Holy cow, what a freaking win for the Chicago Bears! They almost blew a two-score lead in the closing stages because of some glaring second-half defensive struggles. Nevertheless, the team managed to beat the Cincinnati Bengals on the road and improve to 5-3 by recording their highest single-game scoring output since 2018.
The Bears gave fans a scare en route to their 47-42 victory in Cincinnati. However, they never flinched in the face of adversity and found a way to prevail.
Chicago's composure in crunch time is a testament to its leader, Ben Johnson. He's instantly revitalizing the organization, instilling a culture of confidence, discipline, and relentless effort, regardless of the results. The Bears' first-year head coach knows it won't always be sunshine and rainbows and has the utmost respect for his squad for persevering through the challenges.
Ben Johnson praises Bears for keeping composure in dramatic win vs. Bengals
"Overall, [I'm] just really proud of the group and how resilient they were," Johnson told reporters after Chicago defeated the Bengals. He noted a "number of things that weren't pretty [or] clean," lauding his Bears for being unflappable even in the most chaotic circumstances all year.
" ... I think what you've learned about this group through the first half of the season is that they're an extremely resilient bunch," Johnson said. "They show up, they're going to fight you all 60 minutes and they really don't waver; I give them a lot of credit for their poise."
To Johnson's point, the Bears surrendered two touchdowns in less than two minutes late in the fourth quarter in Cincy and allowed the most passing yards to a quarterback age 40 or older in NFL history. Yet, they pulled themselves back together following a near-meltdown, thanks to some offensive fireworks of their own.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams completed 20 of 34 attempts for 280 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 53 rushing yards on five carries, showcasing his athleticism and mobility. Furthermore, and perhaps most impressively, the 2024 No. 1 overall pick caught two passes for 22 yards and an additional score, including a 20-yard reception.
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Moreover, the Bears' seventh-round rookie running back Kyle Monangai announced himself to the football world with a breakout performance versus the Bengals. He turned 29 touches into 198 scrimmage yards, constantly gashing Cincy's hapless stop unit while keeping Chicago's offense on/ahead of schedule.