On November 2, 2025, the Chicago Bears beat the Cincinnati Bengals 47–42 in a wild game at Paycor Stadium. It had big plays, long drives, and a last-minute touchdown. Caleb Williams led the Bears with 280 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Joe Flacco threw for 470 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Bengals. The winning play was a 58-yard touchdown to rookie tight end Colston Loveland with 17 seconds left.
Final score and basic facts
- Chicago Bears 47, Cincinnati Bengals 42 (at Cincinnati)
- Scoring by quarter: Bears 7 10 14 16, Bengals 10 10 7 15
- Result decided in the final minute on a long touchdown pass.
Headline player stats
Bears (offense)
- QB Caleb Williams: 20/34, 280 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, passer rating 114.8. He also ran for 53 yards. Calm in the pocket, he spread the ball well.
- RB Kyle Monangai: 26 carries, 176 yards (6.8 per carry). He set the tone with strong inside runs and cutbacks.
- TE Colston Loveland: 6 catches, 118 yards, 2 TD, including the 58-yard game winner.
- WR DJ Moore: 4 receptions, 72 yards; also a 1-yard rushing TD on a jet sweep.
- WR Olamide Zaccheaus: 6 receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD. A steady chain-mover.
Bengals (offense)
- QB Joe Flacco: 31/47, 470 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT. He attacked downfield all night and led a late comeback that briefly gave Cincinnati the lead.
- WR Tee Higgins: 7 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD. He hit two big milestones in this game and kept pressure on the Bears’ corners.
- WR Ja’Marr Chase: 6 receptions, 111 yards. Key sideline grabs, plus yards after catch.
- TE Tanner Hudson: 2 receptions, 28 yards, 1 TD. A red-zone threat.
- RB Chase Brown: 11 carries, 37 yards and 8 catches for 75 yards. Short passes to him helped beat the rush.
Special teams note
- Bengals KR Charlie Jones opened the game with a 98-yard kickoff return TD. That early spark put the Bears on notice.
Team stats and what they tell us
- The Bears piled up over 570 total yards (about 293 passing + 283 rushing). This shows a balanced, explosive attack. The Bengals’ defense could not stop the run or the late deep shot.
- Time of possession was close to even by the end, but Chicago’s run game gave them control in key moments.
- Cincinnati passed for 470 yards, but had two interceptions and allowed three sacks, which stopped drives at bad times.
How the game flowed (easy timeline)

- Kickoff return TD (CIN) – Charlie Jones went the distance. Bengals led early.
- Bears answer – Williams found rhythm with Moore and Loveland. Monangai’s runs kept the chains moving.
- Halftime – Bengals and Bears traded scores; yardage came fast for both.
- Third quarter – Bears leaned on Monangai. Williams hit Loveland and Zaccheaus for big gains.
- Late fourth – Flacco led two quick TD drives to take a 42 41 lead. It felt like a classic comeback.
- Final 0:17 – Williams to Loveland for 58 yards. Bears back on top, 47 42, and they held on.
Why the Bears won
1) Rushing edge. With 176 yards from Monangai and 53 more from Williams, the Bears hit big runs and stayed in good down-and-distance. This opened play-action and slowed the pass rush.
2) Efficient quarterback play. Williams did not throw an interception. He took what the defense gave him and protected the ball. His 114.8 rating shows smart choices and clean throws.
3) Finishing drives. Chicago made the key plays in the red zone and on third down late. Loveland’s second TD was the best example.
4) Answers to momentum swings. Even after the Bengals’ late push, the Bears stayed calm and executed the final drive for the win.
Why the Bengals fell short
1) Pass defense issues. The Bengals allowed chunk passes, including the final 58-yard strike. Their coverage broke down at the worst time.
2) Run defense problems. Allowing 283 rushing yards made it hard to get off the field. Missed tackles extended drives.
3) Costly turnovers. Flacco’s 2 interceptions and 1 lost fumble hurt. The Bengals gained yards but gave away chances.
4) Too many late-game answers needed. Even with big plays to Higgins and Chase, they had to chase the game. One more defensive stop was the difference.
Deeper look at key players
Caleb Williams (Bears, QB)
Williams showed poise. He moved the pocket, hit crossers, and took safe shots when the corners bailed. The stat line 280 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT matches the eye test. He also added 53 rushing yards, which kept the linebackers honest.
Kyle Monangai (Bears, RB)
Monangai’s 26 for 176 came with vision and burst. Many runs were zone plays where he read the cutback. He helped the Bears hold the ball and kept third downs short.
Colston Loveland (Bears, TE)
Loveland was a mismatch in space. His 6 118 2 line includes the game-winning 58-yard TD. He found soft spots in zone and broke tackles after the catch.
Joe Flacco (Bengals, QB)
Flacco pushed the ball downfield and used quick timing routes to beat pressure. 470 yards is a huge number. The turnovers hurt, but he kept the Bengals in it with two late TD drives.
Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals, WRs)
Higgins 7 121 2 and Chase 6 111 won on fades, digs, and deep outs. Higgins also reached key career marks that highlight his steady growth with the franchise.
Hidden turning points you might miss on a quick scan
- Third-and-medium conversions by Chicago. Several came on short throws to Zaccheaus and Moore. Those small wins kept drives alive and added up.
- Bengals’ red-zone swings. Cincinnati had to settle for harder throws after the run game stalled. Short-yardage issues meant more pressure on Flacco.
- Field position from returns. The early kickoff TD by Jones changed the math, but later the Bears flipped field position with long, patient drives.
What the stats say about each side going forward
- Bears’ identity: Balance. If they keep the run game strong and give Williams quick reads, they can stay efficient and explosive. The mix of Moore, Loveland, and Zaccheaus makes defenses cover the whole field.
- Bengals’ path: The passing game is dangerous, but they need stops and fewer giveaways. If the defense tightens up on early downs and the run fits improve, the offense is already good enough to win shootouts.
Box score highlights (one glance)
Bears
- Williams: 20/34, 280, 3/0
- Monangai: 26-176 rushing
- Loveland: 6-118-2; DJ Moore: 4-72, 1 rush TD; Zaccheaus: 6-58-1
Bengals
- Flacco: 31/47, 470, 4/2
- Higgins: 7-121-2; Chase: 6-111; Hudson: 2-28-1; Brown: 8-75 receiving
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Who won the Bengals vs. Bears game?
The Chicago Bears won, 47 42, on November 2, 2025. - What was the winning play?
A 58-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Colston Loveland with 17 seconds left. - How did Caleb Williams play?
He went 20/34 for 280 yards and 3 TD with 0 INT, and he ran for 53 yards. - How did Joe Flacco play?
He threw for 470 yards and 4 TD with 2 INT on 31/47 passing. - Who led the Bears in rushing?
Kyle Monangai with 26 carries for 176 yards. - Who were the top receivers?
Colston Loveland (CHI) had 6-118-2; Tee Higgins (CIN) had 7-121-2; Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) had 6-111. - Did special teams affect the game?
Yes. Bengals KR Charlie Jones had a 98-yard kickoff return TD to start the scoring. - What hurt the Bengals most?
Defensive lapses vs. the run and deep pass, plus 2 interceptions and a lost fumble. - Was this the most recent Bengals vs. Bears game?
Yes, it was played on November 2, 2025. Older meetings include 2021 (Bears 20-17) and 2017 (Bears 33-7). - Where can I see the full box score?
You can find it on major sports websites like ESPN or CBS Sports.
Relatable topic: Las Vegas Raiders vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic, OKC Thunder Beat Pelicans








































