Winners And Losers: Bengals 2nd Preseason Game
Syndication: USA TODAY
In a week-long, one-sided affair, the Bengals and Bears squared off at a rainy Soldier Field after a few days of joint practices. In the preseason matchup, the Bears came away with the victory by a final score of 27-3. The Bengals now have a preseason record of 0-2.
Who were the winners and losers from Saturday’s game?
WINNERS
1. The Chicago Bears
I mean, it goes without saying. The Bengals never stood a chance. It looked like Chicago was learning and growing and executing and the Bengals didn’t belong. Rarely this time of year does a week of lopsided practices end with such a lopsided game. I know preseason outcomes aren’t supposed to matter, but they need to feel more important than this one did to Cincinnati.
2. Rookies in the front seven
While the Bengals generally underperformed, the undrafted free agents gave the Cincinnati reassurance that they can be quality members of the team heading into the 2024 season. Take undrafted free agent Maema Njongmeta for example, who led the entire Bengals’ defense in tackles for the second straight week.
Maema Njongmeta (@the_maema) is EATING in the preseason.
The undrafted linebacker has 18 tackles in two games, leading the way for Cincy. #Badgers
📹: NFL+ pic.twitter.com/E4DBziRhnu
— Andrew Bandstra (@andrewbandstra) August 17, 2024
He has already shown that he is more than deserving of a 53 man roster spot, especially in a position as thin as linebacker.
While Njongmeta built off his strong debut last Saturday, Kris Jenkins bounced back from his rough debut last week. He recorded his first NFL sack after using a spin move to get to Caleb Williams.
Kris Jenkins 💪
— Cincy Jungle (@CincyJungle) August 17, 2024
“It felt good finally getting that opportunity,” Jenkins said. “Definitely a step in the right direction. Just gotta keep stacking the days and hopefully getting more from here.”
3. Me
As a result of me turning the game off midway through the fourth quarter, I was able to get some extra things done around the house! I cooked some salmon (heart healthy, delicious, and easy to cook), got in the shower before work, and knocked out my Bengals review article. I even had time to text a girl I met on Hinge to see if she wanted to go on a second date!
LOSERS
1. Me
She didn’t text back.
2. The passing defense
As we mentioned before, the Bears had the Bengals’ number in practice all week. Despite the joint practices that doubled as Caleb Williams highlight reels, Cincinnati held their own in defending him for the majority of the game; that is, until Williams hit Rome Odunze on a highlight reel-worthy pass that Bears fans will see the likes of for years to come.
This angle of Caleb Williams’ DIME to Rome Odunze 🤯
pic.twitter.com/eyN0J8Zi5e— PFF (@PFF) August 17, 2024
That play set Chicago up deep in Cincinnati’s red zone. On third and goal, Caleb Williams scrambled and reminded the Bengals’ secondary that quarterbacks are, in fact, allowed to run with the ball.
My god this Caleb Williams guy might be a full-time WEAPON pic.twitter.com/IO3tl2sYGb
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) August 17, 2024
Despite the Bengals doing an adequate job at containing Williams, Tyson Bagent came in to replace him near the end of the second quarter. Bagent put on a clinic, completing seven out of eight passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns, both of which were to Dante Pettis. The second of two was proof that there is no defense for a perfect pass.
An absolute DOT from Tyson Bagent
— Barstool Chicago (@barstoolchicago) August 17, 2024
Tyson Bagent and third string quarterback Brett Rypien combined for a 154.86 passer rating.
3. The third string passing offense
With Jake Browning injured, the keys to the offense were handed to Logan Woodside and Rocky Lombardi. Their performance wasn’t necessarily terrible, but it was definitely underwhelming, especially considering the two quarterbacks combined for a passer rating of 50.7.
While Woodside did an adequate job, completing 17 out of 25 passes for 132 yards, he had too many costly plays (two sacks taken and two interceptions) that did him in. In particular, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon bull-rushed Woodside and hit him so hard, it gave him flashbacks to that one night in the UDF parking lot in 2018. The hit caused a pop-up throw that was easily caught by Bears linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga.
Near the end of the third quarter, Rocky Lombardi replaced Woodside and had an up-and-down performance. He completed four out of eight passes for 33 yards, but lost a fumble after getting hit hard by Daniel Hardy during a Chicago downpour.
.@Dhardy44 forces the fumble & @Randolph_22 comes up with it!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/4W1w5uzvSU
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 17, 2024
The Bengals’ two quarterbacks inconsistency and inefficiency gave a lot of opportunities to…
4. Ryan Rehkow
With Brad Robbins hurt, undrafted free agent punter Ryan Rehkow had a golden opportunity to win the punter job. Six Bengals’ drives ended in a punt, and Rehkow struggled with consistency, even though he caught a lucky break.
Ryan Rehkow may like the 56-yard punt in the box score, but that won't help him in the film room.
An ugly, short punt gets lucky roll. Two straight that haven't been what you'd hope to see in the punter battle.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) August 17, 2024
While Rehkow wasn’t particularly bad, he didn’t fully capitalize on his opportunity to separate himself from Robbins to win the starting punter job. If Robbins is still hurt, Rehkow will have another opportunity to do so on Thursday when the Bengals welcome the Colts to Cincinnati.
Up Next