Bengals QB Joe Burrow throws 3 consecutive interceptions in loss to Bears

CHICAGO –– When the Cincinnati Bengals won the team's 2021 season opener, it looked like anything was possible for the Bengals offense. Running back Joe Mixon led the NFL in rushing yards. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was named the Rookie of the Week. The offensive tackles didn’t allow a single pressure.

But in Week 2, the Bengals lost 20-17 to the Chicago Bears. And the Bengals offense couldn't find any rhythm until the last five minutes of the game.

Before then, the Bengals offense was on pace to have one of its worst games of the last two seasons.Chase didn’t break open down the field until near the end. The offensive line allowed five sacks in the first three quarters.

Rookie kicker Evan McPherson made a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter, but the Bengals didn’t get past the Bears 35-yard line before the Bears took a 14-point lead.

The Bears took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a nearly perfect drive from quarterback Andy Dalton. The Bengals defense got stops on their next four drives, but the offense didn’t find anything that worked.

Burrow had the chance to lead the Bengals on a game-tying touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter. On third-and-3 from near midfield, the Bears defense ran a similar play that the Bengals defense used in training camp to pick off Burrow for the first time this season.

Bears linebacker Roquan Smith dropped back in coverage and picked off a pass intended for wide receiver Tyler Boyd. Smith took his return for a 53-yard touchdown, giving the Bears a 17-3 lead.

When the Bengals got the ball back, on Burrow’s next passing attempt, Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson picked off an out route intended for wide receiver Tee Higgins. Burrow got the ball back two minutes later, and after poor protection by the Bengals offensive line, Burrow was hit as he threw.

Bears defensive tackle Angelo Blackson picked off that pass, ending any chance to win that the Bengals had. Burrow had gone 200 throws without an interception, but on Sunday he threw picks on three consecutive passes.

Against a Bears defensive line with multiple explosive pass rushers, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor didn’t call some of the same down-the-field plays that led the Bengals to a win in the opener. The Bengals ran five wide receiver sets more often, but Burrow almost never had a receiver open down the field.

After the Bears took a 20-3 lead, the Bengals offense finally broke out for a big play. Burrow threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Chase down the middle of the field. On the following drive, Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson picked off a pass inside the Bears 20-yard line.

Higgins caught a touchdown on the next play, making it a 20-17 lead for the Bears with 3:43 left. But Chicago ran out the clock to give the Bengals their first loss of the season. Burrow finished with a 19-for-30 passing line with 207 yards.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Joe Burrow throws 3 consecutive interceptions as Bengals fall to Bears