For as much credit as Case Keenum and Ben Johnson will get for Monday’s victory against the Eagles (and deservedly so), we’ve got to tip our caps to Dennis Allen’s defense. Their second-half play could have made the difference, and rookie Dillon Thieneman played a big role.
But even before the second half started and the defense really took over, you can’t overlook a red zone stop sequence spearheaded by Thieneman.
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First, Thieneman sniffed out an outside zone run to Saquon Barkley, forcing the Eagles running back out at the one-yard line. On the next play, Thieneman sat in the A-gap, waiting for Barkley, and made the 1-on-1 stop to keep the Eagles out of the end zone. After the Eagles failed to get the ball into the end zone on the ground, Head Coach Nick Sirianni went to the air, and Thieneman intercepted veteran Andy Dalton in the back of the end zone, ending Philly’s scoring chance and keeping them off the scoreboard.
Dillon Thieneman allowed a 2.8 passer rating when targeted last night, posting his 1st career INT. He also missed zero tackles. Future star ? t.co/E7KqupitGa pic.twitter.com/9169scBVp0
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 29, 2026Thieneman’s first career interception kept the Eagles off the scoreboard, and his two stops on Barkley before the interception were just as important. The Oregon rookie has been stacking good tape every week to open the season, but he was on another level on Monday.
“Honestly, we ran the same play in practice,” Thieneman said of his first career interception on Monday night. “They had a first over, and I was supposed to hand on a little bit and then go to the second window for that dig, and I was just sitting right there, and he threw it right to me.”
Thieneman led the team with 50 defensive snaps, six tackles, and allowed one reception (for four yards) in coverage, and an opposing passer rating of 2.8 when targeted.
Sep 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman (31) intercepts the ball against Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn ImagesDillon Thieneman Is Built for Dennis Allen’s Bears Defense
In all three games this season, Thieneman has led Chicago in tackles, totaling 23 (15 solo). He logged a pass defended in each of the first three games, an interception last night, and came close to picking up a sack against Minnesota last week.
The Bears loved what they saw from Thieneman at Oregon, but the chances of him falling to No. 25 back in April felt slim leading up to the draft. Thankfully, things shook out the way the Bears needed, and they made a no-brainer choice, drafting him late in the first round.
Through three regular-season games, he’s made them look pretty smart.
Thieneman is becoming a playmaker Allen and the Bears can deploy in a variety of ways. This season, he’s played 199 total snaps. Of those snaps, 97 have come at free safety, but 49 have come in the box, 12 in the slot, 10 on the defensive line, and two out wide. He’s also logged snaps in kick coverage, one on a punt return, and 10 in field-goal and extra-point block situations.
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On Monday, Thieneman lined up at free safety 37 times, seven times in the box, four times on the defensive line, and twice in the slot. Allen’s defense is at its best (as we saw in the second half last night) when it’s creating chaos with a variety of looks and pressures. Thieneman’s ability to play multiple spots, apply pressure, stop the run, and play shutdown coverage has helped Chicago rebound from a 37-point Week 1 showing, allowing 16 total points in the two weeks since against the Vikings and the Eagles.
Another week, another excellent performance for Thieneman.
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