5 Big Stats from the Chicago Bears Preseason Victory Over the Cincinnati Bengals

For the first time this season, the Chicago Bears walked out onto Soldier Field in front of a vibrant crowd, and fans were not disappointed with an impressive 27-3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Obviously, it is still just the preseason, so this success should be taken with a grain of salt, but it is undoubtedly exciting to see this team improve heading into the regular season.

Still, it is important to look at how this team was able to win on Saturday, so let us take a look at some of the key statistics that defined the Bears' success in their preseason home opener:

7

Rookie sensation Caleb Williams found the endzone for the first time in his professional career against the Bengals, coming in the form of a masterful 7-yard scramble that saw the former Heisman perfectly manipulate both the opposing defense and his own blockers.

Originally designed as a passing play, Williams craftfully evaded pressure and took full advantage of exceptional blocks up front, including from a diving Braxton Jones on the backside. Keeping his eyes downfield, Williams used active feet to feel out the pocket before rolling out left, where he instructed his leading blocker Teven Jenkins to lead him to the endzone. Williams' ability to create space and time while communicating with his teammates and ensuring ball protection in the pocket is beyond impressive for any player, let alone a rookie.

45

It took three preseason contests, but ninth overall pick Rome Odunze made his first catch on Saturday, hauling in a nuclear 45-yard deep ball from a scrambling Caleb Williams. The over-the-shoulder sideline snag was not Odunze's first touch of the game (a second-quarter end-around that went for 16 yards), but the play showcased the former Washington Huskie's ability to run and track a deep ball.

Unfortunately, Odunze was unable to haul in his only other target, which occurred in the back right corner of the end zone following another scramble drill. However, the highly touted receiver displayed the athleticism and body control that teams coveted heading into last April's draft. Odunze's connection with his fellow rookie quarterback has been growing consistently since the two were drafted within the first nine picks, and on the field, their chemistry is starting to translate into real big play opportunities.

9

Since the first half of the Hall of Fame game, the Chicago Bears have gone 9 quarters since allowing a touchdown, not including the rained-out fourth quarter against the Houston Texans. With the defense practically pitching shutouts in each of the last two games, the Bears have proved that they have a truly formidable unit, from starters to reserves.

To be completely fair, it is somewhat common for a preseason defense to outperform a preseason offense, as one's job on defense is to stop an offensive group that is still ironing out simple problems such as alignments, snap counts, communication errors, etc. Still, the Eberflus-called defense seems to be picking up right where they left off a season ago, and if the team can add another star edge rusher before the start of the season, the Monsters of the Midway might make a resurgence this fall.

3-0

By now, fans should be familiar with Coach Eberflus's "HITS" principle, standing for hustle, intensity, turnovers, and smart play. Many of these traits are desirable, albeit hard to quantify, but the Bears dominated the turnover battle on Saturday, finishing the game with a 3-0 ratio. The win also promoted the Bears' preseason record to, you guessed it, 3-0.

Defensively, reserves Terrell Smith and Amen Ogbongbemiga both walked away from the contest with an interception off of Bengals' starter Logan Woodside. Rookie defensive tackle Keith Randolph Jr was able to pick up a loose ball for the game's sole fumble recovery. Offensively, the Bears were protective of the pigskin and failed to turn the ball over for the second consecutive week. Simply put, the turnover rate is a crucial aspect of a team's success, and the Bears will continue to enjoy success if they continue to take care of the ball.

100%

It's hard to look at the entirety of a football game without mentioning the special teams, and the Bears' unit was dominant en route to the team's decisive victory. Notably, kicker Cairo Santos finished the game with a 100% success rate on all kicks, resulting in nine points for the team.

Having a perfect game is nothing new for Santos, who has enjoyed a career resurgence since rejoining the Bears ahead of the 2020 season. Over the last four seasons, Santos has converted extra points at a 93% rate, and he has been perfect on field goals less than 40 yards in distance. Consistency in the kicking game - punting included - is essential for any football team, but for a group with a younger offense like the Bears, having an automatic kicker like Santos is a huge help to lean on, and it is encouraging to see the kicker already in mid-season form in mid-August.