Offense unable to find end zone as Cincinnati dominates preseason tilt
The Chicago Bears dropped their preseason game to the Cincinnati Bengals, falling 27-9 on Saturday night. The defeat left the Bears at 1-1 in exhibition play and raised fresh questions about a unit that could not cross the goal line against Cincinnati’s rotation of starters and backups.
Cincinnati produced a steady stream of points, including long-range kicking and multiple touchdown passes, while Chicago struggled to sustain offensive drives. A late takeaway by defensive back Skyler Thomas provided a highlight for the Bears, but it came too late to alter the outcome.
"FINAL: Bengals 27, Bears 9"
Key moments and turning points
- Chicago failed to score an offensive touchdown; all Chicago points came via field goals.
- Kicker Cairo Santos missed a 53-yard attempt that would have put the Bears within striking distance after a turnover.
- The Bengals converted multiple passing touchdowns, including a connection from Sean Clifford to Noah Thomas and earlier scoring from Cincinnati’s offense.
The Bears’ first half closed with a late sequence that briefly energized the home side. A 16-yard run by veteran running back Salvon Ahmed in the closing seconds of the second quarter helped Chicago reach field-goal range, and Cairo Santos made a short attempt to cut into the deficit. Still, the team’s inability to turn takeaways into touchdowns remained an issue.
Defensively, the Bears had a moment in the fourth quarter when Skyler Thomas forced the club’s first turnover of the night, ripping the ball out of the air for an interception and takeaway. That play was encouraging but insufficient to overcome a game in which Cincinnati repeatedly moved the ball through the air against Chicago’s backup defenders.
Scoring breakdown
| Quarter | Score (Bengals) | Score (Bears) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — |
| 2 | 17 | 6 |
| 3 | 24 | 6 |
| 4 | 27 | 9 |
Key Bengals scoring plays included a long 58-yard field goal by Evan McPherson and a third passing touchdown late in the first half of the second half from Clifford to Noah Thomas that extended Cincinnati’s margin. Earlier, Josh Johnson connected on scoring plays for the Bengals, including a short-yardage touchdown to tight end Tanner Hudson that gave Cincinnati a two-score advantage before halftime.
What this means for Chicago
Preseason games are primarily evaluative, but this one underscored several immediate concerns for the Bears’ coaching staff and roster evaluators. The offense’s failure to reach the end zone while kicking struggles continued on a long attempt raises questions about red-zone execution and special teams reliability. The defense, particularly Chicago’s depth players, faced sustained pressure from Cincinnati’s passing game and gave up multiple scoring drives.
For fans and front-office observers, the takeaway is straightforward: the Bears will need to show improvement in finishing drives and generating consistent pass rush and coverage from their reserves. The late takeaway by Skyler Thomas suggests there are playmakers who can impact games, but those plays must come earlier and more often in regulation to change outcomes.
Chicago now turns its attention to the remainder of the preseason and final roster decisions. Coaching evaluations will focus on which backups can be trusted in short-yardage and third-down situations, how the special-teams unit responds after the missed 53-yard attempt, and whether the offense can begin converting turnovers and favorable field position into touchdowns.
The preseason record is secondary to development, but fans will watch closely for clearer signs of progress as the Bears approach the regular season.
