Overview
- Cincinnati fell 47-42 to Chicago after surrendering a 58-yard touchdown in the final seconds, yielding 576 total yards and 283 rushing yards as rookie Kyle Monangai ran for 176.
- Over the past two games the defense allowed 86 points and more than 1,000 yards, becoming the only team in the Super Bowl era to permit 500-plus yards and 38-plus points with zero takeaways in consecutive games.
- Football Outsiders’ Aaron Schatz ranks the Bengals’ defense as the second-worst by DVOA through nine games since 1978, with other analytics placing them last in defensive success rate and points allowed.
- Tackling woes persisted with 15 missed tackles for 133 yards against the Bears after entering the week with league-high totals of 94 missed tackles for 645 yards, per Next Gen Stats.
- Postgame tensions escalated as multiple defensive starters declined interviews while offensive leaders voiced frustration, even as Joe Flacco powered the attack with a career-high 470 passing yards and strong four-game numbers.