Bears take another disappointing loss
CINCINNATI - Their top two nose tackles left with injuries, their defense didn't force an incomplete pass until the third quarter, and their first-team offense didn't score a touchdown.
The Bears' 21-10 loss to the Bengals in the third preseason game was a disappointing "dress rehearsal" for the season opener, which is two weeks away.
Here's what we learned from Saturday night in Cincinnati:
Depth on D-line takes a hit: Jeremiah Ratliff left the game after the first drive and was quickly ruled out with an ankle injury - Ratliff left the locker room with a boot and crutches, but John Fox said the ankle was not broken. His backup, Eddie Goldman, who got the start at nose, likely in preparation for his spot when Ratliff is suspended for substance abuse for the first three weeks, left in the first quarter and was diagnosed with a concussion.
Shades of 2014 on 'D': Andy Dalton and A.J. McCarron combined to complete all 12 of their passes in the first half (six each) against the Bears defense for 139 yards.
"I don't think we improved," Fox said. "Every game, every team has its own personality. I just didn't think we played as tight and as sharp as we did a week ago. Most of that was on third down, in particular on defense."
The Bengals were 8-of-14 converting on third down.
"We had five or six third-and-six-pluses we've got to get off the field on," Jared Allen said. "That'll be an emphasis, that'll be something we harp on. The good thing its he majority of the stuff is correctable. ... It's a process. Luckily its the preseason. They should put a little salt in your craw. We've got to fix things. We've got to be consistent week in and week out."
Offense efficient but neither explosive nor productive: The starting offense will finish the preseason without a touchdown. Jay Cutler was accurate, completing 13 of 17 passes, but he averaged 5.8 yards a completion, as the first-team offense's six drives resulted in 5 punts and 1 field goal. Throwing to a reserve group of receivers, Cutler relied on tight end Martellus Bennett, who caught all 7 passes thrown his way for 45 yards. Matt Forte had only 16 yards on 6 carries.
"I think Jay's been efficient. Up until tonight, the run game has been a little bit consistent," Fox said. "Things like third down was kind of a bugaboo on both sides, offensively and defensively tonight, and are areas that need to improve at."
Sutton makes good impression: The injuries to Ratliff and Goldman gave Will Sutton extended time at the nose, and the second-year player who many cast as a misfit for the 3-4 scheme continued his strong summer. He had 2 tackles for no gain, including one on third-and-short.
"It's always next man up," Sutton said. "It happened last year, (Ratliff) going down, I had to step up and get in there. I'm not worried. I already know what my role is and I'm just going to go out there and execute and play to the best of my ability."