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National Football League
Chicago 24, Cincinnati 21
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 8, 2013
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Temperature: 73°
Head Official: Carl Cheffers
Attendance: 62213

Bears 24, Bengals 21:
Jay Cutler passed for 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns as Chicago came from behind to take the season opener from visiting Cincinnati.

Brandon Marshall made eight catches for 104 yards and a score and Charles Tillman recorded a pair of interceptions for the Bears (1-0), who converted three third downs on a drive of over six minutes to finish the game. Cutler completed 21-of-33 passes in new coach Marc Trestman’s debut.

Andy Dalton went 26-of-33 for 282 yards and two touchdowns while A.J. Green hauled in nine passes for 162 yards and a pair of scores to pace the Bengals (0-1), who could not overcome three turnovers.

Dalton was picked off on Cincinnati’s first possession and Chicago turned it into seven points when Cutler found Martellus Bennett over the middle for an 8-yard touchdown. Dalton drove the Bengals 97 yards for a tying score later in the first and found Green on the right side for a 45-yard touchdown in the second as Cincinnati took a 14-10 lead into the break.

A key pass interference penalty led to BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ 5-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the third to spread it to an 11-point gap before the Bears got back into it with Matt Forte’s 1-yard scoring run on the ensuing possession. Chicago took advantage of another turnover in the fourth, gaining possession after a fumble and grabbing the lead on Cutler’s 19-yard strike to Marshall with 8:06 to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Tillman (dehydration) left the game late in the first half after vomiting on the sidelines. He returned after halftime. … Green-Ellis was limited to 25 yards on 14 carries and the Bengals only managed 63 yards on the ground. … Cincinnati OT Andrew Whitworth (knee) was inactive, ending his streak of 67 straight starts going back more than four seasons.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Cincinnati   Chicago
BenJarvus Green-Ellis Player Matt Forte
14 Attempts 19
25 Yards 50
1.8 Avg Yards 2.6
1 Touchdowns 1
10 Long 9
Receiving
Cincinnati   Chicago
A.J. Green Player Brandon Marshall
9 Receptions 8
162 Yards 104
18.0 Avg Yards 13.0
2 Touchdowns 1
45 Long 38
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Cincinnati 340 63 277 3 0 1 0.0 0
Chicago 323 81 242 3 1 2 1.0 2
Upcoming Games
  • Chicago will play their next game at home against Minnesota. The Bears have a W/L % of .000 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.
  • Cincinnati will play their next game at home against Pittsburgh. The Bengals have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.