How the Bears’ offense plans to counter the Steelers’ defense in Week 9

When the Pittsburgh Steelers play a team like the Chicago Bears, an NFC North division team, there is not a lot of familiarity surrounding the matchup.

Sure, fans know the big name players from their opponent, but a lot can change from one year to the next.

With that said, I reached out to Windy City Gridiron contributor Patti Curl and asked him a series of questions about the upcoming game. He was more than generous to provide answers to these questions, and in this article I asked him what the Bears’ plan to counter the Steelers defense in Week 9 will be.

How will young Justin Fields and company try to move the ball against the stout Steelers defense?

Check out his answer below, and be sure to follow Windy City Gridiron or the latest news and notes from the other side of the fence leading up to the Monday Night Football game.

When the Bears have the ball, how will they try to move the ball?

What will they do? Or what should they? I guess I tell you what they’ve done in the past. Against the Browns, they did literally nothing and got destroyed on every single snap. At times, they’ve given Fields help with extra blockers, including a 6th offensive lineman, designed roll outs and play action. These haven’t always worked, but I’m praying they try. Otherwise, their running game has consistently worked even against teams like the Buccaneers. The Bears hope is that success in the run will force defenses to keep their ears unpinned, but that hasn’t always been the case.

The Bears’ running game has been the on consistent aspect of the team in 2021, and they will likely continue to lean on the ground game to help ease the burden off Fields. This puts a greater emphasis on the Steelers’ defense to stop the run and force the game into the rookie’s hands. If they can do that, and create some turnovers, this game should be the Steelers’ fourth win in a row.

If the Steelers can slow down the Bears’ running game, even holding them to around 100 yards, it will go a long way to helping them win this prime time game at home. Either way, if the Steelers’ defense is elite, they will find a way to shut down the Chicago running game and get the win.

How do you see this game shaking out? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the upcoming Week 9 game.