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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Down by two touchdowns just a few minutes into
the game, the Cincinnati Bengals were looking like the same old
losers in a glitzy new stadium.
Akili Smith and Peter Warrick gave their fans a couple of
reasons to think things might go a little better in Paul Brown
Stadium.
Warrick scored on a reverse and Smith pounded his chest after
his two touchdown passes rallied the Bengals to a 24-20 preseason
victory over the Chicago Bears on Saturday night in the first game
at the $453 million stadium.
"After the first 10 minutes, you saw a team that's not the last
several years' version of the Cincinnati Bengals, if you know what
I mean," coach Bruce Coslet said.
Smith had called it a "must-win" game that ranked among the
most important in franchise history. He played up to the hyperbole,
leading three consecutive touchdown drives after the NFL's worst
team of the 1990s fell behind early.
"It was ridiculous," said Smith, who gave a pep talk in the
huddle. "We were down 14-0. As an offense, it was time for us to
step up and put some points on the board. It was time to wake up."
The Bengals (1-2) won their first preseason game since 1998 -- they went 0-4 last year and has lost seven in a row -- by overcoming Marcus Robinson's two touchdown catches that fashioned the 14-0 deficit.
The first game at the 65,600-seat stadium was played before a
less-than-capacity crowd as the Bengals sold only 56,180 tickets.
Fans were grumbling when the Bears (2-1) scored on their first two
possessions.
Robinson, who was the Bears' leading receiver last year but
missed the first two preseason games with an abdominal strain,
scored the first two times he touched the ball. He got 15 yards
behind the secondary for a 45-yard scoring catch from Cade McNown,
who rolled left to avoid a cornerback blitz and saw the Bengals'
breakdown.
On the Bears' next possession, Robinson took a short screen and
outran the secondary for another 45-yard score.
"It's a big relief," said Robinson, who played only a quarter.
"I just wanted to go out and get a feel for the game. Everything
felt fine and I just want to go on from here."
While Robinson had a banner return, Bengals running back Corey
Dillon was ineffective in his first game since ending a holdout. He
carried seven times for 16 yards and dropped a pass in the first quarter.
"At first, I had butterflies because I've been away from the
game for a few months," Dillon said. "I took some licks and
things started to feel a little more natural."
Smith and Warrick led a 21-point spurt that put the Bengals
ahead to stay.
Warrick, the Bengals' top draft pick, went 14 yards on a reverse
for his first touchdown and the first against the Bears in
preseason. Warrick jumped into the front row of fans in
celebration.
"I planned that," he said. "I feel real good about that. I
said that I was going to jump into the stands."
Smith then threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to uncovered tight
end Tony McGee and a 3-yard scoring pass to third-round pick Ron
Dugans -- Warrick's teammate at Florida State -- for a 21-14 lead.
Smith was 13-of-14 for 139 yards during the three drives and
pounded his chest repeatedly after throwing his first touchdown
passes of the preseason.
Smith completed 21 of 29 for 184 yards without an interception
as he played all but 12 seconds of the first three quarters -- another indication of how badly Cincinnati wanted to win.
McNown played the first two series of the third quarter and
completed 12 of 18 for 177 yards with one interception overall.
Both teams closely watched their kickers with roster cuts ahead
on Tuesday. Cincinnati's Doug Pelfrey, a long shot to hold onto his job, was
good on a 20-yard field goal. Chicago's Paul Edinger, a rookie
trying to beat out Jaret Holmes, hit a 40-yarder but was short and
wide on a 54-yard attempt late in the game. Holmes hit the upright
while making a 25-yarder.
"I don't know about the kicking situation," coach Dick Jauron
said. "I don't know that it's clarified itself. The same with the
punting."
Cincinnati's Brad Costello had punts of 36, 34, 23 and 22 yards,
drawing boos and hurting his chances of holding onto his job.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Chicago Clubhouse
Cincinnati Clubhouse
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