Windy City Gridiron
Oh, look, it’s our old enemy, Aaron Rodgers. Coming into Soldier Field with his new team, nursing an injury.
He’s 42 now, and you would think past his prime. In fact, the things he’s saying, he appears to be more reflective, a little more chill and ready to, in his own words, let bygones be bygones.
But I say no! We can’t.
He’s a troll.
He’s the scourge of many a Chicago Bears fan’s very existence. He made game days hell for me, twice a year, most years. I don’t even want to list the specific games because you’re thinking of them, too.
Sunday would be sweet, sweet revenge, to knock him on his backside, to batter him around, make him frustrated, throw his helmet and leave the field in a hissy fit.
But I don’t even know if we’ll get the chance for it. And I also know, like many other fans, there is always going to be that fear of him ripping our hearts out, again. Especially with as close as the Bears have played this year.
No, I don’t like it. I won’t feel good with a three-touchdown lead. Ben, Caleb, make five, please.
Pittsburgh Steelers
SB Nation site: Behind the Steel Curtain
Record: 6-4, first AFC North
Last week: 34-12 win over the Bengals
Game day, time, TV: Sunday, noon CT, CBS
Spread: Bears -2.5
Bears all-time record against: 19-8-1
Historical meetings: On Nov. 23, 1947 at Wrigley Field, the 6-3 Bears hosted the 7-2 Steelers.
Chicago’s offense was humming that day, as Sid Luckman threw two touchdowns, one to Ken Kavanaugh and one to Jim Keane. The Bears’ other Hall of Famer, George McAfee scored two rushing touchdowns. Don Kindt rushed for a score. Kavanaugh caught another TD from Nick Sacrinty in the fourth quarter.
The Steelers could only manage a second-quarter touchdown from Gonzalo Morales to Val Jansante.
The Bears put an exclamation mark on their onslaught with a 44-yard George Gulyanics touchdown run.
The Bears won 49-7.
Last meeting: Week 9, 2021, on a Monday night in the Steel City, the Bears struggled against the Steelers. They trailed 14-3 at halftime and 20-6 at the end of the third quarter, thanks in part to a missed extra point.
In the fourth, Darnell Mooney scored on a 15-yard rush out of a wildcat formation. Following a Pittsburgh field goal, a Jakeem Grant fumble on the ensuing kickoff and a punt from each team, the Bears forced a fumble of their own.
With 6:31 left, Joel Iyiebuniwe forced a fumble from Steelers’ punt returner Ray-Ray McCloud, which was picked up and returned for a touchdown by DeAndre Houston-Carson.
On the ensuing drive, following a 3rd and 8 sack of Ben Roethlisberger by Cassius Marsh, the Bears’ EDGE was called for taunting, giving Pittsburgh a first down. Three plays later, the Steelers made a 52-yard field goal to go up 26-20.
Justin Fields then put together one of the better two-minute drives of his Bears career....
