In week 9, the Chicago Bears took on the Cincinnati Bengals in the craziest game of the season thus far.
The Bengals lost 47-42 against the Bears in a wild game.
Joe Flacco threw for 470 passing yards, four passing TDs, and two interceptions. Chase Brown could not get going on the ground. He was held to 37 rushing yards on 11 carries. However, Brown recorded eight catches for 75 receiving yards. Tee Higgins led the team with seven catches, 121 receiving yards, and two receiving TDs. Ja’Marr Chase had six catches for 111 receiving yards. Andrei Iosivas had five catches, 66 receiving yards, and one receiving TD.
Despite the tremendous offensive performance, it was not enough as the Bengals’ defense once again blew the game. Caleb Williams had 280 passing yards, three passing TDs, and added 53 rushing yards. With D’Andre Swift out, the Bears relied on Kyle Monangai, and he came through with a massive performance. Monangai had 176 rushing yards on 26 rush attempts. He also had three catches for 22 receiving yards. The biggest play of the game went to Colston Loveland, who had six catches, 118 receiving yards, and two receiving TDs. Here is the game-winning play by Loveland:
COLSTON LOVELAND ARE YOU KIDDING?
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/OMOzjsl6vC
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 2, 2025
After the game, Williams and Loveland had a postgame interview with CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala. Here is the video:
“We drafted him for a reason — to make plays like that in the big moments”
– Caleb Williams on @ChicagoBears rookie Colston Loveland (@AKinkhabwala) pic.twitter.com/H7JzgUqTx4
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 2, 2025
After the game, Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive players were livid at the lack of defense.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Offensive Players Furious With Defense
This was one of the worst defensive performances in history. Chase Brown did not hold back, spewing numerous expletives in an interview by his locker. Here is his interview:
Chase Brown has had it with the defense. “What the f—k.. Finish the f-ing game.” pic.twitter.com/WF9Klk0psc
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 2, 2025
Ja’Marr Chase also commented on the defensive performance after the game. Here are his comments:
Ja’Marr Chase growing tired of postgame press conferences like this. Asked how hard is it when you’re losing? “It’s not fun when you’re losing…. I’m going to stay in my lane. I don’t want no defensive players coming chew me out about what the f—k I’m doing.” pic.twitter.com/cyKzNoOUDr
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 2, 2025
#Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase walking back to the locker room after the 47-42 loss to the #Bears:
“One f****** stop.”
(🎥 @yannitragellis)
pic.twitter.com/0ETUPsMGfC https://t.co/bznYq2HfdN
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 2, 2025
Cincinnati became the first team since the 1960s to score 35+ points in back-to-back games and lose both games.
The locker room is in shambles after a loss like this. Several defensive players, including Jordan Battle, Shemar Stewart, and TJ Slaton, declined to comment and laughed, saying, “Catch you on Monday.”
The locker room is showing its cracks. The ones to laugh or decline by saying “catch you on Monday” were Jordan Battle, Shemar Stewart, TJ Slaton. Also declining were Kris Jenkins and Myles Murphy.
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 2, 2025
Cincinnati has spent far more money on the offense than the defense. The Bengals rank fourth in spending the most on offense, compared to 29th on defense. However, as Kinkhabwala points out on X, the Bengals in the last four drafts have used three first-round picks, four second-round picks, and three third-round picks on defense. None of these draft picks has become a Pro Bowl player.
Yes, the #Bengals have a massive pay disparity between their offense and defense. But in the last four drafts, they’ve used three first round picks, four second round picks and 3 3s on defensive players.
(No, not one has yet been a Pro Bowler.) pic.twitter.com/CbOVsNpVyx— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) November 3, 2025
Will The Bengals Fire Zac Taylor?
This will be tough for Zac Taylor to come back from. The Bengals became the first team since the 1960s to score 35+ points in back-to-back games and lose both games.
The locker room is in complete shambles, as shown above.
Back-to-back devastating losses are going to put Taylor on the hot seat. This defense has been horrendous, to say the least.
With the locker room in shambles, Taylor’s biggest job right now is to manage a fractured locker room. Taylor stated, “You fight like hell every single day to maintain the culture we have − fight every single day,” Taylor said after the Bengals’ 47-42 loss to Chicago on Nov. 2 . “(I) talk to everybody I can possibly talk to, and these guys, if you watch them practice, they are working like crazy in practice. So again, we just have to get some momentum. (We) have to get a play, someone builds off that play, and we find a way to get some momentum on defense. We just haven’t found a way to do that lately.”
“We just gotta find a way,” Taylor said. “We’re working hard at it, and I know that’s a hard thing to listen to me say over and over, (but) that’s the answer. There’s not a magic formula − we’d do it if we could − and so we’re just going to keep finding ways. We’ve got the bye week, and we’ll) Keep working through it, see if there’s something we’re missing and something we can enhance. We’ll look at it.”
This will be a tough task if Taylor is even allowed to try and fix the locker room. Taylor is on the hot seat after back-to-back terrible performances by the defense.
The defense has been dreadful for some time now, but this was the worst loss the Bengals have had in a long time.
Joe Burrow Can’t Save The Bengals
With the Bengals dropping another game, due to their defense, chances look slimmer and slimmer that we see Burrow return this season.
Cincinnati falls to 3-6. Burrow could return in mid-December, but the Bengals would not risk bringing him back if they are out of playoff contention at the time. It would make no sense to bring Burrow back if there is no chance of making the playoffs.
If the Bengals were able to win their last two games, they’d be at 5-4, and this would be a different discussion. Then it would be wise to allow Burrow back.
Even if Burrow was able to return after their week 10 bye (which he isn’t), but, for the sake of this topic, if he were, he still would not be able to save this Bengals team. Joe Flacco is playing very well with the Bengals. He is not the issue. The defense was playing like this last season as well, when Burrow was having an MVP-type season.
The Cincinnati Bengals need to make changes. They need to fire Zac Taylor and bring in a brand new defensive scheme. If this defense does not improve, the Bengals risk losing Burrow, Chase, and Higgins.
When it is time to sign new deals, these three stars would be less enticed to return to the Bengals if this continues.
They could also demand a trade if they become so unhappy that they do not want to remain with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Back-to-back devastating losses by the Bengals are causing a major rift in the locker room, and nothing will help but making a massive overhaul to the coaching staff and defensive scheme.
