Chicago BearsvsCincinnati Bengals
CHI 9/CIN 27
Things to say
The Bengals beat the Bears 27-9 in preseason action at Paycor Stadium.
01
opener
Bengals rolled the Bears 27-9. Chicago just couldn't move the ball all night. Cincinnati pulled away in the second half and never looked back.
02
key player
Josh Johnson was slinging it — 15 of 23, 156 and two touchdowns. Journeyman backup looking sharp as ever.
03
hot take
Nine points and a couple field goals? Keenum and that Bears offense looked flat. Defense had to bail them out just to keep it respectable.
04
deep cut
McPherson booted a 58-yarder to close it out. Kid's got a cannon — that's not even a hard kick for him anymore.
05
exit
It's preseason, so who knows, but Cincy's 2-0 heading into the opener. Anyway — you catching the next one?
The recap
Cincinnati flexed on Chicago 27-9 in a preseason tune-up that was closer than the final says right up until the Bengals pulled away. Josh Johnson ran the show with 156 yards and two touchdown strikes, hitting Colbie Young from 17 and Tanner Hudson late in the half to flip a 6-3 grind into a two-score cushion.
Chicago never got anything going through the air with Case Keenum, leaning on Roschon Johnson's 42 grinding yards while settling for Cairo Santos field goals all night. Cincinnati tacked on a Sean Clifford touchdown and a 58-yard McPherson bomb to salt it away and move to 2-0 in the exhibition slate.