CHICAGO — The Bears' Paul Edinger made a 48-yard field goal with 41 seconds left in overtime, and the Bengals were 16-13 losers in their preseason opener Saturday night at Soldier Field.

Akili Smith dives across the goal line for the Bengals' only TD. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        Akili Smith, in a bid to move up from third on the quarterback depth chart, led an 85-yard drive in the fourth quarter, running eight yards for the game-tying touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.

        The Bengals had a chance to win as the final seconds clicked off in regulation. With the score tied at 13, Bengals cornerback Robert Bean stepped in front of an out pass thrown by Danny Wuerffel for Glyn Milburn at the Bengals' 25-yard line and ran 67 yards. But he was stripped of the ball by Milburn and fumbled at the Bears' 8. The Bears' Rex Tucker recovered, and the game went into overtime.

        Asked what he said to Bean, Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said, “I tell him to possess the ball on a play like that and we'd be on the airplane back to Cincinnati.

        “You could tell it was the teams' first game.

        There are going to be a lot of close games, and we have to learn how to win them.”

Jon Kitna generated only 3 points in the first half. | ZOOM |

        On the tying drive, Smith scrambled for 31 yards on four carries, and he was 1-for-1 passing for 18 yards on the drive. He hit Malcolm Johnson on a third-down-and-12 play at the 13 to give the Bengals a first down on the 31.

        Smith was pleased with his performance and figures he helped move himself forward in the quarterback competition.

        “I wanted to show the organization my ability to run and scramble,” he said. “That's one aspect I think I might have to edge out (Scott) Mitchell and (Jon) Kitna.”

        Smith was 4-for-5 passing for 35 yards and 34 yards rushing. He also played two possessions in overtime.

        Kitna played the entire first half with the first- and second-team running backs — but the first-team offensive line — and generated only three points - a 47-yard field goal by Neil Rackers. He was 8-for-18 for 65 yards. He was pressured twice on blitzes but showed poise. He did miss a couple of passes badly.

        Mitchell led a 56-yard drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal by Richie Cunningham. He played the first three series of the second half behind the second-team line and with backup wide receivers. He was 2-for-4 passing for 13 yards.

        LeBeau said he wasn't ready to name a starter for Friday's game in Detroit.

Brandon Bennett loses a fumble. | ZOOM |

        The Bengals rushed for 231 yards, and second-year back Curtis Keaton led the attack with 87 yards on 16 attempts.

        After punting the first four times they had the ball, the Bengals drove 48 yards in the second quarter of their preseason opener to score on Rackers' field goal.

        Rackers, who was 12-for-21 last season, actually made two kicks. He was good from 52 yards, but that kick was nullified when the Bears were penalized for encroachment.

        Kitna was 3-for-5 passing for 40 yards on the drive, including a second-down pass play to rookie Chad Johnson over the middle that was good for 25 yards.

        Johnson also caught a 12-yard pass on the drive. The rookie second-round draft choice had four receptions for 62 yards and showed, in at least the first 30 minutes, that he indeed was a first-round talent who slipped to the second round.

        The Bengals defense recorded one sack in the first half, a three-yarder by defensive tackle Tony Williams on Bears starter Shane Matthews. The Bengals also tipped two passes at the line, by Vaughn Booker and Glen Steele.

        In the second half, Jevon Langford and Mark Roman each had sacks.

        After the Bengals pulled within three in the first half, the defense helped the Bears to pull ahead 13-3 on a 74-yard touchdown drive on consecutive personal foul penalties.

        Steele was penalized for diving at quarterback Cade McNown's knees on a third-and-3 play at the Bengals' 33-yard line. McNown's pass was incomplete, but Steele was penalized 15 yards.

        LeBeau, who had been playing his second-team defense, put his first-team defense back in with the Bears having a first down at the 18. On the next play, middle linebacker Brian Simmons was penalized for taunting Bears tackle Chris Brown after the play.

        Two plays later, McNown connected with wide receiver Dez White on a touchdown pass from the 6. Safety Darryl Williams was beaten on the play.

        The TD drive took 14 plays and consumed 8:57. The Bengals scored 10 fourth-quarter points to erase the 13-3 halftime deficit.

Bears 16, Bengals 13 Scoring summary Keaton has impressive game at RB Former Lions corners LeBeau, Jauron reunite

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