Bears (3-5) at Steelers (4-3)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. Field, Pittsburgh
TV: NBC
Tipico Sportsbook line: Steelers by 6 ⁄2
1
Bears’ keys to victory: Chicago’s offense continues to struggle while rookie QB Justin Fields continues to grow as a passer. Fields has athleticism, but the Bears cannot afford to put him in harm’s way running the ball against a physical Steelers defense. This means RB Khalil Herbert is going to have to try to find some creases in the Pittsburgh defense and keep the pressure of LB T.J. Watt and DT Cam Heyward off Fields. Defensively, the Bears must account for rookie RB Najee Harris, who has become the focus of the Steelers’ offense, along with speedy WR Diontae Johnson and big rookie TE Pat Freiermuth.
Steelers’ keys to victory: Pittsburgh will need to sort out who will be kicking this week after Chris Boswell entered the week in the concussion protocol. Pittsburgh has found balance on offense and must continue to mix the run and the pass in order to keep QB Ben Roethslisberger healthy and slow the Chicago pass rush. Defensively, the Steelers need to keep doing what they have done all year: Play smart, gap-assignment football up front to snuff out the run game and then let those elite pass rushers tee off on a young quarterback.
Matchup to watch: Steelers’ Roethlisberger vs. Bears’ Fields. Roethlisberger is preparing to put a bow on a Hall of Fame career. Fields is a young talent discovering life in the NFL.
Who wins? The Bears are coming off a loss and face a Steelers team on a three-game winning streak. Regardless of the issues at kicker, the Steelers’ defense is going to be too much.
Steelers, 21-10
ET, Heinz