Bengals vs. Bears: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

The Marc Trestman era begins in earnest for the Chicago Bears when the team hosts the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 at Soldier Field. 

A team that has long been known as a defensive powerhouse, Chicago let go of defensive-minded head coach Lovie Smith, who led the team for nine years. The Bears offense is being remade by Trestman, who was brought on board by general manager Phil Emery to get the most out of quarterback Jay Cutler. 

On the other side, the Bengals are poised to overtake the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers as the lead dog in the ultra-competitive AFC North. 

Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer—a man who deserves a shot at becoming a head coach—is one of the best in the business. His defense is one of the most feared units in the league and will be a stiff challenge for Cutler and the Bears on Sunday. 

Andy Dalton has taken the Bengals to the playoffs in both of his first two years as the starting quarterback. The team loaded up on offensive weapons in the draft to assist its young signal-caller, selecting tight end Tyler Eifert and running back Giovani Bernard—both of whom appear ready to become key playmakers.

Here's what you need to know about this upcoming Bengals-Bears contest.

When: Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. ET

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago

Watch: CBS

Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

Betting Lines (via Covers)

• Over/Under: 41.5 pts. 
• Spread: Chicago (-3)

Bears Injury Report (via NFL.com)

No injuries to report

Bengals Injury Report (via NFL.com)

Carlos Dunlap	DE	Concussion	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Brandon Ghee	CB	Concussion	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out
Dre Kirkpatrick	CB	Concussion	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Tyler Eifert	TE	Forearm	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Andrew Whitworth	T	Knee	Did Not Participate In Practice	Doubtful
Devon Still	DT	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Andre Smith	T	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Mike Pollak	G	Knee	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out

Will Jay Cutler Keep Turning the Ball Over?

During the preseason, Cutler made a few head-scratching throws that resulted in three interceptions in just 34 attempts. He was forcing the ball into spots that should have been red flags for a quarterback running through his progressions. 

They were rookie mistakes, and the Bears are doomed this season if he continues turning the ball over at this pace. 

The Bengals have explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball. The last thing the Bears can do and hope to win is give their opponent more chances to score. 

Cutler must play turnover-free football. He can't afford to press. He must let the game come to him. Throwing the ball away is better than forcing it into double coverage—a lesson he must remember if the Bears have any hope of winning this game. 

Prediction

I love the offensive weapons at the disposal of Jay Gruden and Andy Dalton. The two rookies—Bernard and Eifert—are dynamic players who will stretch defenses vertically and horizontally. 

The Bears will be better on offense this year than they were in 2012. Second-year receiver Alshon Jeffery has been turning heads all summer long, and he'll finally give Cutler that critical second receiver he needs to balance the field.

In the end this contest—like most—will boil down to turnovers. 

Right now, I trust Dalton to take care of the football better than Cutler, which means I'm expecting the Bengals to win this weekend. 

Final Score 

Bengals win, 27-24

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