Bengals End Losing Streak with Commanding Win Over Bears

Game Recap

The Bengals set the tone early, marching down the field on their opening drive and capping it off with a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Joe Burrow, putting Cincinnati up 7-0. The Bears’ offense struggled to gain any momentum, and the first quarter ended with them still scoreless.

In the second quarter, Burrow connected with Kadarius Toney on a 54-yard touchdown pass, extending the Bengals’ lead to 14-0. After another stalled drive by Chicago, Cincinnati added to their advantage with back-to-back field goals from Evan McPherson, hitting from 41 yards and 21 yards, making it 20-0 at halftime.

The Bengals continued their dominance in the third quarter as Burrow found Tee Higgins for a 43-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 27-0. The Bears finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter when Caleb Williams hit Rome Odunze for a 6-yard touchdown. However, that would be the only bright spot for Chicago’s offense, as Cincinnati closed out the game with a dominant defensive effort.

Key Stats

Burrow had one of his best performances of the season, completing 25 of 31 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns, adding a rushing score as well. Toney was a game-changer, hauling in five receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Higgins added three catches for 71 yards and a score. On the ground, Tim Tate led Cincinnati with 59 rushing yards on 14 carries, and McPherson was perfect on the day, going 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points.

For the Bears, Williams struggled against a tough Bengals defense, finishing with 171 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Odunze was the most reliable target, catching eight passes for 56 yards and a score. Roschon Johnson was limited to 14 rushing yards on seven carries, as Chicago failed to establish any consistent ground attack.

Defensively, Cincinnati made life difficult for Williams, with Trey Hendrickson recording a sack, while Richie Grant and Logan Wilson each came up with an interception. For Chicago, Montez Sweat and Kevin Generals combined for the team’s only sack, but they were unable to slow down Cincinnati’s high-powered passing attack.

Injuries

Both teams avoided major injuries in the game. The Bears briefly lost D.J. Moore to a minor ankle tweak, but he was able to return. The Bengals had Ja’Marr Chase take a hard hit late in the third quarter, but he finished the game without any reported concerns.

Up Next

The Bears will remain on the road as they prepare to face the Minnesota Vikings, looking to snap their four-game losing streak. The Bengals, now riding some momentum, will stay at home to take on the Buffalo Bills in what promises to be a tough AFC matchup.