The Chicago Bears defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-28, on Sunday to win their eighth game in the last nine. They’re now 8-3 and retain sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
The win is even more impressive considering the injuries they dealt with before and during the game. Chicago was down their three starting linebackers, and they lost cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, and even right guard Jonah Jackson left briefly before returning.
While Chicago has thrived coming from behind in the fourth quarter, they managed to hold off the Steelers thanks in large part to two big defensive stops. While the Bears defense did struggle stopping the run, allowing nearly 200 yards on the ground, they allowed just seven points in the second half. The offense capitalized in the red zone, an area of weakness this season, and posted 31 points en route to the win.
We’re handing out our game balls to three standout performers, from good to better to best, in the Bears’ Week 12 win:
Good: Nahshon Wright
There were several options for this spot, including linebacker D’Marco Jackson, who shined stepping in as the captain of the defense with all three starting linebackers sidelined. But it’s hard to ignore the early impact that cornerback Nahshon Wright had on this game, where his leaping interception of Mason Rudolph set the tone early and led to the Bears’ first touchdown of the day — and he nearly had a second later in the game. Wright is now tied with teammate Kevin Byard for the NFL lead in interceptions, as both have five. Wright finished with six tackles, one interception and two pass breakups. And with Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon set to make their returns, it’ll be interesting to see how Dennis Allen handles things given the influx of talent, when healthy, in the defensive backfield.
Better: Bears rookies
How about GM Ryan Poles’ 2025 rookie draft class? The Bears saw contributions from nearly every rookie in this game, whether it was continued playmaking by tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III and running back Kyle Monangai or players stepping up due to injury, including left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, right guard Luke Newman and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II. Loveland and Burden continue to showcase their potential to be real threats in this Ben Johnson offense moving forward while Monangai has brought stability to the running game. With Theo Benedet down, Trapilo got a chance to showcase what he could do at left tackle, and the Bears might have found a potential left tackle. Newman stepped in briefly for an injured Jonah Jackson, but the offensive line didn’t miss a beat. This was a game that showcased the potential of this rookie class for the long-term success of this team.
Best: Montez Sweat
The Bears paid Montez Sweat to be an impact player off the edge, and that was evident in his first half season with the team. Last year, injuries limited him and he had an underwhelming season. After a slow start in his second full season with Chicago, Sweat has hit his stride and recorded his second multi-sack game of the season against the Steelers. Sweat totaled two sacks against backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, including a strip sack that he recovered, and he nearly had a third sack. Now, Sweat has 6.5 sacks in the last six games.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Good, Better, Best: Bears’ game balls in win vs. Steelers
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
