The Bengals found a new way to lose a track meet. Despite Joe Flacco throwing for a career-high 470 yards and four touchdowns, Cincinnati surrendered a 58-yard dagger from Caleb Williams to Colston Loveland with 0:17 left and fell 47-42 in Chicago.
It’s the second straight week the Bengals have scored 30-plus points and lost, and the sixth time that’s happened since last season.
The day actually opened like a dream. Charlie Jones housed the kickoff from 98 yards just 11 seconds in. From there, the defense never found a stop rhythm. Chicago piled up 576 total yards, rushed for 283 (7.6 per carry), and scored on seven of nine drives.
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Rookie back Kyle Monangai gashed Cincinnati for 176 yards on 26 carries, while Williams accounted for four touchdowns, three passing, one receiving, on a trick play.
Still, the Bengals (3-6) had it in their hands late. Down 41-27 with 4:53 left, Flacco led a 32-second TD drive to Noah Fant, Tee Higgins snagged the two-pointer, Joseph Ossai recovered the onside kick, and Flacco hit Andrei Iosivas for a 9-yard go-ahead score with 0:54 remaining. Four plays later, on 1st-and-10 from the Chicago 42, Williams found Loveland down the seam; the rookie tight end bounced off two DBs and finished the game-winner.
Flacco finished 30-of-44 with the 470 and four scores, gutting it out after an AC joint issue limited him in practice.
Higgins finished with seven catches for 121 yards and two scores, and terrorized the sideline, while Ja’Marr Chase added six receptions for 111 yards. But the defense was again the story. Repeated busts, missed tackles, and no answers for Chicago’s ground game.
Cincinnati allowed 31-plus points for the third straight outing and watched a 20-17 halftime lead evaporate as the Bears scored on their first four second-half possessions.
Williams went 280 yards with three passing TDs and made a bit of history as the first starting QB in nearly 82 years with multiple receptions in a game (via two gadget throws). Tight end Colston Loveland led Chicago with 6/118 and the walk-off. D.J. Moore added a 17-yard TD run and a TD pass to Williams.
Injuries didn’t help. Samaje Perine exited with a right ankle injury and didn’t return. After a needed bye, Cincinnati visits Pittsburgh on Nov. 16 with a defense in urgent need of answers.
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