Josh Johnson: 2 TDs as Bengals Beat Bears 27-9

Josh Johnson started Saturday night with Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco watching in street clothes, and the 40-year-old journeyman ran Cincinnati's offense like it was still his. The Bengals beat the Chicago Bears 27-9 at Paycor Stadium. Johnson went 15 of 23 for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, the Associated Press and ESPN both had the line, then Zac Taylor sat him. Colbie Young caught a 17-yard score. Tanner Hudson caught a 6-yard slant with 23 seconds left in the half.

"I think it's always good to go out there and show you can still make plays," Johnson said, per the AP. "In this business, people want to put labels on you and put tags on you. Everybody thinks they have the right answers. The one person I know who has the answers is the man above." His first NFL season was 2008 with Tampa Bay. This was his latest proof of life.

Josh Johnson vs the Bears: 15 of 23, two scores, then the chair

Johnson opened against Chicago's starters. The AP had a 14-play, 67-yard drive that ended in Evan McPherson's 25-yard field goal. Bengals.com said Dohnte Meyers had four catches for 32 yards on that march, and Johnson converted third-and-long throws to Meyers and Young before keeping a zone read around Devin Bush for seven. Young ripped an 18-yard catch away from Dontae Manning on third-and-14. Meyers beat Malik Muhammad II for 14 on third-and-10 against a blitz. Johnson finished that drive 7 of 10 for 55 yards, Geoff Hobson wrote.

The touchdowns came late in the second. Johnson lofted a 17-yard dime to Young on third down with 4:25 left, Bengals.com and CBS Sports both had it, Young's first score in stripes. Then a 58-second, 4-for-4 drive for 47 yards ended with Hudson's 6-yard slant at 0:23. Johnson's passer rating was 113.7. Taylor said he "played excellent" and "real clean." "I probably would have played him into the third quarter, but I just thought he played real clean and so I got Sean (Clifford) in there in the second half," Taylor said, per the AP.

Clifford closes it, Bengals 2-0, and the backup QB weekend

Clifford hit Noah Thomas for a 20-yard touchdown right after the break. Cincinnati led 24-9. McPherson also hit from 58. Caleb Williams played one series, 2 of 5 for 28 yards, and Cairo Santos kicked three field goals (45, 26, 44) and missed from 53. Case Keenum went 9 of 17 for 119. The AP noted it is the first time since Taylor was hired in 2019 that the Bengals have won more than one preseason game. They finish Friday at Philadelphia. Chicago plays Tennessee next Saturday.

This was the same preseason Saturday that had Justin Fields starting in Tampa while Patrick Mahomes sat. Johnson is the other end of that picture: a 14th-year quarterback, signed in March on a one-year deal, starting because the two Joes were in sweats. Bengals.com called him the other 40-year-old backup. The kids around him, Young and Meyers, got the highlights. The ball still came from Johnson.

Josh Johnson FAQ

What was Josh Johnson's line vs the Bears? 15 of 23 for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, a 17-yarder to Colbie Young and a 6-yarder to Tanner Hudson, per the AP, ESPN, and Bengals.com. Cincinnati won 27-9.

Did Joe Burrow play? No. The AP said Burrow, Joe Flacco, and the rest of Cincinnati's starters and key backups watched in street clothes. Johnson started. Sean Clifford played the second half.

How old is Josh Johnson? 40. His first NFL season was 2008 with Tampa Bay. Zac Taylor said he played clean enough that the staff did not need him in the third quarter.