The Cardiac Bears strike again! Although most headlines about this game focused on the status of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback situation, history told us it would be a close game until the end.
Well, history did not lead us astray, even if some fans wish the Bears would develop a better habit for closing out games when they have the chance. In the end, Chicago finally beat a team over .500, and finds itself at (8-3) heading into a short week on Black Friday against the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles. Before we quickly turn the page to Week 13, let’s do a deeper dive into Sunday’s exciting win.
1. You Didn’t Think It Was Going To Be Easy, Did You? More On Another Last-Drive Win For The Bears.
Cue the infamous “Holes” meme: “I’m tired of this, Grandpa!”
The Bears might be winning games, but they are taking years of life with their fanbase in the process. Whew. It was yet another game in which this team held a commanding lead late but couldn’t find a way to seal the deal until the final drive. Although, to their credit, they rebounded nicely after a pretty lackluster first half that had them going into the locker room down 21-17.
Despite scoring 31 points, it was another somewhat uneven day for the offense. They weren’t terribly effective running the ball, and quarterback Caleb Williams’ accuracy wasn’t there (hence his 54.2% completion rate. On the flip side, many will see 28 points against and assume that the defense had another rough day against the offense. Considering the context of injuries, I thought the defense played a heck of a game. Seven of those points came off Williams’ strip sack in the end zone, but for the most part, they did an impressive job of limiting the Steelers’ offense, especially in the passing game.
There’s no real way around it– this team is banged up, and despite reinforcements on the way soon, the injuries just keep on coming. We’ll dive into that more in a bit, but any time someone forces the “strength of schedule” narrative, the injury discussion is a noteworthy rebuttal.
In the end, the Bears (obviously) outscored the Steelers, but they also outsacked them and were far more productive in the passing game. The rest of the numbers were relatively similar, but at the very least, they checked the box of beating a team over .500 to prove that they are genuine playoff contenders. Now, if they could just figure out a way not to give their fans heart attacks in the process, we’d be cooking with grease! For now, I guess we’ll just have to keep enjoying the wins, no matter how they come.
2. The Injuries Keep On Coming… More On Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and running back Roschon Johnson Heading To Injured Reserve On Saturday. Then Came Game Day.
It has been quite a while since the Bears have had as many long-term injuries in one season as they’ve had in 2025. Although most of the injuries have come on one side of the ball, this is also why so many fans have pushed back against the “easy schedule” narrative all season. There are plenty of teams around the league that have dealt with injuries, but there have been few teams that have had more key injuries on the defensive side of the ball than the Bears. Just when it felt like they were about to get healthier for the stretch run, the latest big blow came on Saturday afternoon when the team placed Edmunds on IR with a groin injury.
At least during his three-year tenure in Chicago, Edmunds was playing the best football of his career. Not only did he have four interceptions, but it seemed like the switch to the weakside was precisely what he needed in a “prove it” type of season. The Bears have already been playing one man down at the position most of the year, with T.J. Edwards in and out of the starting lineup with various injuries. Losing Edmunds, one of their best remaining players, is a sizable blow that will be felt while he’s out of the lineup. The initial timeline is four-to-six weeks, which would allow him to return for the final few games and any potential playoff games.
The good news is that Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Edwards should be back soon, but it’s fair to wonder who else this unit is going to lose over the course of the final six games. That’s just been the type of season we’ve seen from this team.
Johnson, who started the year on IR, has missed multiple games due to various injuries, and it’s worth wondering if he’s played his final snap in a Bears uniform. Despite the optimism surrounding him coming out of Texas, he has not been able to stay healthy. With D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai clearly ahead of him on the depth chart, it’s easy to see a scenario where the team looks to add two new names in the offseason. One of which could be to replace Swift. Either way, it’s been another disappointing season for the former fourth-rounder, but on the bright side, it allows Brittain Brown to take an active roster spot and show what he can do.
During the game, the team suffered a few more injuries, including cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hip), Ruben Hyppolite (shoulder), and Jonah Jackson (eye). Jackson returned in the second half, while neither Stevenson nor Hyppolite did. Although reinforcements are expected soon in the secondary, it’s never ideal when a banged-up team continues to lose players on a short week.
Either way, injuries have hit this team hard, and although nobody will feel bad for them in the long run, it makes their strong start that much more impressive. It also begs the question- How close to their ceiling is this defense for 2025 with a lack of continuity? In a best-case scenario, most of these guys will return soon and stay healthy. With Edmunds, it’ll be a while, assuming they remain in the playoff chase in late December. For now, it’s “next man up” with no promising options currently on the roster.
3. The Return Of Aaron Rodgers Came With Plenty Of Game Week Drama, But In The End, It Didn’t Result In Him Playing In The Game.
In typical Rodgers fashion, nothing is ever easy. Or clear. The week leading up to Sunday’s game was no different.
To be fair to Rodgers, he had a “minor” break of the wrist to his non-throwing hand, and I fully believe he wanted to go and extend his 25-5 record against his most hated rival from his time in Green Bay. In the end, it always felt like a long shot, and on the morning of the game, head coach Mike Tomlin finally announced that he would not play.
It didn’t stop Rodgers from taking his typical passive-aggressive shots at the Bears and their fans, while also complimenting the franchise. In short, it was a very typical play-by-play for Rodgers leading up to Sunday’s game. In the end, he wasn’t healthy enough to play, and all of those Steelers fans clamouring for Mason Rudolph got their wish, and it wasn’t pretty.
Rudolph’s first pass of the game was intercepted. In total, the veteran backup accounted for both Pittsburgh turnovers, missed all but one deep ball he threw, and threw for just 171 yards with a 5.5 average per attempt. All year, the majority of the Steelers’ passing attack has been screens and short throws near the line of scrimmage. It was no different on Sunday, despite playing a defense that was missing five starters.
Would the game have gone differently with Rodgers under center (or in shotgun)? Probably so. Rodgers is far from the MVP-level player he was a few years ago, but it’s hard to imagine he would have struggled against an understaffed defense as much as Rudolph did on Sunday. While some will continue to cite the Bears’ luck against opposing quarterbacks, I would simply say that they’ve been down multiple starters almost every game this season. So, the excuses can go both ways. No matter the lead-up, Rodgers might have missed his final opportunity to face the team he claims to “own”, thanks to a broken wrist.
4. The Offense Continues To Feel Like It’s Close To Clicking, But The Missed Throws And Lack Of Execution In Other Areas Have Kept Them “Stuck”.
For the first time in a month, the Bears’ rushing attack was not nearly as effective, and in turn, put plenty of pressure on the team’s passing game to keep up in a high-scoring game. Luckily for them, Caleb Williams was largely up for the change, even if his accuracy came and went, and his receivers continued not to help him out.
On top of the injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Bears came into Sunday’s game without their starting left tackle. In his place, second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo did a great job, allowing just one pressure on 40-plus dropbacks. Considering how dangerous the Steelers’ defensive front is, the fact that the only sack given up was on the quarterback, I’d say that’s a job well done by all five starting offensive linemen.
Despite scoring 31 points, their inability to put teams away in the fourth quarter stands out. Williams has yet to have a 300-yard game this year, which should come, but the bigger issue is their inability to close the door on opponents. The defense is what it is right now. They are banged up and lack impactful talent in the trenches. It is what it is. Despite being Top 5 in most statistical offensive categories, there’s still plenty to be desired, and that’s a good thing.
On the plus side, we saw quite a bit of red zone improvement on Sunday. That’s been an issue for most of the year, so seeing them being able to get the ball into the end zone without having to settle for field goals was a welcome sight. I’m not exactly sure what the next step is for this offense. However, considering they are still not firing on all cylinders and averaging over 26 points per game while ranking in the top 5 in multiple categories, there’s plenty to be excited about on the offensive side of the ball. Considering the defensive struggles, that’s going to be their ticket into the playoffs and beyond for 2025. We’ll see if they can continue it in the coming weeks against better defenses.
5. Hats Off To Dennis Allen. Despite Going Into Sunday Missing Five Key Defensive Starters, His Defense Performed Much Better Than Some Of The Final Numbers Might Show.
By the numbers, the defense has been a bottom-10 unit, outside of takeaways. Although I expected a better product through 11 games, it’s impossible to gloss over the sheer amount of injuries this unit has continued to deal with. It started with Johnson, then continued like a wildfire with the likes of Gordon, T.J. Edwards, Dayo Odeyingbo, Shemar Turner, and now Tremaine Edmunds.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The Steelers offense wasn’t lighting the world on fire by any means, but it was above-average in most categories and posed multiple potential matchup issues. Not getting Rodgers helped, but in the end, the defense still had to make numerous stops. Taking out the strip sack in the end zone that went for a touchdown, the defense gave up just 21 points and 345 total yards. Both of which were under their season average. Couple that with a pair of takeaways, and them forcing seven scoreless drives, and that’s a performance you’d take from their unit at full strength. The issue was that they weren’t even close to full strength. Not only were they missing two of their Top 3 cornerbacks, but they were also without their Top 3 linebackers and lost two players during the game (Tyrique Stevenson and Ruben Hyppolite).
Going into the game, the Bears’ offense might need to eclipse 30 points to win. In the end, that’s how it played out, but without the strip sack touchdown, the game might have been 31-21. They still aren’t getting after the quarterback enough, but Montez Sweat now has 6.5 sacks in his last six contests. Most importantly, the defense continues to force takeaways, as they came up with another well-timed pair of them on Sunday.
Allen is fighting to keep his head above water, but all things considered, he’s done a fantastic job. Getting takeaways when they absolutely need them is big, but Allen’s ability to find ways to scheme his guys to be in the best position to succeed is another. There’s no doubt that this group will need multiple upgrades in the offseason, but for now, they are making do with what they have. The bigger question is whether they can improve enough when closer to full health to win big (and possibly playoff) games.
6. The Build-Up For The Final Right Games Of The Season Has Felt Like An Eternity, But We’re In The Thick Of It Now. If The Bears Want To Make The Playoffs, They Are Going To Have To Earn It.
Since the bye week, I’ve harped on the fact that the Bears needed to go (4-1) over the “easy” five-game stretch from Week 6 through 10. Luckily for them, they were able to do that. The entire thought process behind that emphasis was if they could get to (5-3), then going .500 over their final eight games would give them 10 wins and a chance at a Wild Card spot.
Over the last two weeks, the focus has shifted from just getting in as a Wild Card team to setting sights on a potential division title. With six games remaining in the regular season, the Bears hold a slim half-game lead over the Packers, and a full one-game lead over the Lions. Looking at potential tie-breaking scenarios, Chicago would actually lose both as of now. The good news is that Green Bay is unlikely to be in any tie-breaking scenarios because of their tie, but the one against the Lions still carries plenty of weight. Right now, Detroit is (1-0) against the Bears, and they won’t meet again until Week 18. It’s possible that the final game of the season could be for the division and/or a playoff spot. We won’t know for some time if that’s the case, but Chicago can control their own destiny when it comes to the Packers. They’ll play each other twice in three weeks, starting in Week 14. Those will be two big games, and a split is likely to favor the Packers in the end, given their divisional record, if there’s a tie-breaker to factor in.
So far, the Bears are (2-0) over the final half of their schedule. Sitting at (8-3), the odds in recent years favor making the playoffs if they won two more games to get to 10 wins. The issue is that the NFC is closely contested, with 10 teams vying for the seven playoff spots. The Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1) and Carolina Panthers (6-5) are both on the outside looking in, especially if the bar is 10 wins. The bigger issue is that only two wins separate the clump of teams from seeds one through eight. For the Bears, that means that going into Monday night’s game, the difference between the third seed and being on the outside looking in is one game.
The NFC West is likely to have at least two teams, if not three, in the playoffs when they start in January. The NFC North is in a similar position, too. The Cowboys and Panthers are on the outside looking in, and considering their remaining schedules, it will take a miracle for them to win 10 or more games. Frankly, the Panthers should be much more focused on the NFC South, especially considering Tampa Bay’s recent struggles. After all, they are tied heading into the Panthers’ crucial Monday night game in San Francisco.
According to ESPN’s analytics, the difference between a win and a loss against the Steelers was worth 22%. At (8-3), the Bears’ playoff chances sit at an even 70%. There are a few routes to making the playoffs at (10-7), but (11-6) should be a guarantee, especially if they beat the 49ers in Week 17 on Sunday Night Football. At this point, every additional win that is banked over the final six games of the season is a step in the right direction. Considering the context, I’m not sure anyone wants to see the Bears finish (2-4) down the stretch and limp into the playoffs. Aiming for .500 or better should be the goal, and it feels attainable.
No matter how the season ends, the Bears are just one game away from “clinching” their first above .500 season since 2018, which is just incredible (and sad) to think about. We’ll see if they can finish strong and make the playoffs. With the division clearly in their sights, the bar needs to be raised when it comes to expectations over the final month-plus.
7. The Calculus Of Activating Jaylon Johnson And Kyler Gordon Was Always Tougher With Two Games In Five Days. Here’s Why It’s Fair To Expect One, If Not Both, To Be Activated Before Friday.
I’ve touched on the team’s injuries more times than I wanted to, but now we’ll finally touch on some better news. Although either Johnson or Gordon was activated on Sunday, I’d feel pretty good about one, if not both, being activated before Friday’s big game in Philadelphia. Johnson was a full participant for most of the week, and it’s easy to see him being ready to roll, even in a “platoon” role while he gets up to speed. Gordon finished last week’s practices with full participation. I would assume that they’ll be a little more careful with him, considering his stint on Injured Reserve was a re-injury of an issue he had back in Training Camp.
Having a pair of players come off IR and play two games in five days always felt like a stretch. Had both games been on regular rest, maybe Johnson would have been on the field on Sunday. Now, they can activate either (or both players), allow them to play (even on a snap count), and then give them two extra days of rest in the process before Green Bay. More importantly, we’ve learned that the Bears aren’t going to rush players back, even if there’s an obvious need there.
Assuming both are back on Friday, it will be interesting to see how the team balances reps. Tyrique Stevenson’s in-game injury could help push off the question for another week, but once all three “starting” boundary corners are healthy, who goes to the bench? Nahshon Wright is tied for the team lead with five interceptions, but has struggled in coverage for most of the year. Stevenson has been the better player, albeit health and consistency from week to week have been notable. At nickel, it’ll be Gordon’s job to slide back into once he’s on the field, but where does that leave C.J. Gardner-Johnson? I guess that this will allow Allen to get more creative, deploy more dime looks, and likely keep players fresher with more consistent rotations. Gardner-Johnson is not suited for the boundary, but he can play either safety spot, in addition to being the nickel. The Bears having options in the secondary is a good thing, and at the end of the day (and assuming everyone stays healthy), additional options and depth are exactly what this defense needs at the second level.
8. Five Thoughts From Around The League.
It feels like I say it every week, but it’s almost impossible to beat the in-season product that the NFL naturally produces. If the season ended this week, six new teams would enter the playoffs. What other league do you find this level of parity year after year? That said, I thought it might be fun to share five non-Bears observations I’ve had around the league so far this year.
- I severely overestimated the impact that Pete Carroll would have in Las Vegas.
I still laugh at the narrative that Raiders beat writers were spreading around when they lost out on Ben Johnson in January, saying that they “dodged a bullet” or that Carroll would be the better hire. That said, I did not anticipate the Raiders somehow being worse than last year. Not only are they worse than last year, they are arguably the second-worst team in the league. After hanging tough early in the season, the wheels have fallen off, and that’s just not something you expect to see when hiring a proven winner like Carroll. In reality, I should have seen it coming. History has not been kind to third-time head coaches in the NFL. So far, that has been the case for Carroll in Vegas. I know they won’t, but ripping off the band-aid and trading players like Maxx Crosby for additional draft capital would be the smart move. At this point, I’m just not sure if there’s a quick fix without an extensive rebuild. I’m also not convinced that Carroll gets another year, given how poorly things have looked over the last month.
- If there were one team I’d bet on losing their comfortable hold on the division over the next six weeks, it would be the Indianapolis Colts.
Part of this sentiment stems from my not entirely buying into the Colts. The other, and bigger factor in my thought process is the two teams behind them. The Texans are playing excellent football and should be getting back C.J. Stroud in Week 13. I’m still not convinced the Jaguars are overly “good,” but they continue to win games and sit just one game back of the Colts with six weeks remaining. I’m not overly worried about Indianapolis’ defense or run game, but it feels like quarterback Daniel Jones has been slowly coming down to earth for a while now. I’m almost waiting for the bottom to fall out.
- It might only be six games into his NFL playing career, but I’ve seen enough to know that J.J. McCarthy is not the answer in Minnesota.
The list of quarterbacks who have started their career with five consecutive games with an interception was already troubling enough. Couple in another two-interception match on Sunday, and it’s fair to wonder if McCarthy is even going to get the rest of the year before a change is made. Although he’s just six starts into his NFL career, this is Year 2, and he’s been the worst “true” starting quarterback in the league by a wide margin. While it’s fun to cite historical outliers like Josh Allen, those are few and far between. Not to mention, Allen is a more gifted athlete than McCarthy and has much more experience throwing the ball in college. We’ll see what shakes out with the Vikings’ season all but over, but it would not surprise me to see Max Brosmer get a start or two before the year is finished.
- Joe Burrow should not return this year. If he’s coming back because coaches are fighting for their jobs, fire them now.
With a 26-20 loss on Sunday, the Bengals are now (3-8) and all but out of the playoff race. Burrow is a proven commodity who doesn’t need snaps to gain experience. What’s the upside to bringing him back behind a horrible offensive line and a defense that can’t stop a soul? The only logical explanation is that head coach Zac Taylor and his staff are in job preservation mode. Outside of that, I just cannot fathom a single “smart” reason as to why Burrow would return and take another snap in 2025.
- The Cowboys went into the bye week on a sour note, but following Sunday’s impressive comeback victory, many will say they are a playoff contender. I’m still not buying it.
There’s been a lot going on in Dallas, and it all started with trading away Micah Parsons. No matter how much owner Jerry Jones tries to “make up” for the move, there’s no way to erase history, especially something this recent. That said, their defense is not only getting healthier, but the additions of Logan Wilson at linebacker and Quinnen Williams in the trenches have given that unit a noticeable boost. I know the Cowboys are still “America’s Team”, but the national narrative surrounding them has still been over the top. Here’s the reality of their situation: They would need to go at least (5-1) down the stretch to finish with 10 wins. “Who is still on their schedule?” you might ask. Well, I’m glad you did. They’ll host a desperate Chiefs squad on Thanksgiving before heading out on the road to face the Lions in Week 14. They’ll go back home to host the Vikings and Chargers, before finishing the season out on the road with meetings against the Commanders (who might have Jayden Daniels back), and the Giants (who have played everyone tough lately). The story has been a good one, especially in the wake of the Marshawn Kneeland tragedy, but this group still has a long way to go, with a tough road to get themselves back into a serious playoff conversation. Elite offense or not, I’m not buying their legitimacy yet.
9. NFC North Lookaround: The Detroit Lions Survive Overtime Against The Pesky Giants, And The Green Bay Packers All But End The Minnesota Vikings’ Season.
Coming into Week 12, the NFC North came in with the second-best record of any of the eight divisions around the league. Heading into Week 13, they’ll maintain their standing after three of the four teams won.
We’ll start in Green Bay, where the Packers dominated the Vikings en route to a 23-6 blowout victory. The Packers are banged up, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Running back Josh Jacobs missed the game with a knee injury, and quarterback Jordan Love was far from 100% on the day. Going against one of the league’s most aggressive defenses would typically result in suboptimal results. Still, the Packers did just enough on offense (on the back of running back Emmanuel Wilson) to get in front and not bend an inch. For the Vikings, their season is all but over with six games remaining, but that’s far from their biggest concern. Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy continues to struggle in every way imaginable. Not only did the former No. 10 overall pick throw another two interceptions, but he averaged just 4.6 yards per attempt. McCarthy has now thrown at least one interception in all six of his starts. His 6:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio is highly troubling. As a whole, Minnesota has a strong roster with plenty of talent, especially on offense. The quarterback position is a significant issue, and short of signing a veteran this offseason, I’m not sure how they’ll fix it.
In Detroit, it took all 60 minutes and then some (into overtime) for them to avoid a catastrophic upset at the hands of the New York Giants. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs continues to prove why he’s one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the league. The explosive runner totaled 264 yards, three touchdowns, and a whopping 14.6 average per run. Jared Goff continues to play solid, yet unspectacular football, which has been an interesting trend to monitor for about half the year now without Ben Johnson calling plays. Outside of the close call, the biggest concern was the defense. This unit has played exceptionally well almost the entire season, but they gave up 517 yards and 25 first downs. It’s been an uneven start to the season for the Lions, and it won’t get any easier when they host the Packers on Thanksgiving morning.
With a Bears win, the positions in the standings won’t change heading into Week 13, but their records obviously will.
Chicago Bears (8-3) 3rd Seed
Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) 6th Seed
Detroit Lions (7-4) 8th Seed
Minnesota Vikings (4-7)
10. Week 13 Look Ahead: A Black Friday Matchup In Philadelphia Against the NFC-Leading Eagles.
If we’re being honest, the Philadelphia Eagles have done the Bears a few favors in recent weeks by taking down both the Packers and Lions in consecutive weeks in front of a national audience. In fact, outside of the Bears winning back-to-back games during that stretch, the Eagles were the primary reason for their Week 11 first-place stop in the standings.
In reality, the Eagles are far from playing their best football, but they’ve done just enough on offense to complement a set of dominant defensive efforts. It’s fair to expect the Bears’ offense to struggle against this defense, but it’s still a group they should be able to score against if they can dictate their own pace. Although neither team is in a “must-win” situation, I would argue that this game means more to Chicago than to the other way around. That said, going into a hostile environment like Philadelphia to take on one of the best teams in football is no easy feat, especially with the Eagles coming off a brutal last-second loss in Dallas.
It will be interesting to see how well the Bears’ defense performs against an Eagles offense that has been struggling. With All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson out for the game, Dennis Allen will need to find different ways to generate pressure while keeping their run game in check. On paper, this isn’t a great matchup for the Bears, but as we’ve learned through 11 games this season, the Bears have a chance against anyone, especially if they are playing complementary football. Although it seems like the defense will be down multiple linebackers, it also feels like a fair bet that they get both Johnson and Gordon back in the secondary. This would allow Allen to play more dime packages and get creative in how he uses them in his secondary.
Although I’m still not convinced the Bears are a true Super Bowl contender in 2025, this is the type of litmus test– even on a short week- that could give fans a good idea of where this team is at heading into the final five games in December and early January. The winner gets the second seed, while the loser’s path to the playoffs hit a speed bump.
