Johnson reacts to Chicago’s wild win against the Bengals

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 7 hours ago

CINCINNATI - It is a rare sight when you see a shootout like Chicago’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

That game had everything you could ask for - explosive plays, numerous lead changes, lots of scoring, and a Chicago Bears victory.

“Overall, just really proud of the group and how resilient they were," Bears head coach Ben Johnson said after the win. "There’s a number of things that weren’t pretty, that weren’t clean and yet, I think what you learn about this group through the first half of the season is that they are an extremely resilient bunch. They show up and they’re going to fight you all 60 minutes and they really don’t waver. I give them a lot of credit for their poise,” head coach Ben Johnson said. “With the way that game went, you’re up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and they get the onside kick, they take the lead and it’s easy (to) fold and our guys didn’t do that. They kept the faith and found a way to come out on top and so, there’ll be a lot of tape that we can coach off of and we can clean up. I think the best thing is you go in the locker room and it’s an exciting win like that and yet, there’s a number of guys that are pretty disappointed with how they played and so, I think that’s the sign of a good football team is they can recognize it immediately and we’re going to be able to clean it up and get it fixed. You don’t apologize for winning in this league. It’s too hard week-in and week-out, especially on the road and so, as a coach, you don’t take these things for granted.”

The Bears’ 47-42 win against the Bengals marked the first time since Oct. 19 of 2008 that the Bears gave up at least 40 points and won the game. Chicago was led by their quarterback, Caleb Williams, who earned his tenth career win as a starter in the NFL.

Williams finished the game 20 for 34 for 280 passing yards and three touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 114.8. He added a two-yard receiving touchdown for his first NFL reception as well.

There were still numerous plays Williams probably would want back, but he did what the Bears needed of him to get the victory.

“He threw some touchdowns,” Johnson said. “He didn’t throw any interceptions, and I thought he used his legs to help us extend drives as well. So, I was pleased with that.”

Chicago’s run game had finally developed some consistency the last few games, but went into this game without their starting running back, D’Andre Swift. Rookie running back Kyle Monangai stepped up in a huge way in Swift’s absence with 26 carries for 176 yards, the second only to Anthony Thomas in 2001 for most rushing yards in a single game by a Bears rookie running back.

Ironically, Thomas had his 188-yard performance against the Bengals.

“I’m not surprised. That’s who (Monangai’s) been since he’s been here. Very reliable,” Johnson said. “He’s going to do what you’re coaching and he’s hard to bring down. I think that showed up. What he was in Rutgers was the bellcow for that team and he proved today that he can carry that load if called upon.”

In the fourth quarter, with under six minutes left in the game, Chicago was looking to go up by two possessions. Wide receiver DJ Moore ran the ball on an end-around and was ruled out a yard shy of the end zone. Cincinnati challenged it, saying Moore had fumbled the ball out of the end zone for a touchback.

The call was ultimately overturned; however, the play was changed to a touchdown as Moore had crossed the plane before the ball was released.

“All guys know we don’t reach the ball out at the pylon and so, DJ was the first one over to me,” Johnson said. “He’s like, ‘Coach, the way he hit me kind of forced the ball to go like that.’ But, he felt like he had possession of it and I think the video affirmed that for us. So, it was good.”