Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be taking an in-depth look at the Bengals' 2025 opponents. The Bengals play their final game before the bye week at Paycor Stadium against the Chicago Bears in Week 9.

2024

The Bears came in last in the NFC North in 2024, finishing 5-12 and firing head coach Matt Eberflus after a 4-8 start.

2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams started all 17 games for Chicago, tossing 20 touchdowns to six interceptions. As a unit, the Bears averaged the fifth-fewest points per game in the NFL (18.2) and the fewest yards per game (284.6). On the defensive side of the ball, Chicago allowed the sixth-most yards per game (354.3) but was middle of the pack in points allowed (21.8).

Offseason Changes

The Bears offseason started at the top when they hired Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the team's next head coach.

Chicago focused on building in the trenches during free agency. After the team allowed a league-high 68 sacks in 2024, the Bears signed Atlanta Falcons C Drew Dalman to a three-year deal and traded for G Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs and G Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams. On defense, they brought in DT Grady Jarrett and DE Dayo Odeyingbo, both on three year deals.

The Bears continued to build its offense during the draft, selecting Michigan TE Colston Loveland in the first round and Missouri WR Luther Burden III in the second round to round out a receiving corps that includes WRs DJ Moore and Rome Odunze and TE Cole Kmet. They also drafted OT Ozzy Trapilo out of Boston College in round three.

Coaching Staff

Johnson enters his first year as a head coach in the NFL after spending the last three seasons overseeing the Lions' offensive unit. In 2024, Detroit averaged a franchise-record 409.5 yards per game and led the NFL with 32.4 points per game and 68 offensive touchdowns. Johnson spent six seasons with the Lions, starting as an offensive quality control coach in 2019 before overseeing the tight ends for two seasons. He also spent seven years with the Miami Dolphins.

Johnson hired Denver Broncos' tight end coach Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator. Doyle spent two seasons with Denver after spending four years as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints.

Another former Saint joined the Bears coaching staff, as former New Orleans head coach Dennis Allen will lead the Chicago defense. Allen has coached in the NFL for 23 years. He spent six of those years as a head coach — three with the Oakland Raiders and three with the Saints — and eight as a defensive coordinator. He tallied 14 years across two different stints with the Saints, contributing to six NFC South titles and a Super Bowl XLIV victory in 2009.

Series History

The Bengals have played the Bears a total of 12 times, and the series is split evenly 6-6.

What To Watch For

Chicago was gashed on the ground in 2024, allowing the fifth-most rushing yards per game (132.6). Cincinnati RB Chase Brown posted 990 yards rushing last season and 1,350 yards from scrimmage, including five straight games of at least 100 yards from Weeks 11-16.

The Bears allowed 17 passing touchdowns last season, the fewest in the NFL. Chicago will come against a Cincinnati passing attack that led the NFL in yards (4,640) and touchdowns (43).