The Chicago Bears defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 27-3 on Saturday, extending their preseason record to 3-0.
The game marked rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ debut at Soldier Field. And despite a slow start that included three consecutive three-and-outs, he did not disappoint, as did fellow rookie Rome Odunze. The pair made a spectacular deep ball down the left sideline and Williams scored his first of many touchdowns as a Bear.
There were plenty of other standout performances, including a Chicago defense that limited Cincinnati to just three points and had three total turnovers on the afternoon. Here’s who earned game balls in the preseason Week 2 win over the Bengals:
Quarterback Tyson Bagent
If there was ever any doubt about whether Bagent could lose his job to Brett Rypien or Austin Reed, he put it to rest on Saturday. Chicago’s backup quarterback solidified his role as QB2 with a near-perfect performance against Cincinnati. He completed 7 of 8 passes for 87 yards and threw two touchdowns with a 151.6 passer rating while adding a 10-yard run. Bagent showed confidence, throwing dimes all over the field, with his connection with receiver Dante Pettis really shining. The importance of a good backup quarterback in the league cannot be overstated, and the Bears definitely seem to have found one in Bagent.
WR Dante Pettis
Pettis benefited from Bagent’s star-studded lineup and quickly became his favorite target. With Pettis looking to fight for one of the final spots on the roster, a strong performance like Saturday can only help him. Pettis caught all three passes thrown his way for a team-leading 53 yards and caught two touchdowns from Bagent. Pettis caught a punt that afternoon that lost him three yards while trying to make a play, but his versatility on special teams has certainly helped him earn a spot on the roster as a WR5 or WR6.
CB Kyler Gordon
Gordon made his first preseason appearance on Saturday and did not disappoint in his return from injury. He was an absolute force on the field, where his tough play helped slow down the Bengals’ offense. Gordon had four tackles, including two tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and a QB hit in his limited sample size, showing the kind of impact we can expect from him this season. In year three, the sky is the limit for Gordon, who flourished last year when he moved to the nickelback position. His biggest obstacle will be staying healthy for a full season in what could be one of the best secondaries in the league.
Quarterback Caleb Williams
Williams got off to a rocky start with three consecutive incomplete passes followed by three consecutive three-and-outs on offense. But he turned things around in the final minutes of the second quarter, leading the Bears to 10 points and putting on a show for the Soldier Field crowd. Williams once again showed what makes him special with his improvisational skills and natural playmaking talent, including an impressive 45-yard pass to Rome Odunze down the left sideline and his first touchdown as a Bear – a seven-yard run on the third and final attempt. It wasn’t a perfect afternoon, but Williams showed he can respond to adversity. And his skills impressed NFL fans, with Tyreek Hill comparing him to Patrick Mahomes.
EN Daniel Hardy
There have been a number of players who have flown under the radar this preseason and made strong statements, but defensive end Daniel Hardy has a strong case for a spot on the roster. Hardy has put together two impressive performances in a row where he has shown his ability to get to the quarterback. After a 2.5 sack performance last week, Hardy recorded three total tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, two QB hits and a forced fumble. He also had one tackle on special teams. Hardy has had an impressive preseason and is on pace to earn one of the final spots on the roster.
