Full disclosure. I didn’t watch the full PS Game#2 vs Bengals live as I thought that Ben Johnson was going to sit the starters. Turns out he sorta didn’t at least for the first drive Caleb lead the O going 2-5, 0TD, 0INT, 0 rush yds, 58.8 QB-RTG.
In the Cincinnati Bengals’ 27-9 preseason victory over the Chicago Bears on August 22, 2026, veteran backup quarterback Josh Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with a passer rating of 113.7
I did watch the condensed ‘highlights‘ and what I saw was Caleb in complete control although he missed Loveland on seam route while Braxton held to kill drive.
Speaking of Braxton, our pal Harry at Chat’s Sports is more than a lil concerned about the LT position – bullrushed, beat and bloodied, Braxton my be a shadow of his former self, which was Leno at best. Kiran may not even make the 53 – endstop. Wills ditto.
Theo can’t pass block. Remember, when it mattered, the Bears opted to start Thuney at LT and put a practical unknown at OG rather than have Theo man the LT last season. Ozzy may be Wolverine, but does Halas REALLY wanna rush him back so soon and perhaps endanger their longterm prospects for a quarterly gain? Taylor Decker break glass in case of emergency?
Harrison Graham@HGrahamNFL
·12h
Here’s how Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet graded out per PFF last night (60 is average).
Braxton Jones
- Overall: 36.2
- Pass Block: 29.6
- Run Block: 54.4
Theo Benedet
- Overall: 62.5
- Pass Block: 50.4
- Run Block: 66.6
Winners
– Salvon Ahmed. 6YPC.
– Jadhae all Day. What a catch!
– Roush. Broke tackle for 26 yds
– Jordan van den Berg keeps trucking
– Thieneman flying
– WR Maurice Alexander [vs Kayden]
-P Tory Taylor? K Santos?
Losers
– #27 CB Dontae Manning. Abused like a dildo on porn set.
– LT overall. Still in air and it’s almost Sept.
– Secondary overall. Made Bengals’ backup look like the air raid.
– Nephi Sewell. Carted off.
– Dline still underwhelmed. Shocking, I know.
Overall, maybe not a 5 alarm fire, but some smoke is def sniffed. I just get the feeling more and more that Caleb will have to carry this team – not exactly ideal.
Look at the SB winning SEA last year, or even the second best team in Donks – their Ds carried them for most of the year and playoffs. QBs were just asked to make tactical strikes at key moments. [don’t believe me? google their playoff stats].
Our D is simply nowhere near either of those team’s caliber [likely because they have better GMs]. It would take the strongest hopium to believe that the Bears’ D remains healthy, that Sweat keeps Sweating, that Booker takes it to the next lvl, that van den Berg is real…
That Dexter/Stevenson/Dayo/Garrett turn it around, that Gordon hasn’t cashed in, that Thieneman plays like a vet, that our NB won’t get abused like Manning all season, and that somehow we can replicate the TOs of the magical ’25 season.
That’s A LOT of hopium. I’m as big a meathead as the next dude, but man, even I got my limits.
So here’s to BJ indeed breaking the Donk’s scoring record cuz, barring some blockbuster Garrett trade, that’s likely what it’s taking to win it all in ’26.
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