Caleb Williams leads Bears to victory over Bengals

CHICAGO (AP) — In a promising display, Caleb Williams made a strong impression in his first game at Soldier Field, leading the Chicago Bears to a decisive 27-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. The Bears, who drafted Williams as the No. 1 overall pick, initially struggled, going three-and-out on their first three possessions amid rainy conditions. However, the former USC standout quickly found his rhythm, showcasing his arm strength and agility. Williams orchestrated two scoring drives, highlighted by a 7-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. He also contributed a 16-yard run on an end-around that set up a field goal. Running back Khalil Herbert added to the Bears' offensive efforts with five carries for 31 yards, demonstrating a balanced attack. Tyson Bagent took over in the second half, further extending the Bears' lead with two touchdown passes to Dante Pettis. The Bengals' quarterback, who had a challenging outing, completed 17 of 25 passes for 132 yards but threw two interceptions before Rocky Lombardi stepped in late in the game. The Bengals struggled to find their footing, with a key interception occurring when Josh Blackwell pressured the quarterback, leading to a turnover. Looking ahead, the Bengals will host the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday, while the Bears prepare for a visit to Kansas City on the same day, aiming to build on their successful preseason performance.