Bears vs Steelers Recap
Caleb Williams Proves He’s Built for the Big Stage
Early on, it looked like Caleb Williams might be in for a long day starting 10-21 passing. The Steelers’ pass rush had him rattled, including a 2nd quarter strip-sack-touchdown orchestrated by T.J. Watt, the first half was a grind. Williams responded like a franchise quarterback should.
He finished with 239 yards and three touchdowns, including a gutsy 25-yard strike to D.J. Moore on a free play that flipped the momentum. This wasn’t just about numbers—it was about poise. Williams is learning how to win ugly, and that’s what separates good quarterbacks from great ones. As a matter of fact this marks his fourth career game with 3 or more TD passes and no interceptions. Again one word: Growth.
Defense Delivers When It Matters Most
Chicago’s defense was missing starters all over the field, but you wouldn’t know it from the way they played in the clutch. The most noticeable being their top three linebackers, T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, and Noah Sewell. They didn’t allow this to define them though as D’Marco Jackson stepped up huge and even got a game ball.
Nahshon Wright’s early interception set the tone, and Montez Sweat’s strip sack in the fourth quarter was the dagger. The Bears now lead the league in takeaways (24) and are undefeated when forcing multiple turnovers (7-0). This isn’t luck—it’s identity. When the game gets tight, this defense cashes in.
Red-Zone Execution Turns the Tide
Three trips inside the 20, three touchdowns. That’s how you win in November. Kyle Monangai’s bruising 2-yard score after Sweat’s strip sack gave Chicago the field position they needed, but the bigger story is consistency. Caleb’s TD passes to D.J. Moore in the 1st quarter after a Nashon Wright interception, and a 12 yard pass to Colston Loveland in the 2nd quarter. Consistency.
Over the last month, the Bears have converted nearly 80% of their red-zone chances. For a team that struggled to finish drives early in the year, this surge is a game-changer—and it’s why they’re sitting atop the NFC North. Touchdowns instead of field goals will be critical as we head into the gauntlet of our schedule, starting with Philadelphia this Friday.
Bears vs Eagles Preview Top Storylines
Battle of Division Leaders on Black Friday
Black Friday football doesn’t get much bigger than this. Two heavyweights, both sitting at 8-3, collide under the national spotlight: Chicago, the surprise leader of the NFC North, and the Philadelphia Eagles, the reigning NFL champs clinging to the NFC East crown. Let’s be honest—nobody had the Bears penciled in here back in September.
First-year head coach Ben Johnson has flipped the script, guiding his squad to eight wins in their last nine games with a mix of grit, balance, and late-game magic. On the other side, the Eagles are licking their wounds after coughing up a 21-point lead to Dallas—a collapse that shook the league. Stakes? Massive. The winner tightens its grip on a top NFC seed; the loser slides into the chaos of a crowded playoff race. Buckle up, Chicago. This one’s going to feel like January in November.
Caleb vs. Hurts: The Quarterback Duel That Could Tilt the NFC
All eyes are on the guys under center. Caleb Williams, Chicago’s second-year phenom and former No. 1 pick, is starting to look every bit the franchise cornerstone. He’s sitting at 2,568 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just four picks—and here’s the kicker: four straight games without an interception. Add in 293 rushing yards and three scores on the ground, and you’ve got a QB who’s evolving into a true dual threat.
An area where we need to see improvement? Completion percentage. Currently, Caleb is sitting at a meek 59.2%, and has repeatedly missed the easy throws. This is not the end-all be-all stat that decides how good a QB is but rather a stat to highlight their efficiency getting the ball out on time, and accurately. For example, across the field, Jalen Hurts has been top 13 in completion percentage the last 4 years including 2025. It’s no surprise the Philadelphia offense hums along with him.
Hurts remains the heartbeat of Philly’s offense. His stat line? 2,284 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, one lonely interception, plus eight rushing TDs that make defensive coordinators lose sleep. Hurts’ versatility is a nightmare for a Bears defense ranked 27th in scoring (26.5 points per game allowed). This isn’t just a matchup—it’s a tone-setter. Whoever controls the tempo here likely walks out with the NFC 2 seed.
Strength vs. Strength: Bears’ Ground Game Meets Philly’s Wall
This one’s a trench war. Chicago rolls in with the NFL’s second-ranked rushing attack, pounding out 142.3 yards per game behind the one-two punch of D’Andre Swift (649 yards, 4 TDs) and rookie spark Kyle Monangai (461 yards, 4 TDs). Credit the big guys up front—they’re third in pass protection and have been blowing open lanes since midseason. But here’s the test: Philly’s defensive front.
They’re giving up 115.1 on the ground (18th overall), but don’t let that fool you—they tighten the screws in the red zone, holding teams to touchdowns just 48% of the time. If Chicago establishes the run, they dictate pace and keep Hurts watching from the sideline. If Zack Baun (88 tackles) and Moro Ojomo (4 sacks) lead the charge and force Caleb into obvious passing downs, the Eagles’ pass rush can flip this game on its head. This is where the NFC power struggle starts—between the tackles.
Black Friday Attrition: Who’s Left Standing?
Forget the hype—this one’s about survival. The Bears roll into Philly held together by tape and grit, especially at linebacker. T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), Noah Sewell (elbow), and Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder) are all question marks, leaving the middle of Chicago’s defense paper-thin. Toss in Tyrique Stevenson (hip) and Dominique Robinson (concussion), and Ben Johnson’s unit looks patched together at best. The silver lining? Jaylon Johnson (groin) and Kyler Gordon (calf) might suit up, giving the secondary a fighting chance against Jalen Hurts.
Across the field, the Eagles aren’t exactly cruising either. Lane Johnson’s Lisfranc injury means Fred Johnson steps into the fire against Montez Sweat. DeVonta Smith (shoulder/chest) and Saquon Barkley (groin) are banged up, rookie safety Andrew Mukuba is done for the year, and Brandon Graham (groin) plus Xavier Gipson (shoulder) add to the headache. Bottom line: this isn’t just Bears vs. Eagles—it’s a war of attrition. Whoever handles the injury chaos is set up well to walk out of Philly with a W.
Top 3 Matchups to Watch For
Hurts & Philly’s Air Raid vs. Bears’ Beat-Up Back End
The Bears are packing their bags for Broad Street, and Jalen Hurts is waiting with A.J. Brown ready to run wild. Chicago’s secondary? Ranked 21st against the pass (224.7 yards per game) and looking softer than J.B. Pritzker’s belly. Corners have been getting torched—8.75 adjusted yards per target, third worst in the league—and opposing wideouts are eating for 159 yards a game. If Johnson and Gordon return this would be huge for the secondary.
Hurts, hitting 67.2% of his throws, is primed to slice this defense up like a Philly cheesesteak. Brown’s projected for eight-plus targets, and if the Bears’ pass rush doesn’t show up—tied for 21st in sacks with just 23—Hurts might turn Lincoln Financial into his personal playground. Analytics back it up: Chicago’s giving up a 74.9% adjusted completion rate, fifth worst in the NFL. Philly’s got the juice, and unless the Monsters of the Midway rediscover their bite, or continue to force turnovers, this could get ugly fast.
Bears Offensive Line vs. Eagles Pass Rush
Let’s get one thing straight: the Bears’ offensive line has been the unsung hero of this season. Seventeen sacks allowed—fourth fewest in the league—and a pass-block win rate sitting at a slick 71%. That’s elite protection, and it’s the only reason Caleb Williams hasn’t been eating turf every Sunday. Because let’s be real—accuracy’s been shaky. He’s rocking a 59.2% completion rate, and when the heat’s on? That number nosedives to about 50%. Translation: clean pockets aren’t a luxury for Caleb—they’re life support.
Now flip the script. Philly’s front hasn’t been racking up sacks (just 22, good for 22nd), but don’t let that lull you to sleep. Their pressure rate? 18% on non-blitzing plays, and they blitz on 20.2% of their plays, 27th in the NFL. Which means they rely only on their front four for the majority of the game. Jaelen Phillips brings that edge speed like a freight train, and Moro Ojomo’s been wrecking shop inside. Vic Fangio’s not dialing up blitzes—he trusts his front four to do the dirty work and force mistakes.
Here’s the chess match: if the Eagles start collapsing the pocket, Caleb’s going to have to be elusive as ever. But if Chicago’s line keeps holding strong? That neutralizes Philly’s biggest weapon and opens the door for Williams to take some deep shots creating explosive plays.
Saquon Barkley vs. Bears Run Defense
This is a critical chess match for controlling tempo. Saquon Barkley has logged 684 rushing yards on 185 carries (3.7 YPC) and remains a focal point of the Eagles’ offense, especially in short-yardage and red-zone situations. Problem is, Chicago’s run defense has been softer than a summer breeze off Lake Michigan—ranked 28th, giving up 138.1 yards a game and a brutal 5.2 yards per carry. Bottom-three in the league per carry. Ten runs of 20-plus yards allowed? That’s a flashing neon sign for Barkley, who’s ripped off 11 runs of 10-plus himself.
If Barkley gets loose early, Philly controls the pace, sets up play-action, and Hurts—dropping dimes at 70%—starts carving like a Thanksgiving turkey. The Bears need to stack the box and punch first. Show that Chicago toughness, because if Saquon starts grooving, Lincoln Financial turns into a Philly block party and the Bears are stuck holding the invite.
Look for Kevin Patullo to get Saquon going early after an embarrassing collapse last Sunday in which Barkley had 10 carries for 22 yards. This will be very interesting to see if the Eagles can get the run game going without their future hall of famer Lane Johnson.
Prediction
If the Bears are going to leave Philadelphia victorious here is how it will happen. In a game where every possession matters, the Bears pull off a statement win by leaning on their identity: a relentless ground attack, opportunistic defense, and ability to close in a one score game late.
Chicago’s rushing duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai powers the offense to over 160 yards on the ground, controlling the clock and keeping Jalen Hurts off the field. Caleb Williams shows poise beyond his years, delivering clutch throws on third down and avoiding costly mistakes against an aggressive Eagles front.
The turning point comes from the Bears’ defense, which forces two critical takeaways—one setting up a short-field touchdown and another sealing the game late. Despite Philadelphia’s talent, Chicago’s ability to win the turnover battle and dictate tempo proves decisive. Final Score: Bears 27, Eagles 24.
