Then on third-and-10 against an all-out blitz, Johnson found Meyers, who is getting safer and safer in the receiving room, beat cornerback Malik Muhammad II running to the right sideline for 14 yards.
Left tackle Jalen Rivers and right guard Cody Ford, who basically switched spots this week in their hunt for a swing tackle, both had false starts on the drive, but Johnson overcame it with seven of ten passing for 55 yards.
Meyers, the CFL product, made another bold bid to make it when he finished the first half with five catches for 41 yards, a jet sweep for nine yards, a punt for nine yards, and a kick return for 29 yards.
On his only drive, Bears starting quarterback Caleb Williams had a first-and-10 from the Bengals 17, but a holding call on left tackle Braxton Jones and heat applied by defensive coordinator Al Golden translated to no more yards.
A blitz by safety Daijahn Anthony forced a high throw to open tight end Colston Loveland, defensive tackle Howard Cross knocked down a pass, and cornerback DJ Ivey had Rome Odunze covered as Williams overthrew the end zone to force a field goal.
\_The backup defense played terrific all half until the last 15 seconds when they gave up a 16-yard run on the way to the Bears' last-snap field goal. Shaka Heyward and Swayze Bozeman, battling for maybe that same job, were the leading tacklers with six and four, respectively.
\_That backup offensive line (Rivers at left tackle, rookie Brian Parker II at left guard, center Jacob Bayer, Ford at right guard and Javon Fostyer at left tackle) did a great job protecting Johnson in that 58-second drive for the half's last touchdown as it allowed Johnson to go 4-for-4 for 47 yards.
\_The Bengals got the ball with 90 seconds left in the half when Golden called another third-down blitz (linebacker Liam Anderson bringing the heat on Case Keenum) and cornerback Bralyn Lux locking down the slot.