CHICAGO –– When the Cincinnati Bengals won the 2021 season opener, it looked like anything was possible for the Bengals offense. Running back Joe Mixon led the NFL in rushing yards. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was named the Rookie of the Week. The offensive tackles didn’t allow a single pressure.
But in Week 2, the Bengals lost 20-17 to the Chicago Bears. And the Bengals offense waited until the last five minutes to find any rhythm.
Before the last five minutes of the game, the Bengals offense was on pace to have one of its worst games of the last two seasons. The Bengals didn’t establish the run. Chase didn’t break open down the field until near the end. The offensive line allowed five sacks in the first three quarters.
"They had a good pass rush so we tried to get it out quick,' quarterback Joe Burrow said. "They started sitting on all the routes."
Rookie kicker Evan McPherson made a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter, but the Bengals didn’t get past the Bears 35-yard line before the Bears took a 14-point lead.
The Bears took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a nearly perfect drive from quarterback Andy Dalton. The Bengals defense got stops on their next four drives, but the offense didn’t find anything that worked.
