Bengals-Bears at a glance

What went right

Everything non-injury related. The Bengals' first-team defense wanted to come out with a better effort against the Bears, and they did just that. Chicago ran 10 plays in the first quarter and managed 36 yards and accumulated just 105 yards of offense for the half. Offensively, Andy Dalton went 6-for-6 and the first team offense went on a 16-play, 77-yard touchdown drive. Then, with AJ McCarron, the first team offense scored two touchdowns. The Bengals accrued 211 yards of total offense in the half.

What went wrong

The second unit along the Bengals' offensive line had some issues in the second half. The starting five were called for two holds as Dalton and McCarron went 12-for-12 and weren't sacked in the first half. Once they went to the bench, the reserve units were flagged five times (not all were accepted penalties), and McCarron was pressured often and sacked twice.

Promising showing

Marvin Jones won a one-on-one matchup down the field to come up with a long pass from McCarron, reminding Bengals fans of the dynamic playmaker he was in 2013. That play was called back due to a hold, but McCarron then went back to Jones on that drive, which resulted in a long touchdown pass.

Player speak

Jeremy Hill, on the five plays of 20 yards or more by the first-team skill players on offense (one was called back due to penalty): "That's what our offense is designed to do, is make big plays. We've got a lot of playmakers on the offense so that's what we set out to do for each game."

Play of the first half

With 6 minutes, 24 seconds left, McCarron stood stall in the pocket despite late pressure from Bears linebacker Pernell McPhee and hit Jones with a perfectly thrown ball over another Bears defender, and then Jones turned upfield and shed contact to get into the end zone for a 31-yard score.

Stat of the game

100

Percent of passes completed by Dalton and McCarron in the first half. The pair went 12-for-12 for 139 yards and a touchdown for a combined rating of 142.7.

Injury update
Dalton injured his neck on his 1-yard touchdown dive through the pile in the first quarter. His return was deemed questionable.

Did not play

LB Emmanuel Lamur (hamstring), WR Onterio McCalebb (undisclosed), WR Tevin Reese (undisclosed), CB Brandon Ghee (hamstring), DL Michael Johnson (knee), DB Darqueze Dennard (groin), LB Sean Porter (knee, PUP), LB Vontaze Burfict (knee, PUP), OL Cedric Ogbuehi (knee, PUP).