When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers, today's game was circled on many Chicago Bears fans' calendars. Rodgers' return to Chicago, where he famously taunted the Soldier Field crowd that he "owned" them after a back-breaking touchdown to cement yet another Green Bay Packers win.
Since then, Rodgers wore out his welcome in Green Bay and New York, and is now steering the Steelers in an AFC North race against Baltimore. But last week, he fractured his wrist against Cincinnati, and since then, it was up in the air if the Bears would actually see their long-time nemesis on the field.
Alas...
Disappointing. These kinds of stories are what make sports fun.
But before people claim the Bears are lucky, keep in mind Chicago's dealt with a murderer's row of injuries the entire season. Their entire secondary's been devastated since Week 1, and this week, all three of their starting linebackers were out.
That's right - no Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, or Noah Sewell. (Oh, and Edmunds went on injured reserve, so he'll miss four games, at minimum).
And for good measure, Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon remained out with injuries.
AND if it wasn't enough, starting LT Theo Benedet was also out, paving the way for rookie Ozzy Trapilo's first career start -- at a position that isn't natural to him.
So yeah, the Bears aren't what I would call "lucky."
Nonetheless - this was a game where literally anything could happen and I wouldn't be surprised. And in the end, the Bears somehow overcame playing a nameless defense with timely plays to win a crazy football game and get to 8-3. Rodgers didn't play, and his team was vanquished.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on X @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. (PREGAME) -- I can't overstate how silly this injury report is for Chicago. For them to remain in the playoff hunt over the next month, it's going to take an all-time coaching job from this staff. Luckily, this is the first time in a long time that the Bears can feel they'll have some creative attempts at answers to overcome all of this devastation.
2. The first two Steelers drives of this game epitomizes what this defense has been all year: pretty bad down-to-down, but they generate explosives. After a nine-yard run opened their offense, Mason Rudolph chucked a fade to DK Metcalf, and Nahshon Wright made an unbelievable interception. Quite literally one of the plays of the year.
Chicago turned it into points, as Caleb Williams led a pretty drive down the field and hit DJ Moore for a touchdown. Some creativity and new stuff on offense -- including Luke Newman at fullback (!) and some slants! Quick game has been lacking this season.
But then, the Steelers went 95 yards with ease to tie the game. With the Bears' injuries, it's not surprising whatsoever.
3. Man, Caleb with one of the more boneheaded plays you'll ever see from him. Admittedly, with holding on the kickoff and first down, the Bears were backed up at their own 10-yard line. On 2nd and 20, TJ Watt got around Darnell Wright (which Caleb had enough time to see and process), and he didn't get rid of the ball. Sack/fumble, touchdown, Steelers. 14-7. Just an inexcusable play from the quarterback. His awareness needs to be much higher in situations like that.
D'Andre Swift "fumbled" on the ensuing possession near midfield, on a third and short carry. No replay angles showed when he fumbled the ball, but the referees (without a clear view) called it a fumble.
Thankfully, the Bears somehow got a stop on a 4th and short as a weird tush push attempt with the tight end was short. No harm, no foul, I suppose.
4. That's a great response from the offense. What started with a bad throw from Caleb to Luther Burden (high over the middle) then resulted in some beautiful play calls from Ben Johnson to keep the drive going -- including a cool 4th and 1 keeper with D'Andre Swift lead-blocking. A beautiful throw to Rome Odunze for 23 and a rocket slant / short post to Colston Loveland tied the game up at 14.
Unfortunately, Jonah Jackson left the game with an injury on that drive... but Luke Newman filled in nicely. The Bears are just dropping like flies today.
5. Man, that's a backbreaker before halftime. The Bears had the Steelers in a 3rd and 11, and then they picked up 10 on an easy pitch and catch vs. off coverage, and then a fake tush-push went 55 yards en route to a touchdown a play later. Brilliance from the Steelers on that play call. Horrific outcome for Chicago.
21-14 Steelers with about a minute left in the half, and Pittsburgh gets the ball after halftime. That sack/strip touchdown is looming very large in this one. Weird stuff happens every time Aaron Rodgers is in the building.
6. Man, Jalen Ramsey saved the Steelers by chasing down Luther Burden on a nifty WR screen. He had a chance to score from almost midfield and out of nothing on a 3rd and 9.
The Bears did get a field goal out of it to narrow the gap to 21-17 at halftime. Frankly, it's been a rough performance from Williams, as he's had a couple near-interceptions along with his sack/fumble. Quite brutal to watch after last week's game.
On the bright side, the Bears are competing against a fairly healthy and solid team. For all the talk about them being lucky this season, the Bears are playing with both hands tied behind their backs and competing.
<HALFTIME>
7. Well, that's about as nice of a start to the second half as you could draw up:
The Steelers inexplicably chose to throw it when the run defense has been awful, and Montez Sweat sacked Mason Rudolph to set up 2nd and 14. Then Nahshon Wright broke up a deep ball on third down to force a punt. A huge play, considering momentum.
And then Caleb Williams found Rome Odunze twice and DJ Moore (technically twice), sandwiching a dumb taunting penalty, en route to a touchdown. The beauty of it was the TD came on a free play where the defense jumped on a hard count on 3rd and 6.
With Aaron Rodgers in the house? Beautiful. Bears up 24-21.
8. As I said earlier, bad down-to-down, but explosive on defensive. After a 30 yard DPI on Nick McCloud set up the Steelers inside the Bears' 35, Montez Sweat stripped Mason Rudolph on the next play and the Bears recovered. Darnell Washington (Steelers TE) has been blocking Sweat on both of his sacks on Rudolph today, and this one cost Pittsburgh dearly.
The Bears used the momentum of that to slice through Pittsburgh's defense with absolute ease. Caleb with a deep ball to DJ Moore, and a few big runs by Kyle Monangai, including a touchdown to finish the drive. Bears 31-21 early in the fourth quarter.
Just magnificent stuff from Ben Johnson in the second half so far today.
9. If Caleb Williams is going to take the leap into the "Great" QB tier, he has to hit that first down pass to Rome after the Steelers cut it to 31-28. Just can't miss that wide open of a pass, ever.
The delay of game is equally bad -- Caleb needs more awareness and Ben needs to help out his QB there as well. Just bad football there in a clutch situation. Not something we've seen from them often lately.
Somehow, though, the Bears lucked out with an illegal formation on 3rd and 4 wiping out a massive run by Rudolph to midfield. And on 3rd and 9, Grady Jarrett tipped the pass at the LOS to bring up 4th down. Interestingly, Mike Tomlin chose to punt...
Two runs (one where Monangai slips with a clear cutback lane) and a bad incomplete throw (bad decision to throw it by Caleb) and the Steelers got the ball back. Is one more stop possible?
10. You better believe it. The Bears let Rudolph march to the 50 in three plays and one minute remaining, but they tightened up with clutch tackles and a timely tipped pass from Jaquan Brisker to win it. 8-3. An all-time coaching job from Ben Johnson's crew.
11. The Bears' corners by the end of the game were McCloud and Wright. The linebackers were... I couldn't even tell you.
Unbelievable, what they overcame to win this game. We can do a full-on All-22 analysis later. For now, just rejoice in disbelief.
12. Bears head to Philadelphia for a showdown against the Eagles on Black Friday. Ben Johnson against Vic Fangio will feed families. Bears probably aren't ready for a matchup like this, but keep it competitive and inspire hope for the nationally televised matchup in Green Bay.
Early prediction: Eagles 17, Bears 16.
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