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The Chicago Bears have been one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL so far this season and are set up with another tough task this Monday Night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team initially started the season trying to get by with Andy Dalton under center, but everyone knew that was not going to last long…and they were right.
Fields is now the unquestioned starter and is making strides as a passer each week. Even though the team has yet to take off any sort of “training wheels” from the kid, you can see the pure talent on multiple plays per game.
For more insight on the Bears' Week 9 matchup against the Steelers, listen below:
Going up against the Pittsburgh pass-rush, however, may not be the best thing for the Bears and their weak offensive line. That brings me to the four bold predictions about the Bears vs. Steelers game, enjoy!
Bears Week 9 Predictions
4. Justin Fields will not turn the ball over
Every game of the 2021 season (except for the first game where only threw two passes and ran twice) Fields has either fumbled or thrown an interception. The Bears have been fortunate that teams didn't capitalize and recover all of the fumbles, but seven picks in 158 passes is downright bench able. He has got to turn that part of his game around and after facing two tough secondaries in Tampa and San Francisco, he should have an easier time with the Steelers back-end that has struggled all year.
3. Pittsburgh has at least four sacks
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Ranked by lineups.com as the eighth-best pass-rushing team in the NFL, the Steelers have 19 sacks on the season, averaging out to around 2.5 per game. If you add in the fact that the Bears' offensive line is a proverbial turnstile and you have a recipe for a huge day of sacks by the men in black and yellow. On the year, TJ Watt already has 8.5 sacks despite missing time and the team also has four other players with multiple sacks. Cam Heyward is a load in the middle, Alex Highsmith gets his double teams due to watt, and Devin Bush is an excellent blitzing linebacker. The Bears had better be ready to protect upfront, or else it will be a loooong day.
2. Fields runs for over 75 yards
This one may come out of necessity. WIth Fields expected to be running for his life and with his receivers banged up, to begin with, he may end up flushed from the pocket on multiple occasions. Add that to the designed runs that are sure to be a part of the game plan because of Fields' speed and 75 yards rushing can be attainable.
Now, the Bears definitely don't want that to end up being the game script, because that would probably end with a loss. Too many sacks get you too far behind in down and distance. Once you're behind in down and distance you are put into a huge deficit as an offense. Instead, they will try to move the chains while milking the clock, keep it close and see if they can squeak a win out at the end.
1. Chicago will keep it close, but lose in the end
Pittsburgh is a better football team than Chicago and they certainly have the better coaching staff and overall organization. However, the Bears have equal footing when it comes to the most important position on the field and that is quarterback. In order for Chicago to keep it close as they want, they have to find a way of protecting Fields upfront. Whether that is with designed runs, bootlegs, QB waggle, or just a broken play and Fields has to make something out of it; they must figure out a way to not let TJ Watt and that pass-rush ruin the game. That is easier said than done, though, so the prediction here is still that the Steelers will win, just in a close one.
