Cincinnati will host its third straight game at Paycor Stadium Sunday, as the Chicago Bears come to town.
The Bears are 4-3 after falling to the Ravens 30-16 in Week 8. Chicago had rattled off four consecutive victories prior to the loss in Baltimore.
Bears Offense
The Bears offense scored a season-low 16 points in Week 8 after scoring at least 21 points in all six prior contests. QB Caleb Williams threw for 285 yards and an interception in the loss. Williams has completed 61.9% of his passes, ranking 33rd among QBs with at least 25 dropbacks per PFF, and has thrown nine touchdowns to four interceptions on the year. PFF has credited the 2024 first overall pick from Southern California with nine turnover-worthy throws this season, tied for the seventh most in the NFL.
Williams' 2024 draft mate WR Rome Odunze has led the Bears aerial attack. The first rounder from Washington paces the team in targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns. Odunze's 114 yards against the Ravens rank as the second most in his NFL career and his fourth 100+-yard performance in two pro seasons. His five touchdowns are tied for the fifth-most receiving touchdowns in the NFL among wideouts, while his 15.3 yards per reception rank 15th among receivers with at least 20 targets.
WR DJ Moore has been a dependable second option, recording zero drops in 26 receptions. The Bears also drafted TE Colston Loveland out of Michigan in the first round, who has 116 receiving yards in six games played.
RB D'Andre Swift has scored a touchdown in four straight games, leading the Chicago backfield with 100 carries and averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. Rookie Kyle Monangai, a seventh-round pick from Rutgers, saw his most work of the season in Week 7 against the Saints, carrying the ball 13 times. He had seven attempts for 24 yards in the loss to Baltimore and has 42 attempts on the season.
After allowing Williams to be sacked 68 times in 2024, the Bears offensive line has given up 12 sacks in seven games so far this season.
Bears Defense
Chicago is allowing 26.4 points and 350.7 yards per game, both the eighth most in the NFL. They have been opportunistic on that side of the ball, however, leading the NFL with 16 takeaways and a +10-turnover differential. They forced multiple turnovers in each game of their four-game winning streak but did not force any in the Week 8 loss to Baltimore.
The Bears have struggled in run defense, allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game in the league (143.3). They just allowed 5.1 yards per carry to the Ravens, as RB Derrick Henry found the end zone twice. On the year, Chicago has allowed 5.3 yards per carry, the third most in the NFL.
Chicago has generated 14 sacks this season, the eighth fewest in the league. DT Gervon Dexter Sr. leads the team with 3.5 takedowns from his interior spot, while edge rusher Montez Sweat paces the team with 23 total pressures.
On the back end, the Bears have been without star CB Jaylon Johnson since the start of the season. Johnson missed all of training camp, the preseason and Week 1. He returned briefly in Week 2 but left with a core muscle injury that required surgery. He became eligible to return from Injured Reserve in Week 8, but no move has been made as of now. Chicago was also without nickel corner Kyler Gordon and outside corner Tyrique Stevenson, their two-highest graded corners per PFF, in the loss to the Ravens, a game in which backup quarterback Tyler Huntley completed 17-of-22 passes for 186 yards and a score.
View the best photos from Bengals-Bears matchups of years past.
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco (85) is tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman (33) in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Peter Warrick (80) pushes away Chicago Bears defender Tony Parrish (37) during an 8-yard gain in the fourth quarter, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, in Cincinnati.
Chicago Bears Walter Payton (34) gestures to fend off Cincinnati Bengals Jimmy Turner (35) during second quarter action in 1984.
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) is pursued by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker (92) in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (32) in action against the Chicago Bears in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson advances his interception of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields as Chicago Bears running back Damien Williams and Marquise Goodwin make the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Chicago. The Bears won 20-17. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, right, makes a reception against Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman (33) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (32) lunges for extra yardage as he is tackled by Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs (55) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, left, chats with Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton, right, prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
The Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears gather for a prayer after an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, in Chicago. The Bears won 24-21. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Cincinnati Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, right, dives into the end zone for a touchdown past Chicago Bears free safety Chris Conte (47) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson spins around a defender during the team's second preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, August 17, 2024.
Defensive end Justin Smith #90 of the Cincinnati Bengals pressures quarterback Kyle Orton #18 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 25, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bengals defeated the Bears 24-7. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Bengals defensive tackle Kris Jenkins celebrates after a sack during the team's second preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, August 17, 2024.
Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh of the Cincinnati Bengals looks in a pass during a NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago on Sept. 25, 2005. The Bengals won 24-7. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Center Rich Braham #74 of the Cincinnati Bengals pass blocks as quarterback Carson Palmer #9 drops back to pass against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 25, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bengals defeated the Bears 24-7. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Cincinnati Bengals' Tory James (20) and Kevin Kaesviharn (34) force Chicago Bears wide receiver Justin Gage to fumble during the first quarter Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005, in Chicago. The fumble was recovered by the Bengals setting up an 18-yard touchdown pass. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason fights off Chicago Bears safety David Tate during the third quarter in Chicago, Nov. 9, 1992. Esiason threw for three touchdowns and led the Bengals to a 1-28 overtime victory over the Bears. (AP Photo/Barry Jarvinen)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson (32) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 25, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bengals defeated the Bears 24-7. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
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