Bears fend off Steelers to stay atop NFC North

Mike Dinovo - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 31 minutes ago

CHICAGO - For the first time since 2021, the Chicago Bears (8-3) have won at least eight games in a season as they took down the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) 31-28 at Soldier Field. In what has become the norm for the Bears this season, they have earned the reputation of being the cardiac Bears, as most of their wins have gone down to the final seconds.

This week was no exception as the Steelers used a late touchdown to pull within three before getting the ball back with just over a minute to go. From there, it was all about the Bears' defense as the Steelers turned it over on downs to end the game, sealing the Steelers' fate in a 31-28 Bears win. Chicago now has six wins decided in one-score games, the most in the NFL this season.

You couldn't have asked for a much better start if you are the Bears, as the offense responded from a quick three-and-out to force a Mason Rudolph interception by Nahshon Wright for his NFL-leading fifth pick of the season. That interception set up the first Bears score of the game, as a pair of first-down runs from Kyle Monangai was followed by a DJ Moore touchdown for his first of two scores.

Not to be outdone, it was the Steelers bouncing back from that early interception, and bouncing back in a big way as Rudolph hooked up with Ben Skowronek for his only catch of the day as he went 21 yards to move the ball into Chicago territory. A few plays later, the Steelers dove into their bag of tricks as it was DK Metcalf taking it behind the backfield for a rare six-yard rushing touchdown to tie things up at seven.

On the Bears' next possession, it was the Steelers defense coming away with a massive play as T.J. Watt came away with a strip sack of Caleb Williams in the endzone, only to have Nick Herbig fall on it for the go-ahead touchdown. The Steelers defense continued to set the tone throughout the first half, forcing their second fumble in as many possessions, giving the ball back to their offense near midfield.

Facing a fourth-and-short and lining up for a tush push, it was the Bears' defense coming away with a huge play, holding the Steelers on fourth down to force a turnover on downs. Anytime you have a play like that, it has the opportunity to change the outcome of a game, but it was the Bears' offense that changed the game as they looked to capitalize on a short field.

Back with the ball, Chicago began to look to the air with the rookies Coleston Loveland (49 yards) and Luther Burden (46 yards) helping to keep the ball moving. Throw in a massive 24-yard reception from Rome Odunze, and it was the Bears inside the Steelers' 20 as Loveland finished things off for the 12-yard score to tie things up.

What looked to be another quick offensive possession turned into the Steelers faking out the Bears as they lined up for a tush push, only to have Kenneth Gainwell fake the defense out and race outside for 56 of his 90 yards to put the ball inside the one. Jaylen Warren took care of the rest from there as his one-yard score gave the Steelers the lead once again, 21-14, before a late Cairo Santos field goal made this a 21-17 game at the half.

Given how both offenses played in the first half, you had to think that the second half was going to be filled with its own set of fireworks. Although not to the same degree, there were plenty of fireworks in the early stages of the third quarter as Williams went to Odunze for 31 quick yards and a pair of first downs to keep the ball moving.

Although far from perfect, Williams still put together a strong performance, tossing for 239 yards and three scores with Odunze coming away with 53 of those yards on five catches. Williams continued to rely on his arm to close out that drive as he found Moore from 25 yards out for his second touchdown of the day, putting the Bears back on top 24-21.

Moore led Bears wideouts with 64 yards and two scores as this was one of his better games of the season. From that point on, it was all about the Bears' defense as Montez Sweat turned in one of his better games this season with three tackles for a loss and two sacks, and one of those sacks coming as a strip sack to give the ball back to the Bears offense.

As they have done more often than not this season, the Bears turned that fumble into points as Monangai plowed in from two yards out to give the Bears their largest lead of the game, 31-21. Chicago has also scored 83 points off turnovers this season, leading the NFL. Trailing by 10 early in the fourth and pinned deep in their own territory, it was the Steelers keeping things interesting as Rudolph and the offense mounted their best offensive drive of the day.

While it may have taken 17 plays and nearly half the quarter to get the job done, the ultimate goal was accomplished as Rudolph found Pat Freiermuth for the short touchdown to pull the Steelers within 31-28. With both offenses stalling out and punting on three straight possessions, it was the Steelers offense getting the ball back with just over a minute to go and a chance, at the very least, to send this into overtime.

Finding Freiermuth and Metcalf for a pair of first downs was a great start to the drive, but it was the Bears' defense that came through when they needed it the most as the Steelers turned it over on downs to give the Bears another victory. With the win, Johnson has won his eighth game of the season, which is more than Matt Eberflus won at any point of his tenure in Chicago. The Bears also maintained their lead in the NFC North as things are about to get tough for Chicago.