Chicago (3-5) at Pittsburgh (4-3)
5:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN
■ Line: Steelers -6½; total 39½ ■ Bears player to watch: QB Justin Fields. The first-round draft pick is starting to get comfortable as the season reaches the midway point. He played spectacularly at times last week against San Francisco. The next step in his development is getting a passing attack going that ranks last in the NFL. The Bears are the only team in the league that has more yards rushing (1,093) than passing (1,019).
■ Steelers player to watch: LB T.J. Watt. Two months after signing a contract that made him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the league, Watt is proving to be worth every penny — and then some. He’s had at least one sack in five of the six games he’s played and his 8½ sacks total ranks third in the league.
■ Key matchup: Bears offensive line vs. Steelers edge rushers. Chicago has allowed an Nfl-high 30 sacks and now must find a way to keep
Watt, fellow outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, and defensive end Cam Heyward at bay.
■ Key injuries: Bears star LB Khalil Mack (foot) missed his first game since 2018 last week. … Coach Matt Nagy, who is vaccinated, had to watch the San Francisco game on TV after testing positive for COVID-19. … S Eddie Jackson (hamstring) exited last week after he was injured on the second play from scrimmage. … RB Damien Williams (knee) and TE
J.P. Holtz (concussion protocol) were hurt against the 49ers. … RB David Montgomery (sprained knee), on injured reserve, has missed the past four games. … Steelers K Chris Boswell spent the week in the concussion protocol after exiting the win over Cleveland in the second quarter following a botched fake field goal. The Steelers are expecting Boswell to be available but signed Josh Lambo to the practice squad just in case. Tight end Eric Ebron is dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out last week.