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Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals: 5 Takeaways

By Erik Lambert

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Aug 29, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) carries the ball in the first half against the Chicago Bears in a preseason NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

It was another injury-filled evening of preseason football as the Cincinnati Bengals knocked the Chicago Bears out with an early spurt and held on to win 21-10.  How did things shake out for both teams?  Here are five takeaways from the action.

Bengals coaches deserve criticism for Andy Dalton sneak

Executing the offense and playing to win is important, sure.  However, it’s all about context.  This is the preseason.  The games don’t count and therefor the coaches should be smart about trying to not put key players in positions to where they could get injured.  Cincinnati did just that when they called quarterback Andy Dalton to run a quarterback sneak on a 4th and goal early in the 1st quarter.

He scored the touchdown but the lunge saw him get hit by Bears defenders, resulting in a neck injury that knocked him out of the game after one series.  They’re fortunate it isn’t too serious but it’s another stern lesson that teams should be focused less on winning the game and more about executing and keeping players healthy.

Tyler Eifert is finally beginning to emerge

Getting Marvin Jones and A.J. Green back healthy were big boons for the Bengals offense but the thing they could really start to get excited about is the emergence of young tight end Tyler Eifert.  He’s reportedly had a good training camp and continues to show flashes of what he can bring to the passing attack, showcased recently by a 25-yard grab in this game.

If this progresses as it should, Eifert could be the missing ingredient to really open things up offensively given the teams already has a ground game and receivers.  Provided Dalton gets adequate protection this is going to be an attack that’s difficult to stop.

Carlos Dunlap still the only consistent pass rusher

Pass rush was a real problem for the Bengals in 2014 and may have contributed to their significant slide to 22nd in the league in defense.  The only man who showed any sort of consistency was Carlos Dunlap, who finished with eight sacks.  This game reflected the same issue as he was the only defensive lineman to collect a sack.

If they are going to make any sort of noise in the AFC North and more importantly the playoffs, then Cincinnati needs to find a way to get their rush revved up more, especially on the edges where aside from Dunlap it remains somewhat nonexistent.

Injuries are exposing Bears lack of talent

Bill Parcells once said you are what your record says you are.  The Bears were 5-11 last season.  That means they weren’t a good team not just because of their soap opera atmosphere in the locker room but maybe they aren’t as talented as everybody thought.  It shouldn’t be a surprise considering only one player remains from their drafts between 2006 and 2011.  That being Matt Forte.

This wasn’t going to be a problem GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox could fix in one off-season.  So hiccups like that one in Cincinnati against a Bengals team that has made the playoffs four-straight times are going to happen.  There will be better days but the idea of reaching January may have to wait another year at least.

Jay Cutler playing with much better control

Despite the struggles of the first team offense this preseason, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler deserves a little credit for playing with such control in difficult circumstances.  He hasn’t had two key receivers from the very beginning in Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White and has since also lost Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson too.

To top it off, a serious problem is showing up at the offensive tackle position with Jermon Bushrod, Jordan Mills and Charles Leno Jr. all struggling.  Yet Cutler has managed to avoid any turnovers in preseason play.  Perhaps a testament to the coaching of Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase along with an understanding from Cutler himself that this could be his final year as a starter.

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