The Chicago Bears met the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium for a crucial Week 2 preseason showdown. Preseason games serve as a vital testing ground for general managers, head coaches, and roster evaluators. While star players often get brief tune-ups to avoid injuries, depth charts are tested, positional battles heat up, and rookies get their first taste of high-level NFL action.
In this matchup, the Cincinnati Bengals pulled away with a convincing 27-9 victory over the Chicago Bears. Through explosive pass plays, efficient execution in the red zone, and a stifling secondary, the Bengals dominated the scoreboard despite a competitive initial push from Chicago.
Game Overview and Team Performance Metrics
The overall team statistics provide a clear narrative of how the game unfolded. While Chicago managed to put together extended drives early on, their lack of finishing power in the red zone forced them to settle for field goals. Cincinnati, on the other hand, made every red-zone visit count with touchdown passes.
The Bengals generated 346 total yards of offense compared to Chicago’s 322. Cincinnati’s main advantage came in air yardage and efficiency, maintaining 7.4 yards per pass attempt compared to Chicago’s 5.5 yards per pass. Furthermore, the Bears were hampered by offensive line penalties that halted momentum during crucial scoring drives.
| Team Metric | Chicago Bears | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Final Score | 9 | 27 |
| Total Yards | 322 | 346 |
| Passing Yards | 236 | 282 |
| Rushing Yards | 86 | 64 |
| Yards Per Play | 4.8 | 6.0 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 30:36 | 29:24 |
Quarterback Analysis and Passing Production
Quarterback usage in preseason action is carefully structured. Fans and analysts analyze every snap to measure developmental trajectories for starters and backup readiness for veterans.
Chicago Bears Quarterback Unit
Chicago’s star quarterback Caleb Williams saw brief action in the first quarter. Williams spearheaded an opening 8-play, 33-yard drive that moved Chicago into field goal position. While his total stats were minimal (2-of-5 for 28 yards), he showcased poise under pressure and operated the first-string offense cleanly before stepping aside to prevent unnecessary injury risk.
Veteran Case Keenum took over for the remainder of the first half, completing 9 of 17 passes for 119 yards. Keenum hit rookie tight end Sam Roush for a 26-yard conversion to highlight his performance. Miller Moss finished the game for Chicago, completing 13 of 21 passes for 103 yards as the offense slowed in the second half.
Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Unit
With Joe Burrow resting, veteran backup Josh Johnson got the start for Cincinnati and delivered a masterclass in backup efficiency. Johnson played the entire first half, going 15-for-23 for 156 yards, throwing 2 touchdown passes without a turnover, and earning an impressive 113.6 passer rating.
Sean Clifford took over in the second half, completing 67% of his passes for 126 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Clifford’s willingness to throw deep routes kept Chicago’s secondary back, allowing Cincinnati to extend their lead.
| Player | Team | Completions / Attempts | Passing Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Passer Rating |
| Josh Johnson | CIN | 15 / 23 | 156 | 2 | 0 | 113.68 |
| Sean Clifford | CIN | 10 / 15 | 126 | 1 | 1 | 87.08 |
| Case Keenum | CHI | 9 / 17 | 119 | 0 | 0 | 75.37 |
| Miller Moss | CHI | 13 / 21 | 103 | 0 | 0 | 74.11 |
| Caleb Williams | CHI | 2 / 5 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 58.75 |
Rushing Attack and Ground Game Comparisons
Running the football during the preseason is about testing blocking schemes and evaluating third-string running backs fighting for roster spots.
Chicago outperformed Cincinnati on the ground, accumulating 86 rushing yards on 22 attempts (3.9 yards per carry) compared to Cincinnati’s 64 yards on 20 attempts (3.2 yards per carry). Roschon Johnson led the Bears’ backfield with 12 carries for 42 yards, proving capable of moving the chains in short-yardage scenarios. Salvon Ahmed added burst, racking up 36 yards on just 6 carries, including a game-long 16-yard run.
Cincinnati struggled to create consistent lanes against Chicago’s starting front seven. Rookie Tahj Brooks paced Cincinnati with 16 yards on 3 carries, while receiver Dohnte Meyers gained 9 yards on an end around play. Chicago’s run defense was a bright spot, keeping Cincinnati from gaining explosive plays on the ground.
| Player | Team | Rushing Attempts | Rushing Yards | Average per Carry | Touchdowns | Longest Run |
| Roschon Johnson | CHI | 12 | 42 | 3.5 | 0 | 8 |
| Salvon Ahmed | CHI | 6 | 36 | 6.0 | 0 | 16 |
| Tahj Brooks | CIN | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 0 | 8 |
| Dohnte Meyers | CIN | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 |
| Miller Moss | CHI | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving Corps and Key Playmakers
The air attack yielded stark differences in playmaking ability inside the red zone. While Chicago spread the ball around effectively, they failed to create dynamic scoring plays downfield.
Cincinnati’s Dynamic Receivers
Rookie wideout Colbie Young had a standout performance for Cincinnati. Young caught 3 passes for 48 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown reception from Josh Johnson in the second quarter. Wide receiver Dohnte Meyers led all players in volume, recording 5 receptions for 42 yards. Tight end Tanner Hudson brought in a 6-yard touchdown catch, while receiver Noah Thomas sealed the game with a 20-yard touchdown strike from Sean Clifford in the third quarter.
Chicago’s Pass Catchers
Chicago saw broad participation across their receiving core. Maurice Alexander was the most targeted weapon, hauling in 5 catches for 60 yards. Receiver JP Richardson chipped in with 5 catches for 48 yards, including a 19-yard highlight reel catch right before halftime. Rookie receiver Jahdae Walker logged a team-long 36-yard catch, while tight end Sam Roush logged 30 yards on 2 receptions.
| Player | Team | Receptions | Targets | Receiving Yards | Average Yards | Touchdowns |
| Maurice Alexander | CHI | 5 | 5 | 60 | 12.0 | 0 |
| JP Richardson | CHI | 5 | 9 | 48 | 9.6 | 0 |
| Colbie Young | CIN | 3 | 4 | 48 | 16.0 | 1 |
| Dohnte Meyers | CIN | 5 | 6 | 42 | 8.4 | 0 |
| Jahdae Walker | CHI | 1 | 2 | 36 | 36.0 | 0 |
| Noah Thomas | CIN | 1 | 2 | 20 | 20.0 | 1 |
| Tanner Hudson | CIN | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6.0 | 1 |
Defensive Performances and Special Teams Impact
Preseason outcomes often pivot on depth players stepping up on defense and specialists making field goals reliably under pressure.
Defensive Standouts
Chicago’s defense was led by linebacker Wayne Matthews III, who racked up a game-high 8 tackles. Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II added 7 tackles, while cornerback Dontae Manning played physical coverage, tallying 6 tackles and 3 pass deflections. Defensive back Skylar Thomas produced Chicago’s lone takeaway, intercepting Sean Clifford near midfield in the second half.
Cincinnati’s defense proved tough when it mattered most, denying Chicago touchdowns on three separate red-zone visits. Defensive tackle Landon Robinson anchored the interior line with a sack and a batted pass.
Special Teams Brilliance
Kicking was a major narrative in this contest. Cincinnati kicker Evan McPherson (“Money Mac”) delivered a flawless performance. McPherson connected on all extra point attempts and nailed both field goal tries, including an impressive 58-yard blast early in the fourth quarter.
Chicago kicker Cairo Santos converted three field goal attempts (45, 26, and 44 yards) to supply all of Chicago’s points, though he did miss a 53-yard attempt wide right following a turnover.
| Player | Team | Stat / Category | Stat Value | Impact / Details |
| Wayne Matthews III | CHI | Total Tackles | 8 | Led all players in tackles |
| Dontae Manning | CHI | Pass Deflections | 3 | Disrupted deep passes downfield |
| Skylar Thomas | CHI | Interceptions | 1 | Forced lone turnover of game |
| Evan McPherson | CIN | Field Goals | 2 / 2 | Longest FG made: 58 Yards |
| Cairo Santos | CHI | Field Goals | 3 / 4 | Scored all 9 points for Chicago |
Takeaways and Looking Ahead to the Regular Season
While the scoreboard favored Cincinnati 27-9, both coaching staffs uncovered valuable insights heading into roster cutdown day.
For the Chicago Bears, the top priorities will center on discipline and execution. Moving the ball was not an issue, but pre-snap penalties and stall-outs near the red zone turned potential 7-point drives into 3-point field goals. Caleb Williams showed smooth command in his brief stint, and the run defense performed admirably against opposing backs.
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