Bengals vs Bears Prediction & Betting Tips for NFL Preseason Week 2 on 8/22/2026

The Chicago Bears are set to visit the Cincinnati Bengals for a Week 2 preseason game at Paycor Stadium. Both teams are entering this contest with a 1-0 preseason record, showcasing early potential in their respective matchups. The game is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM and will be broadcasted on NFLN.

Under the leadership of head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears showed strong performance in their preseason opener, defeating the Cleveland Browns 34-10. The Bears' offensive coordinator, Press Taylor, and defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, will aim to build on their team's winning momentum. Last regular season, the Bears finished with an 11-6 record, indicating their competitiveness within the NFC North division.

The Cincinnati Bengals, coached by Zac Taylor, secured a narrow victory against the Detroit Lions, winning 16-14 in their preseason debut. Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and defensive coordinator Al Golden will work to address areas of improvement from last season's 6-11 record. Playing at home in Paycor Stadium offers the Bengals a familiar environment as they seek to further develop their roster in preparation for the regular season.

Bengals vs Bears At a Glance (Preseason Week 2)

• The Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals face off in Preseason Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season.
• The game is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.
• Both teams enter the game with a preseason record of 1-0-0.
• Last regular season, the Bears finished 11-6-0, while the Bengals ended at 6-11-0.
• The consensus odds favor the Bears with a moneyline of -139, while the Bengals stand at +115.
• The over/under for the game is set at 37.5 points.

Cincinnati Bengals Ready to Take on Chicago Bears in Preseason Showdown

Offensive Overview

The Cincinnati Bengals are gearing up for the 2026 preseason with a focus on improving their offensive performance. Last regular season, they ranked 11th in scoring with an average of 24.4 points per game, showing strength in passing with 235.6 yards per game, ranked 6th. The rushing game lagged behind, ranking 28th with an average of 93.6 yards per game.

In their recent preseason game against the Detroit Lions, the Bengals managed 256 offensive yards, with 159 coming through the air and 97 on the ground. This balanced approach may help them develop a more versatile attack moving forward.

Defensive Improvements

The Bengals' defense has shown promise in the 2026 preseason, allowing just 14 points against the Lions, ranking 6th in points allowed. This is a significant improvement from their 2025 regular season performance, where they allowed an average of 28.9 points per game, ranking 29th.

Key defensive players like Kris Jenkins Jr., who recorded a sack in their last outing, will be crucial in maintaining this upward trajectory. The defense will aim to keep pressure on the Chicago Bears' offense and continue creating turnovers, as they forced two interceptions against the Lions.

Key Players to Watch

Quarterback Joe Flacco had a solid preseason opener with 51 passing yards and a touchdown, showcasing his ability to lead the offense effectively. Josh Johnson also contributed with 84 passing yards, providing depth in the quarterback position.

On the receiving end, Jack Endries and Dohnte Meyers were standout performers. Endries recorded a touchdown, while Meyers added 29 receiving yards, both critical to the Bengals' offensive plans.

Special Teams and Injuries

Evan McPherson played a pivotal role in the Bengals' preseason win with three field goals, demonstrating reliability in special teams. Maintaining this consistency will be vital as the team progresses through the preseason.

On the injury front, Ceyair Wright is out due to personal reasons, which may affect the team's secondary depth. The coaching staff will need to adjust and rely on other players to fill the gap.

Cincinnati Bengals Betting Trends

• The Bengals are 3-0 against the spread in their last three regular-season away games.
• They have hit the over in 4 of their last 5 preseason games.
• In games with totals of 50 or more, they are 4-1 against the spread in their last five regular-season games.
• Overall, they are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven regular-season games.
• The Bengals have a 3-1 record hitting the over in their last four preseason games as favorites.

Chicago Bears Prepare for the Preseason Showdown

Offensive Prowess

The Chicago Bears displayed a powerful offensive performance in the preseason, ranking 1st in points per game with 34 and 2nd in offensive yards per game at 430. This high-scoring ability was evident in their recent victory against the Cleveland Browns, where they scored 34 points.

Case Keenum stood out at quarterback, completing 9 passes for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception. Tyson Bagent also contributed significantly with 169 yards and a touchdown, though he threw one interception.

Defensive Strength

Defensively, the Bears have demonstrated resilience, ranking 3rd in opponent scoring with just 10 points allowed in their preseason opener. Their ability to create turnovers was on display as they forced two interceptions against the Browns.

Key defensive players like Beanie Bishop and Ruben Hyppolite II made notable contributions. Bishop was instrumental with two interceptions, showcasing the secondary's ball-hawking abilities.

Key Players to Watch

On offense, running back Salvon Ahmed is expected to play a crucial role, having contributed both in rushing and receiving. Wide receiver Maurice Alexander showed his playmaking potential with a touchdown and 42 receiving yards.

On defense, players such as Jack Sanborn and Ruben Hyppolite II are pivotal, especially given their tackling capabilities. Their presence will be vital against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Injury Concerns

The Bears face some injury challenges, with key players like Jonathan Garvin and Coby Bryant sidelined. Garvin's absence due to an undisclosed injury will impact the defensive line's depth.

Kyler Gordon and Elijah Hicks are also unavailable, potentially affecting the secondary's overall strength. The coaching staff will need to manage these absences effectively.

Betting Trends

• Over/under record as an underdog in preseason: 6-0 (100%) over the last 6 games.
• Over/under record for away games in preseason: 5-0 (100%) over the last 5 games.
• Over/under record after a win in preseason: 8-1 (88.9%) over the last 9 games.
• Overall over/under record in preseason: 10-2 (83.3%) over the last 12 games.
• Overall straight-up record in preseason: 12-3 (80%) over the last 15 games.
• Straight-up record as an underdog in preseason: 3-0 (100%) over the last 3 games.

Bengals vs Bears Prediction: Over 37.5

The Chicago Bears have demonstrated offensive firepower during the preseason, leading with an impressive average of 34 points per game. Their ability to score efficiently is complemented by their performance in last year's regular season, where they ranked 8th in scoring.

On the other hand, the Cincinnati Bengals, despite their struggles last regular season, have a history of high-scoring games against the Bears, including a 47-42 game in their last meeting. Their preseason scoring average of 16 points per game suggests they can contribute to a combined total over 37.5.

Additionally, both teams have shown tendencies toward hitting the over in past preseason games, with the Bengals going 4-1 on overs in their last five preseason games. The Bears' potent offense and the Bengals' potential to score make the over 37.5 a logical pick.

Expect a competitive game with both teams finding the end zone frequently. This could lead to a final score around Bears 28 - Bengals 24, pushing the total comfortably over the line.

• Bengals vs Bears Prediction: Over 37.5
• Bengals vs Bears Score: Bears 28 - Bengals 24

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