Bears Survive Bengals in a 47-42 Thriller

I think I lost a few years off my life watching that game. The Bears somehow managed to make what should’ve been a comfortable win into a cardiac event, giving up 15 points in the final two minutes to let Cincinnati take the lead with just 54 seconds left. But then, Caleb Williams happened.

With the game on the line, Williams delivered an absolute dagger — a 58-yard touchdown strike to Colston Loveland, who broke two tackles and sprinted into the end zone to steal back the win, 47–42 Bears. It was one of those plays you’ll remember for years — the kind that makes you believe this team might actually be different.

And that’s something worth noting about this year’s Bears. Coach Ben Johnson has this group playing with a level of confidence and resilience we haven’t seen in years. These are games the Bears used to lose — late collapses, missed opportunities, heartbreaks. But under Johnson, they don’t flinch. They believe they can win, no matter the situation, and that belief is starting to pay off.

Offensively, this game was fun — pure chaos in the best way. We saw Johnson dip deep into the playbook with trick plays galore. Caleb Williams caught two passes himself — one for a touchdown thrown by DJ Moore, and another on a wild double-pass sequence where he lateraled to Tyson Bagent, got it back, and turned it into a 20-yard pickup. Even Cole Kmet got in on the passing action, tossing one that would’ve been a highlight-reel play if Rome Odunze had managed to hang on instead of bobbling it away.

Speaking of Odunze… it’s becoming a bit of a concern. As talented as he is, he’s struggling to haul in contested catches — the kind of plays you expect your top-10 pick to make. He’s got the skill and the physical tools, but he’s got to finish those plays if this offense is going to reach its potential.

On the flip side, running back Kyle Monangai was a revelation. With D’Andre Swift out, Monangai took over and ran for 176 yards, carrying the offense when they needed it most. The kid was electric — patient, tough, and explosive through the holes. He made a statement today that he deserves more touches even when Swift returns.

Of course, as thrilling as the win was, the defense once again made things harder than they needed to be. Blowing a 15-point lead in two minutes is unacceptable at any level. The lack of depth at corner really showed with Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson sidelined — the backups simply couldn’t hold up. If this team wants to keep climbing, they have to find a way to close games out on that side of the ball.

Still, a win is a win — and this one showed something we’ve been waiting to see for a long time: a Bears team that refuses to fold. They made it stressful, sure, but they also made it unforgettable.

Next week, I’d love to see a little less drama — but then again, with this team, maybe chaos is just part of the fun.

Article by Ryan Burhite