NFL fans react as Bengals' Charlie Jones hits 21.78 mph for 99-yard touchdown against Bears

Well, that didn't take long. Charlie Jones kicked the Cincinnati Bengals' first touchdown on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. However, Joe Flacco was nowhere to be found. The score came on the opening kickoff return of the game when Jones scampered through the defense and into the end zone, leaving the Bears stunned.

Jones hit 21.78 MPH, per Next Gen Stats via the official NFL+ account. Fans pointed to the highlight posted by the NFL's official X account, flocking to offer their reactions at the same time. Bears fans were unhappy, while one tried to put the kick return into perspective for Bengals fans.

More fans reacted, giving credit to the kick returner, but one fan yelled at the Bears' kicker.

“Dude has wheels!!” another he said.

“What a way to start the game, instant classic!” one published.

“They have to get rid of Cairo, you have to be able to throw the ball out of the end zone,” another. he wrote.

The Bears were able to respond, cutting the 7-0 lead from seven points to three, making it 10-7 before the end of the first quarter. The Bears entered Sunday needing a win to keep pace with the impressive 5-1-1 Green Bay Packers and 5-2. Detroit Lions.

Heading into Sunday, the Bears were in third place in the NFC North. The Bengals, however, also found themselves in shape to potentially change the narrative of their division based on how Week 9 went.

Charlie Jones' Frankenstein Bengals entered the AFC North race

Thanks to Charlie Jones' kick return, the Cincinnati Bengals started as hot as humanly possible, and they had to. After Joe Burrow suffered what is likely to be a season-ending injury, the franchise fell on hard times behind Jake Browning, who appeared to have little hope of holding down the fort or keeping the team alive.

However, just when all hope seemed to be lost, the Bengals managed to get Joe Flacco away from the opponent. Cleveland Browns. Since then, the offense has looked explosive and full of life. Even against the New York Jets, a game the Bengals lost, Flacco managed to put up 38 points in what many agree was one of the best defenses in the league.

Flacco's key win thus far, however, upset Pittsburgh Steelers with a result of 33-31.

The Bengals were 3-5 and in second place in the division Sunday morning behind the 4-3 Steelers.

The architect of the Mile High Miracle was not 100% healthy heading into the game against the Bears, dealing with a shoulder injury. More than perhaps at any other time in Flacco's short tenure, he needed the team to rally around him to shoulder some of the load.

Thanks to Charlie Jones, the Bengals saw the quarterback a special teams touchdown. Will Jones' efforts end up bringing Cincinnati one step closer?