Windy City Gridiron
Anyone else still struggling to catch their breath after the final two and a half minutes of Sunday’s game in Cincinnati? It was an up-and-down game that saw eight lead changes, and when it felt like the Chicago Bears had all but salted the game away with just over two minutes remaining, the Bengals scored 15 points in less than a minute. That set the stage for one final offensive drive, in which quarterback Caleb Williams came through yet again.
It was far from a perfect game on either side of the ball, but for the first time in what feels like forever, the offense was the reason they won a game in a shootout. For more on Sunday’s happenings, let’s dive into a loaded installment of 10 Bears Takes.
1. Heading Into The Game, Both Teams Were At A Crossroads. A Win Would Keep One Team Competitive, While A Loss On The Other Side Would All But End A Season. In The End, The Bears Found A Way To Survive.
The classic “Must Win” game at the start of November might be a bit too dramatic to some, but for the Bengals, especially, it was do-or-die time. Despite their (2-0) start, things have not gone well since Joe Burrow was lost for three months. They are just (1-6) since that point, and even with the acquisition of Joe Flacco, who is having yet another insane renaissance, Cincinnati’s defense is historically bad. With the Baltimore Ravens on a two-game winning streak and looking like they have rounded back into form with Lamar Jackson under center, the Bengals’ chances of salvaging their season went almost all the way out the window on Sunday in front of a home crowd.
For the Bears, finding a way to get over the hump after a disappointing loss on the road to the Ravens last week was crucial to achieving success in November and December. Despite a new coaching staff and numerous new faces on the roster, the lingering “here we go again” feeling, which had been present after matching their 2025 record through seven games, was a real factor. The first half didn’t go as planned, including a pair of missed field goals (more on that later), but in the end, the offense was able to jumpstart in the second half with an almost seven-minute touchdown scoring drive to open the third quarter.
At one point late in the fourth quarter, it felt like the Bears had finally put the game away. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds came up with what looked like a game-sealing 95-yard pick-six, but it was quickly called back after the officiating crew deemed that he was down by contact at the five. Following a quick three-and-out from the offense, it was all up to the defense again to put the game away. Yet, a questionable pass interference call nullified a potentially game-sealing interception, and 49 seconds later, the Bears found themselves down a point after having a 41-27 lead heading into...
