The 2-0 Chicago Bears look to continue a strong preseason against the Cincinnati Bengals, who were embarrassed last week. (Getty)
Final Score
Bears 0-3-0-7 — 10
Bengals 7-14-0-0 — 21
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Andy Dalton Leads Methodical Opening Drive
#Bengals take 7-0 lead on 4th-G on a Dalton sneak from the one. t.co/8YQaSv2hts
It was exactly what Bengals fans were hoping to see after last week’s performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A 16-play, 77-yard drive that took over nine minutes off the clock and ended in seven points.
Although it wasn’t always pretty at times–Jeremy Hill was stopped at the goal-line on multiple occasions–it got the job done. Dalton completed all six of his passes for 52 yards, notably hooking up with running-back-turned-wide-receiver Rex Burkhead twice for 35 yards, before punching it in himself for the score.
AJ McCarron Connects With Marvin Jones for 31-Yard Touchdown
What a TD!! A 31 yard throw to Jones, who navigates (and then powers) into the endzone. t.co/hJRYvu77RZ
Dalton came out after just one drive, allowing backup AJ McCarron an opportunity to get in some time with the first-team offense. And it didn’t take him long to take advantage of that opportunity.
On just his second drive, McCarron made several nice throws, putting together a 71-yard drive on nine plays. He had a 43-yard completion to Marvin Jones taken away by penalty earlier on the drive but quickly connected with Jones again a couple plays later for the 31-yard score.
Jeremy Hill Gets Into the Scoring Act
Hill with a nice 26 yarder. t.co/uyjuAJy5b5
While the Bears struggle to get much going, the Bengals are clicking on all cylinders offensively. Hill rattled of a 26-yard run, McCarron followed up with a beautiful touch pass to Tyler Eifert to take Cincy to the three, and Hill finished the drive off with a short touchdown.
McCarron, following up Dalton’s 6-for-6 performance, is 6-for-6 himself for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Hill has 46 yards on 11 carries.
Bears Special Teams Gets Team’s First Touchdown
.@ChicagoBears LB Ify Umodu with the punt block. And the TD. And… that celebration was certainly different. http://t.co/p1qXT7Voyo
Jay Cutler went 13-of-17 for 98 yards, Matt Forte rushed six times for 16 yards and the Bears offense was only able to muster three points in the first half. Finally, in the fourth quarter, the team’s special teams was able to find the end zone.
Ify Umodu did it all, blocking Cincy’s punt, scooping it up, and running eight yards for the touchdown. There’s one of the few bright spots for Chicago on the night.
Game Preview
(Getty)
Well, at least the Bengals aren’t playing in prime time.
Andy Dalton and Cincinnati’s seemingly endless struggles playing in front of a national audience continued last Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as the first-team offense turned the ball over three times (two interceptions by Dalton and one fumble by Jeremy Hill) and managed 22 total yards on its first six drives.
Looking to right the ship during the most telling week of the preseason, the Bengals have the unfortunate task of going up against the Chicago Bears and a red-hot defensive line. Led by offseason signing Pernell McPhee, the Bears sacked the Indianapolis Colts four times and tallied 10 QB hurries last week.
Preseason doesn’t mean much of anything in terms of the big picture, but after last week, the Bengals starters could really use a strong performance against a Bears team that has looked very good thus far.
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