After a horrible game against Tampa Bay, Bengals starting quarterback Andy Dalton came out guns blazing against the Chicago Bears. Dalton and the first team offense took advantage of a Bears defense still learning a new system and drove down the field to the goal line in sixteen plays. They tried to rush it with Jeremy Hill on the goal line three times and three times he was stuffed by Bears defense. But on 4th and goal Dalton put his head down and went in for the touchdown. It capped a 9 minute drive and it was good to see a Bengals offense come out strong right out of the gates after a horrible showing in their last pre-season game.
But that would be Dalton's last play of the game as he left the game with a sore neck. This opened up the chance for AJ McCarron to play with the first team offense and the former Alabama quarterback fit right in. Like Dalton, McCarron picked apart the Bears secondary. Finding check downs when he needed to and making the big throws he needed to. He capped it off with a touchdown throw to Marvin Jones, his first professional touchdown, to make it a two score lead for the Bengals.
This came right after the the Bengals defense had stuffed the Bears offense once again. The Bengals took advantage of a Bears offense that was missing their top targets on offense. Eddie Royal, Alshon Jeffrey, and Marquess Wilson were all ruled out of the game while Kevin White remains sidelined after shin surgery. With only Martellus Bennett as the only pass catcher that was a starter before, the offense fell flat today and it showed.
Meanwhile, the Bengals offense kept clicking with McCarron at the helm. The next time they got the ball, they just kept going through the Bears defense. Jeremy Hill capped off the drive with a 1 yard run and it was 21-0 Bengals.
Right before the half, Jay Cutler and the starters drove down the field in the final two minutes. This set up a Robbie Gould field goal to make it 21-3 and at least give Chicago some hope in this game.
The second half saw most the second team guys get a chance on the field and no points were scored by either of the offenses in the second half. The only points came from a blocked punt by Ify Umodu as it cut the Bengals lead to 21-10. It remained that way until the final whistle as the Bengals dominated right from the opening drive in this game and didn't give the Bears a chance to get back into the game.
It was a solid performance by the Bengals and a disappointing one from the Bears. But it is the pre-season so there is room for improvement for both teams as they prepare for their final pre-season game.