Chicago Bears will look to end their second four-game winning streak of the 2025 season this weekend while facing a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that hasn't lived up to the standards they are known for.
While all eyes have been on Pittsburgh this offseason, it brought in quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, their defense has struggled at times despite having two very established veterans in TJ Watt and Cam Heyward.
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Most Bears wins this season have come against weaker defenses, and while they've been below average for most of the year, they still have several game-changing players on that side of the ball that could make a significant impact against Chicago.
Here are the Bears' top three offensive keys as they take on a Steelers defense that ranks in the bottom half of the league in several categories.
Stay elusive and keep moving your feet
In what may be a big surprise, the Steelers defense leads the NFL in missed tackle percentage, missing more than 18% of its tackles. This could be a big moment for Bears running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, who are known to run aggressively and disrupt defenses. Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden has also shown an aggressive style on the ball, and if the Bears can force Pittsburgh to miss its first tackles, it could lead to a big play for Chicago's offense.
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Contain TJ Watt
Going up against one of the best pass rushers of this decade is much easier said than done, but the Bears will have to do their best to put an end to TJ Watt's pass rushing ability. To his incredible credit, quarterback Caleb Williams has been nicknamed “Houdini” for his ability to avoid sacks and escape pressure at a much faster rate than last year. Watt will get even more attention as Alex Highsmith could miss this game with an injury.
Score touchdowns, not field goals.
Even though the offense has improved in Ben Johnson's first season, the Bears still have to find the end zone much more often. One of the biggest criticisms of their 7-3 start has been that Chicago has a negative point differential against their opponents, but Pittsburgh should give the Bears plenty of opportunities to score points. With over 50% of the red zone touchdown rate allowed, the Bears will have plenty of chances to break down the Steelers defense.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Steelers: 3 Keys to Chicago's Week 12 Offense
