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Fields, Bears get 20-17 win over Bengals
By: Mike Stiles - Monday, September 20, 2021

Justin Fields looks for a receiver against Cincinnati (photo courtesy of the Chicago Tribune)

(CHICAGO) – Justin Fields got his first extended look as a pro. And it might be a long-term arrangement. Fields played the second half after Andy Dalton exited with a knee injury against his former team, and the rookie quarterback used Chicago's stellar defensive performance to direct the Bears to a 20-17 victory over Joe Burrows and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Roquan Smith returned an interception 53 yards for his first career touchdown, one of three straight picks thrown by Burrow and four consecutive takeaways for the Bears during the decisive stretch in their first win of the season. Fields took over on Chicago's final drive of the second quarter after getting in on a handful of plays prior to that. But the biggest key for the Bears was the defense bouncing back after it was picked apart by Matthew Stafford in a season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Fields who was 6 of 13 for 60 yards, says there's a lot more he has to show. Dalton was hurt on a 14-yard run early in the second quarter. Fields took the final three snaps of that possession. Dalton was in for the next drive, before Fields led Chicago's final one of the half. Dalton took some warmup throws at halftime, but did not return to the game. He will be examined more in the next few days. The Bears (1-1) were up 20-3 before Burrow threw a 42 yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase. Fields then got intercepted at the Chicago 25 by Logan Wilson, who returned it to the 7. Burrow hit Tee Higgins for a 7 yards TD on the next play, cutting it to 20-17 with 3:39 remaining. But the Bears hung on for their third straight win over Cincinnati (1-1).

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