The Chicago Bears are rolling into the Queen City this week for their second preseason game, and let me tell you, they’re not messing around. They absolutely smoked the Browns 34-10 last week! On the flip side, Ohio’s other team, the Cincinnati Bengals, barely snuck by the Lions with a tight 16-14 victory. This Saturday showdown at Paycor Stadium already has some serious buzz, especially after Bengals head coach Zac Taylor straight up said he expects his starters to sit this one out.
Who’s Playing? And Who Isn’t?
Here’s where it gets interesting: while Taylor gave us the lowdown, Bears head coach Ben Johnson has been radio silent on his plans for the first string. Remember, these two squads just wrapped a joint practice on Thursday. The Bears’ first string got a ton of work in yesterday, so if Johnson liked what he saw and how many snaps they got, we might see his top guys chilling on the sideline too. It’s preseason, sure, but after that dominant performance against the Browns, you gotta wonder if Johnson thinks his starters proved their point already. The way the Bears handled business last week, you can’t blame him for wanting to keep those key players fresh.
The Scoop From Cincinnati
The action kicks off Saturday, August 22, at 6:00 pm CT from Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Weather-wise, expect a high of 82 and a low of 62, with a chance for a thunderstorm in the afternoon. If you’re looking to tune in, FOX 32 has the broadcast for Chicago fans with Adam Amin on play-by-play, Jim Miller and Stacey Dales breaking down the game, and Jasmine Baker on the sideline. Check 506sports.com for all your local channels, and don’t sweat it if you miss it live, NFL Network will rebroadcast the game. For radio listeners, ESPN Chicago (1000 AM, 100.3 FM HD2) has Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, and Jason McKie, plus LATINO MIX 93.5 FM for Spanish coverage. The visiting Bears are favored by 2.5 points, and the game total over/under is set at 36.5. Are you taking that bet on the O/U after how the Bears played last week?
Even though there’s no immediate postgame show right after the final whistle, the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel will be live on Sunday afternoon with their “Bear & Balanced” recap. Make sure to subscribe to their channel so you get notified when they go live to break down all the plays and big moments from Saturday’s game. You don’t want to miss that discussion!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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