury report until today.

Until that report arrives, it's premature to characterize Monangai's status. But it's something worth monitoring.

Losing Williams is one thing. Potentially losing Williams, Bagent and one-half of the running back tandem would make Johnson's challenge considerably more difficult.

Philadelphia isn't an opponent Chicago can become one-dimensional against

The Eagles are 2-0, but they haven't been dominant.

Philadelphia beat Washington 24-22, and Tennessee 24-20, with Jalen Hurts needing a late touchdown drive to escape Nashville last Sunday.

That should give Chicago some confidence. But playing Philadelphia with a backup quarterback means the margin for error shrinks.

The Bears cannot allow the Eagles to dictate obvious passing situations. They can't repeatedly fall behind the sticks because of penalties. And they can't give away possessions with turnovers the way they did against Minnesota.

A productive running game helps solve all three problems.

Monday could tell us whether Bears' running game is real

Two games have given us two wildly different Chicago offenses. The Bears scored 59 points and ran for 291 yards in Week 1. They scored three points against Minnesota. Monday offers another test.

And this one could come without Williams.

If Chicago can run the football effectively against Philadelphia, it gives Johnson a foundation that travels regardless of who plays quarterback. If it can't? The Bears may have to ask Keenum or Bagent to beat an undefeated Eagles team through the air.

And... that's not great.