CHICAGO _ Another NFL game and another productive one for Bengals rookie linebacker Maema Njongmeta with seven more team-leading tackles.
Throw in the fact the Bengals practiced Thursday 20 minutes from where he grew up in Buffalo Grove, Ill., and on Saturday about 30 family and friends came out to Soldier Field, and you'd figure he'd be feeling pretty good as he went to greet them before he caught the bus.
But …
"I'd like a few plays back," Njongmeta said.
This one in particular early in the second quarter, when the Bears got their first first down of the game. The Bears gave it to the player they drafted with the ninth pick in the draft, wide receiver Rome Odunze, and ran an end around at the undrafted Njongmeta for a 16-yard gain.
"I know he's fast, but I have to play it better," Njongmeta said. "Elite speed. Everybody has elite speed in this league. But he's fast, he's fast."
Still, the Bengals held Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to ten points in his half of work and a late touchdown. In that half, they allowed Williams a paltry 64.6 passer rating and one-of-five on third down.
"The thing we talked about was coming out fast and for us that meant stopping the run," defensive tackle Zach Carter said.
KRIS KRUSH: Rookie defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. logged a sack on the Heisman Trophy winner against the Bears' starting front. Jenkins says he played Williams in high school, but it didn't sound like he was going to put it in his memory book.
"It was a pretty cool moment, but I feel like I have stuff to work on, and to get happy over one sack, I won't," Jenkins said. "I'm not a finished product."
But Jenkins, the second-rounder from Michigan, does think he's better than when he arrived.
"How to view the game. I'm getting that from the coaches and vets," Jenkins said. "How to really analyze the game from a different place and start to read how the offense does things."
NEWTON LETS IT BOUNCE OFF: Bengals rookie cornerback Josh Newton has had an impressive training camp, but the most impressive thing he's done may have come in the visitors' locker room after the game Saturday.
It was a rough day for him, but Newton stood up and answered all the questions. His 43-yard pass interference penalty set up a Bears' field goal, Odunze's 45-yard catch with Newton step-for-step set up a touchdown and Bears wide receiver Dante Pettis caught a third-and-four touchdown from Tyson Bagent working against Newton in the slot and cornerback Nate Brooks.
"I should have held my leverage," Newton said of the touchdown. "I talked through some things with my teammate (Brooks). We weren't on the same page. I'm going to take that one."
The P.I. against wide receiver Tyler Scott racing down the middle of the field seemed obvious to him: "Try not to touch the man that late down the field."
Caleb Williams' throw to Odunze streaking down the left sideline as Williams was moving left was exactly that.
"I've just got to finish, but he's getting coached up, too," Newton said. "Late hands. He didn't show them until late. Good throw, good catch."
Newton sees it as just another day on the corner.
Translation: Short memory.
"I know what I signed up for. I know what position I play," Newton said. "Everything I messed up is fixable. It's nothing like 'Oh no.'"
