Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t hand out compliments casually. Known around the league as a straight shooter who “calls it how he sees it,” Tomlin offered a notable bit of praise for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams following Sunday’s matchup. And for Williams—now in his second NFL season—that respect carries serious weight.

Tomlin specifically highlighted how Williams continuously attacked Pittsburgh over the middle of the field, an area the Steelers typically defend well. He noted that the young quarterback was “highly accurate,” a trait that stood out even against the variety of pressures and disguised coverages Pittsburgh threw his way. When a defensive mind like Tomlin acknowledges a quarterback carving up his scheme, it means the performance wasn’t a fluke.

Under head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears offense has taken a significant step forward, and Sunday was another example. Chicago leaned into Williams strengths—anticipation, arm talent, and poise—to stress the second level of the Steelers defense. Tight ends, crossers, and quick-hitting intermediate patterns consistently found space, and Williams rewarded the game plan with sharp decision-making. He wasn’t perfect, still plenty of things to clean up. Accuracy still being a concern despite Tomlin’s praise on Sunday.

But this wasn’t a rookie flashing potential. This was a Year 2 quarterback evolving, reading defenses faster, and trusting his timing. Tomlin’s comments reflect that growth and serve as one of the strongest public acknowledgments yet of how much Williams has matured in year two under Ben Johnson.

For Chicago, it’s another sign that the Ben Johnson–Caleb Williams pairing is becoming a legitimate offensive problem for opponents—one that even Mike Tomlin couldn’t help but admire.

Chicago Bears: The Most Dangerous 8-3 Team in Football

The Chicago Bears were in a dogfight against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Both teams were banged up. Pittsburgh didn’t have Aaron Rodgers. Chicago was missing half their defense. Usually, in those situations, it can lead to some wild outcomes. Sure enough, the game became a back-and-forth affair for most of the afternoon, with multiple lead changes. Caleb Williams was at the heart of it, throwing three touchdown passes despite some early hiccups. Perhaps the most important and memorable of the three came in the third quarter.

Chicago trailed 21-17 with 8:34 left in the 3rd quarter. The ball was at the Steelers’ 25-yard line. It was here Williams went to a new tool in his arsenal: a hard count. Linebacker Jack Sawyer bit, jumping early and drawing an offside penalty. That gave Williams a free play, which he fired to D.J. Moore for a touchdown.

If that entire sequence felt familiar, it should’ve. Rodgers was famous for utilizing the hard count as a weapon, then taking advantage of free plays for touchdowns. It seems rather interesting that Williams, who idolized the former Packers quarterback, waited until this game, when he knew Rodgers was present, to use the tactic.

Caleb Williams found a way to pay homage and troll at the same time.

Chicago prevailed 31-28, just the ninth time this team has scored 21 or more points against a Rodgers team since 2008. The future Hall of Famer reportedly begged the Steelers to let him play, but head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t want to put his quarterback at risk of aggravating his broken wrist. Now the Steelers are 6-5 and clinging to their division lead by their fingernails. All Rodgers could do was watch helplessly as the team he “owned” for so many years put his playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.

If that Caleb Williams hard count touchdown is one of the last memories of this long rivalry, it seems incredibly fitting. The Bears got to send their boogeyman out in style. Chicago moves to 8-3 on the season, improving their playoff odds to 64% and one win away from their first winning season in seven years.

The Chicago Bears‘ defense was like a regiment of soldiers returning from battle. Half of their number wouldn’t and were not fit for duty. Six starters didn’t suit up for Sunday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Expectations weren’t high. It would be a miracle if the Bears kept them under 30 points. They would need a massive effort from the starters who were left. For most of the game, Jaquan Brisker was not one of them. Pittsburgh seemed to pick on the Bears’ safety all afternoon, attacking him in coverage several times.

To his credit, Brisker didn’t grow discouraged. He kept battling. As the game entered its final moments, the young safety knew it was time to make a play. Pittsburgh quickly moved to midfield with under a minute to play. They were knocking on the door of a field goal to force overtime. Chicago managed to force two incompletions, setting up 4th and 6. Dennis Allen called on Brisker to blitz. He followed behind Austin Booker on the initial rush. As the left tackle moved to block Booker, Brisker looped back around to the inside.

It was here he saw the ball was about to come out, and the safety made one of the most athletic plays of the season, leaping into the air and tipping the ball incomplete.

Jaquan Brisker was incredible on that sequence.

You have to understand what happened. That wasn’t his original task. Based on the call, the expectation was that Jaquan Brisker would use Booker as a way to loop inside, hopefully getting a clean shot at Mason Rudolph. However, as he came around, he somehow recognized in a split second that the pass was coming, had the presence of mind to jump, the athleticism to get high enough, and the reflexes to get a hand on it. Only professionals make plays like that, and not as many as you think.

Jaquan Brisker has been the forgotten man on defense for the Bears this season. Others like Kevin Byard (5 INTs), Nahshon Wright (5 INTs), Tremaine Edmunds (4 INTs), and Montez Sweat (7.5 sacks) have sucked up most of the limelight. Brisker has remained a steady presence for them, but hasn’t made many impact plays. If the Bears make the playoffs this season, that deflection will be one of the primary reasons for their success.

Injuries were the story all week for the Chicago Bears. Most of the attention was focused on their defense, given that they were down six starters after losing all three linebackers. It somehow got even worse when an injury report update revealed left tackle Theo Benedet had suffered a quad ailment in Thursday’s practice. He was declared out for the game on Sunday. That meant Ozzy Trapilo, their 2nd round pick out of Boston College, would take over the starting job.

One can understand if people were nervous. Trapilo was in the left tackle competition this summer and apparently performed poorly enough that he was pulled from it midway through training camp. So you can imagine how some felt about the prospect of him starting there against a pass rush that featured T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Cameron Heyward. As it turns out, we needn’t have worried. Trapilo turned in a stellar performance, allowing only one quarterback pressure all afternoon.

The Chicago Bears have an interesting decision with Trapilo.

Benedet has been a tremendous part of their running game this season. However, his pass protection remains a big issue. His flawed fundamentals and shorter arms have made him a liability too often. The Chicago Bears have some nasty pass rushes coming up with Philadelphia, Green Bay, Cleveland, and Detroit. Trapilo is clearly the better pass protector. Maybe keeping him in to help guard Caleb Williams‘ blind side is worth the potential loss in run game potency.

Much depends on whether Benedet is healthy. The Bears have a short turnaround this week, heading to Philly for a game on Friday. They may decide to hold him out and ride with Trapilo. It allows the quad to fully heal while providing another look at their promising rookie. Chicago is in a great position. If the light truly has gone on for Trapilo, their left tackle problem may already be solved.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers, today’s game was circled on many Chicago Bears fans’ calendars. Rodgers’ return to Chicago, where he famously taunted the Soldier Field crowd that he “owned” them after a back-breaking touchdown to cement yet another Green Bay Packers win.

Since then, Rodgers wore out his welcome in Green Bay and New York, and is now steering the Steelers in an AFC North race against Baltimore. But last week, he fractured his wrist against Cincinnati, and since then, it was up in the air if the Bears would actually see their long-time nemesis on the field.

Alas…

Disappointing. These kinds of stories are what make sports fun.

But before people claim the Bears are lucky, keep in mind Chicago’s dealt with a murderer’s row of injuries the entire season. Their entire secondary’s been devastated since Week 1, and this week, all three of their starting linebackers were out.

That’s right – no Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, or Noah Sewell. (Oh, and Edmunds went on injured reserve, so he’ll miss four games, at minimum).

And for good measure, Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon remained out with injuries.

AND if it wasn’t enough, starting LT Theo Benedet was also out, paving the way for rookie Ozzy Trapilo’s first career start — at a position that isn’t natural to him.

So yeah, the Bears aren’t what I would call “lucky.”

Nonetheless – this was a game where literally anything could happen and I wouldn’t be surprised. And in the end, the Bears somehow overcame playing a nameless defense with timely plays to win a crazy football game and get to 8-3. Rodgers didn’t play, and his team was vanquished.

I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on X @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.

Thoughts and Observations

1. (PREGAME) — I can’t overstate how silly this injury report is for Chicago. For them to remain in the playoff hunt over the next month, it’s going to take an all-time coaching job from this staff. Luckily, this is the first time in a long time that the Bears can feel they’ll have some creative attempts at answers to overcome all of this devastation.

2. The first two Steelers drives of this game epitomizes what this defense has been all year: pretty bad down-to-down, but they generate explosives. After a nine-yard run opened their offense, Mason Rudolph chucked a fade to DK Metcalf, and Nahshon Wright made an unbelievable interception. Quite literally one of the plays of the year.

Chicago turned it into points, as Caleb Williams led a pretty drive down the field and hit DJ Moore for a touchdown. Some creativity and new stuff on offense — including Luke Newman at fullback (!) and some slants! Quick game has been lacking this season.

But then, the Steelers went 95 yards with ease to tie the game. With the Bears’ injuries, it’s not surprising whatsoever.

3. Man, Caleb with one of the more boneheaded plays you’ll ever see from him. Admittedly, with holding on the kickoff and first down, the Bears were backed up at their own 10-yard line. On 2nd and 20, TJ Watt got around Darnell Wright (which Caleb had enough time to see and process), and he didn’t get rid of the ball. Sack/fumble, touchdown, Steelers. 14-7. Just an inexcusable play from the quarterback. His awareness needs to be much higher in situations like that.

D’Andre Swift “fumbled” on the ensuing possession near midfield, on a third and short carry. No replay angles showed when he fumbled the ball, but the referees (without a clear view) called it a fumble.

Thankfully, the Bears somehow got a stop on a 4th and short as a weird tush push attempt with the tight end was short. No harm, no foul, I suppose.

4. That’s a great response from the offense. What started with a bad throw from Caleb to Luther Burden (high over the middle) then resulted in some beautiful play calls from Ben Johnson to keep the drive going — including a cool 4th and 1 keeper with D’Andre Swift lead-blocking. A beautiful throw to Rome Odunze for 23 and a rocket slant / short post to Colston Loveland tied the game up at 14.

Unfortunately, Jonah Jackson left the game with an injury on that drive… but Luke Newman filled in nicely. The Bears are just dropping like flies today.

5. Man, that’s a backbreaker before halftime. The Bears had the Steelers in a 3rd and 11, and then they picked up 10 on an easy pitch and catch vs. off coverage, and then a fake tush-push went 55 yards en route to a touchdown a play later. Brilliance from the Steelers on that play call. Horrific outcome for Chicago.

21-14 Steelers with about a minute left in the half, and Pittsburgh gets the ball after halftime. That sack/strip touchdown is looming very large in this one. Weird stuff happens every time Aaron Rodgers is in the building.

6. Man, Jalen Ramsey saved the Steelers by chasing down Luther Burden on a nifty WR screen. He had a chance to score from almost midfield and out of nothing on a 3rd and 9.

The Bears did get a field goal out of it to narrow the gap to 21-17 at halftime. Frankly, it’s been a rough performance from Williams, as he’s had a couple near-interceptions along with his sack/fumble. Quite brutal to watch after last week’s game.

On the bright side, the Bears are competing against a fairly healthy and solid team. For all the talk about them being lucky this season, the Bears are playing with both hands tied behind their backs and competing.

<HALFTIME>

7. Well, that’s about as nice of a start to the second half as you could draw up:

The Steelers inexplicably chose to throw it when the run defense has been awful, and Montez Sweat sacked Mason Rudolph to set up 2nd and 14. Then Nahshon Wright broke up a deep ball on third down to force a punt. A huge play, considering momentum.

And then Caleb Williams found Rome Odunze twice and DJ Moore (technically twice), sandwiching a dumb taunting penalty, en route to a touchdown. The beauty of it was the TD came on a free play where the defense jumped on a hard count on 3rd and 6.

With Aaron Rodgers in the house? Beautiful. Bears up 24-21.

8. As I said earlier, bad down-to-down, but explosive on defensive. After a 30 yard DPI on Nick McCloud set up the Steelers inside the Bears’ 35, Montez Sweat stripped Mason Rudolph on the next play and the Bears recovered. Darnell Washington (Steelers TE) has been blocking Sweat on both of his sacks on Rudolph today, and this one cost Pittsburgh dearly.

The Bears used the momentum of that to slice through Pittsburgh’s defense with absolute ease. Caleb with a deep ball to DJ Moore, and a few big runs by Kyle Monangai, including a touchdown to finish the drive. Bears 31-21 early in the fourth quarter.

Just magnificent stuff from Ben Johnson in the second half so far today.

9. If Caleb Williams is going to take the leap into the “Great” QB tier, he has to hit that first down pass to Rome after the Steelers cut it to 31-28. Just can’t miss that wide open of a pass, ever.

The delay of game is equally bad — Caleb needs more awareness and Ben needs to help out his QB there as well. Just bad football there in a clutch situation. Not something we’ve seen from them often lately.

Somehow, though, the Bears lucked out with an illegal formation on 3rd and 4 wiping out a massive run by Rudolph to midfield. And on 3rd and 9, Grady Jarrett tipped the pass at the LOS to bring up 4th down. Interestingly, Mike Tomlin chose to punt…

Two runs (one where Monangai slips with a clear cutback lane) and a bad incomplete throw (bad decision to throw it by Caleb) and the Steelers got the ball back. Is one more stop possible?

10. You better believe it. The Bears let Rudolph march to the 50 in three plays and one minute remaining, but they tightened up with clutch tackles and a timely tipped pass from Jaquan Brisker to win it. 8-3. An all-time coaching job from Ben Johnson’s crew.

11. The Bears’ corners by the end of the game were McCloud and Wright. The linebackers were… I couldn’t even tell you.

Unbelievable, what they overcame to win this game. We can do a full-on All-22 analysis later. For now, just rejoice in disbelief.

12. Bears head to Philadelphia for a showdown against the Eagles on Black Friday. Ben Johnson against Vic Fangio will feed families. Bears probably aren’t ready for a matchup like this, but keep it competitive and inspire hope for the nationally televised matchup in Green Bay.

Early prediction: Eagles 17, Bears 16.

By all accounts, Aaron Rodgers was pushing hard to play today against the Chicago Bears. It wasn’t difficult to understand why. The future Hall of Famer is likely in his final season. Most believe he will retire once it’s over. This was his last chance to get in one more shot at a team he’s owned for most of his career. It felt like things were trending in the right direction. He’d practiced twice despite his broken left wrist. Pittsburgh insiders felt the likelihood was that he would play. Two hours before game time, we got an answer.

Head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that backup Mason Rudolph would start. Rodgers would remain sidelined.

It is a sound decision from a big picture standpoint. Tomlin must focus on the Steelers’ push for the division title. A matchup against an NFC opponent like the Bears doesn’t carry enough weight to risk losing Rodgers for the season. The Bears did much the same by refusing to activate cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon despite both practicing this week. While the decision was in the best interests of the team, it appears Rodgers didn’t take the news well.

Aaron Rodgers remains all about Aaron Rodgers.

A reaction like that reeks of a child who didn’t get his way, so he acts out to get attention. Name another quarterback who would do something like that after his own team refused to let him put his season at risk. It is a selfish reaction that is perfectly on-brand for this quarterback. Make no mistake. Aaron Rodgers is an all-time great quarterback. He will be enshrined in Canton the moment he goes on the ballot. That doesn’t change the fact that almost every decision he’s made was meant to serve his own self-interests.

The big picture doesn’t matter. All the matters are cementing his legacy by beating the Bears one last time. It seems rather fitting that a head coach who is as team-oriented as it gets didn’t bend the knee to the almighty Rodgers. He won’t get his storybook ending. His last game in Chicago will be spent on the sidelines. In all honesty, that is a fitting ending.

The Chicago Bears were a fractured team by the end of 2024. They’d seen their head coach fired after the locker room boiled over following the brutal loss on Thanksgiving in Detroit. Players were cynical and uncertain about their future. Any head coach coming in would have the herculean task of rebuilding trust and getting guys to buy in. Ben Johnson may have been on the younger side when the team hired him in January, but he wasn’t naive. If he was going to get guys motivated, he could not for one second make it seem as if he was being disengenuous.

He had an idea. It was a poem he’d learned while playing football in high school. His team chanted it after every win, and it became their rallying cry. It was called “Good, Better, Best.” By now, most Bears fans have heard it more than once. It has become wildly popular. However, Johnson knew the hard part would be selling it to the locker room. These weren’t a bunch of impressionable high school kids. These were grown men. According to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic, the first attempt at the speech wasn’t well-received.

Johnson knew he’d have to sell it.

On Aug. 17, after the Bears beat the Bills 38-0 in the preseason, Johnson gathered his players in the locker room.

“Good, better, best!”

“When he first did it, we were kind of like, what’s going on?” safety Kevin Byard said. “He’s just like, ‘Just repeat after me,’ and we’re just like ‘Uh’, just looking around like, ‘OK?’”

Johnson wasn’t nervous. But this wasn’t a high school team. These were professional football players.

“They kind of looked at me like I was crazy the first time or two,” he said. “Particularly some of the guys — you know, not everyone played in that game, so they’re kind of like, ‘What is going on here?’”

Seven wins later, and “Good, better, best” is taking over Chicago.

“At first, like, it’s funny, those things are cheesy until they’re not,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “The more you win and the more you feed into it, it becomes part of your culture and your identity of the team.”

Ben Johnson never wavered.

He kept pushing it. Once the wins began piling up, players started to believe in the maxim. Soon, all of them were shouting the chant at full volume. Now the Bears are 7-3 and have their first real opportunity to chase a playoff spot in five years. Ben Johnson is leading the way, both with his words and his actions. The Bears’ offense is one of the best in the NFL, ranking 2nd in rushing. There is no longer any debate about whether hiring him was a good decision. It’s fast becoming one of the best the organization has made in at least a decade.

Time will tell if they can reach the finish line. Injuries are piling up, and the schedule keeps getting tougher. Yet the mantra remains unchanged. The Bears are striving to get better every day. If they do that, they will eventually be the best. That is the goal. It is how Johnson got this far in his career. He aims to help them do the same.