Rookie quarterback Justin Fields relieved injured quarterback Andy Dalton, but it was the Bears‘ defense that led Chicago past the Cincinnati Bengals, intercepting three straight attempts by Joe Burrow to seal a 20-17 victory on Sunday.
Dalton, facing his former team, injured his left knee on a 14-yard scramble on the first play of the second quarter. Fields finished the series before Dalton came back on the next possession, but the veteran then headed to the locker room and did not return.
Fields finished 6-of-13 for 60 yards, an interception and a fumble. He added 10 carries for 31 yards, including a critical 10-yard scramble on third-and-9 with less than three minutes to play to help run out the clock.
Dalton was 9-of-11 for 56 yards and an 11-yard TD to Allen Robinson before leaving.
Burrow’s day turned into a disaster early in the fourth quarter. He was picked off by Roquan Smith, who returned it 53 yards for a touchdown with 10:55 to play to give the Bears a 17-3 lead.
Two snaps later, Jaylon Johnson stepped in front of a pass for Tee Higgins for an interception. To open the next possession, Burrow was hit while throwing, and his fluttering pass was picked off by defensive lineman Angelo Blackson near the line of scrimmage.
Burrow rebounded with a 42-yard touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase and a 7-yarder to Higgins after a Fields interception, but the rally fell short. The second-year QB finished the day 19 of 30 for 207 yards, with the two TDs and three INTs.
(Photo: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)
