Cincinnati Bengals fall to Chicago Bears 47-42 in fourth-quarter nail-biter

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals fell to the Chicago Bears 47-42 on Sunday in Paycor Stadium after a nail-biting fourth quarter.

Cincinnati and Chicago went back and forth on touchdowns for most of the game, but it was a crazy effort in the final minute of the fourth quarter that gave Chicago the win.

The nail was practically put into Cincinnati's coffin when Chicago linebacker Tremaine Edmunds intercepted Bengals QB Joe Flacco late in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati was going for a much-needed touchdown, and Edmunds nabbed Flacco's pass and appeared to run it back for a pick-six, which was called back after Edmunds was ruled down by contact.

Cincinnati's comeback attempt came after Flacco — who had a career game, throwing 30-of-44 for 470 yards and 4 touchdowns with 2 interceptions — connected with Noah Fant to nab a touchdown, and the Bengals successfully gained the two-point conversion.

Flacco and company then powered down the field and met Andrei Iosivas in the end zone to get the Bengals ahead.

With less than a minute on the clock, Caleb Williams worked the ball down the field and connected with tight end Colston Loveland, who ran in back to the end zone.

Despite the loss, Cincinnati's offense, specifically Tee Higgins and Charlie Jones, had some standout moments.

Higgins collected two impressive touchdowns. His first was off a deep pass from Flacco in the second quarter.

His second came in the second half. Higgins' TD was preceded by an impressive catch from Mitchell Tinsley off a deep pass from Flacco to get to the goal line.

Cincinnati also scored first and early with an impressive 98-yard kick return from Jones on the Bengals' opening drive.

Cincinnati's defense also pulled out a game-tying stop just ahead of halftime when defensive end Joseph Ossai blocked a field goal attempt by Chicago.

Chicago collected rushing touchdowns from Brittain Brown and DJ Moore, with the latter also scoring a receiving TD that came from a Cincinnati challenge, as well. Williams put up 20-of-34 for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns, and he also got one receiving TD himself off a pass from DJ Moore. Olamide Zaccheaus also found the end zone.

After the loss, head coach Zac Taylor said he "can't believe it."

"At the end of the game, we just have to make one play ... find a way," Taylor said. "It's sick to lose like that."

Flacco said, "The way you lose doesn't make it any worse" after the loss.

Going forward, Flacco says everyone on the team needs to focus on doing their job and worrying about what's on their plates.

"I know 'team' is one, it's one team, but in order to have that one team, you need to focus on yourself and do your job. And I get, I get it. It can get emotional," Flacco said. "There's times to be emotional and show people that, but usually those times are in good things."

Sunday's loss marks Cincinnati's second straight defeat after another disappointing loss to the formerly winless New York Jets. The Bengals needed a win over the Bears to stay relavant in the AFC North conversation.

The Cincinnati Bengals have a bye week next before facing AFC North rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Nov. 16.