🏈 Week 12 Official Game Thread 🏈 PIT @ CHI, Nov 23rd, 12PM CST, CBS, CHI -2.5

[ASHKUM BEAR]

10 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Everything that wasnt working seems to be working now. It was a Cloudflare problem which a lot of the internet sites must use. 

These routes would seem to be open every time to me. We have had more TE involvement over the last few games. Need to do more.

 

I think that is the DNS, I tried changing that but it takes a wierd code. I appreciate all the help, good thing I find wifi about every day.   

I loved seeing the Bears going 3 TEs and even using Trapilo there for their jumbo package. Cant wait to see the use Loveland/Kmet like the packers used Kraft. 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

7 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

thats very needed. thank you for finding that.

Drafted by Detroit in the 4th, he has some history with BJ.  He adds depth to the thin LB Corp especially with Sewell talking some beatings lately.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

Caleb’s birthday today .  

[adam]

24% swing in playoff odds in this game. Win and it is up to 69% (Yeah Baby), and a loss drops it to 45%. GB and DET still have better odds. 

[Stinger226]

Its not the end of the season have to win game but it would show the team is making progress.  

[Mongo3451]

25 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

Its not the end of the season have to win game but it would show the team is making progress.  

As up and down as the Steelers are, it would be nice to get our first win over an above 500 team.

[adam]

18 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

As up and down as the Steelers are, it would be nice to get our first win over an above 500 team.

They are also a first-place team. So this is a bigger game than I expected at the start of the season.

PIT does what PIT does every year with Tomlin, the most consistent Head Coach in this era. The fact that he has never had a losing record in 19 years is wild. Like Andy Reid has had 3 losing seasons a 4-win, 5-win, and a 6-win season. John Harbaugh has one. Belichick had 8.

[Pixote]

Regarding injuries, I just read this on SI.com:

Quote

Just as the Bears secondary seems to be rounding into shape, they have another  pressing injury concern, though.

Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds missed a second straight practice with a groin injury Thursday and linebacker Noah Sewell sat out a second straight practice with an elbow injury.

In case you're counting, that's all three linebackers missing Thursday practice  with Aaron Rodgers coming to Soldier Field and looking more like a probable starter after he participated in Thursday's Steelers practice.

 

[AZ54]

Interesting to see this considering he was a draft option for us.  
 

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/steelers/2025/11/20/steelers-arthur-smith-kaleb-johnson-usage-week-12/87376831007/

[Pixote]

13 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

Interesting to see this considering he was a draft option for us.  
 

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/steelers/2025/11/20/steelers-arthur-smith-kaleb-johnson-usage-week-12/87376831007/

Kaleb Johnson was one of several running backs in the 2025 draft that I hoped the Bears would draft.

I'm surprised he has had such a bad start to his career. 

[adam]

Great news for JJ, looks like he is playing this weekend:
 

 

[Pixote]

5 minutes ago, adam said:

Great news for JJ, looks like he is playing this weekend:
 

 

I remember Booker and Kyle both being full participants when returning from injuries, and neither one suited up for the following game.

I hope you're right, but I suspect he will be held out to make sure he is fully ready for contact.

[Stinger226]

I think JJ is pressing this to come back. Reasonable people will probably say wait another week, but he is so focused on what he wants, he may push his way back on the field sooner. His grit and dedication made him an ALL PRO, give him what he wants. 

[Mongo3451]

I'm on the record of not wanting him back this week.

[AZ54]

3 hours ago, adam said:

Great news for JJ, looks like he is playing this weekend:
 

 

I don't think full participant necessarily means he's playing.  There's a lot to football conditioning and one Thur practice followed by a light Fri practice isn't enough in my opinion.  

[DABEARSDABOMB]

26 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

I don't think full participant necessarily means he's playing.  There's a lot to football conditioning and one Thur practice followed by a light Fri practice isn't enough in my opinion.  

This - given what he missed they may want him to be in full for quite a bit longer before they deem him ready for game day. I’m still guessing next week for JJ and the following week for Kyler and TJ. Also sounds like Edmunds is out for a week or two with a groin injury. 

[Stinger226]

I see both Edmunds and Sewell are both DNP designated. If they dont play, third stringers up next? Take Pitt RBs this week in fantasy football.

[Stinger226]

We have to rev up our offense and run the hell out of the ball to control the clock because our defense will be hurting with 3rd string LBers in there. its not going to be pretty but we still can win the game. I say 30 to 23 and of course we win. 

[Alaskan Grizzly]

16 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

I'm on the record of not wanting him back this week.

I second this.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

On 11/19/2025 at 9:52 AM, Mongo3451 said:

As up and down as the Steelers are, it would be nice to get our first win over an above 500 team.

I saw a recent post earlier today that was on an NFC trash-talking site I visit occasionally.  Someone posted the W/L record of every NFL team against teams with winning records.  For the Bears they showed "0%" .  Considering I find myself easily tricked by social media and AI I decided to take a look (with ironically some help from AI).  Of the teams they've played so far: 

 

Even though the Bears currently face the second-hardest schedule in the NFL, they still haven't beaten a team that’s above .500. Pittsburgh will be the first real test to show how “legit” this group is. As a lot of people have pointed out, they’ve managed to get this far despite a pile of injuries—especially on defense—so getting guys like Johnson and Gordon back will be huge.

The big question is whether the team has actually made the offensive progress that many claim, or if they’ll fold once they start facing opponents who are truly gearing up for the playoffs. I ask that somewhat rhetorically, because last night Houston absolutely throttled Buffalo—Allen got sacked eight times. It just reinforces that this season feels wide open, and as the old saying goes, “Any Given Sunday.”

[AZ54]

8 minutes ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

I saw a recent post earlier today that was on an NFC trash-talking site I visit occasionally.  Someone posted the W/L record of every NFL team against teams with winning records.  For the Bears they showed "0%" .  Considering I find myself easily tricked by social media and AI I decided to take a look (with ironically some help from AI).  Of the teams they've played so far: 

 

Even though the Bears currently face the second-hardest schedule in the NFL, they still haven't beaten a team that’s above .500. Pittsburgh will be the first real test to show how “legit” this group is. As a lot of people have pointed out, they’ve managed to get this far despite a pile of injuries—especially on defense—so getting guys like Johnson and Gordon back will be huge.

The big question is whether the team has actually made the offensive progress that many claim, or if they’ll fold once they start facing opponents who are truly gearing up for the playoffs. I ask that somewhat rhetorically, because last night Houston absolutely throttled Buffalo—Allen got sacked eight times. It just reinforces that this season feels wide open, and as the old saying goes, “Any Given Sunday.”

I don't think anyone is out there saying this Bears team is a finished product.  It's just year 1 of this coaching staff and turnaround.  I don't know any Bears fan that think we're a Superbowl contender.  Everyone I talk to is just happy that we now have a roster that no longer quits in close games and that our offense keeps getting better each week.    I'm still not accustomed to all the chunk plays we get each game but 3rd and 10-15 is no longer the death sentence it has been for many years.  

[Mongo3451]

23 minutes ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

It just reinforces that this season feels wide open, and as the old saying goes, “Any Given Sunday.”

Any given Sunday is very true.  We could be overlooked and under prepared for by our opponent.  We could call and execute a perfect or flawed game.  We could get breaks or get hosed by the officials.  What we can control is our attitude.  The right attitude, leads to better focus and intensity.  Those traits lead to better practice and study habits.  Repetition of those lead to consistent execution.  We are seeing this at the end of games lately.  The team is learning to win.  I personally believe that the fold part is over.  Don't get me wrong.  We can still take an ass whooping, but we aren't gonna lie down for it anymore.  Bear down!

[adam]

11 minutes ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

I saw a recent post earlier today that was on an NFC trash-talking site I visit occasionally.  Someone posted the W/L record of every NFL team against teams with winning records.  For the Bears they showed "0%" .  Considering I find myself easily tricked by social media and AI I decided to take a look (with ironically some help from AI).  Of the teams they've played so far: 

 

Even though the Bears currently face the second-hardest schedule in the NFL, they still haven't beaten a team that’s above .500. Pittsburgh will be the first real test to show how “legit” this group is. As a lot of people have pointed out, they’ve managed to get this far despite a pile of injuries—especially on defense—so getting guys like Johnson and Gordon back will be huge.

The big question is whether the team has actually made the offensive progress that many claim, or if they’ll fold once they start facing opponents who are truly gearing up for the playoffs. I ask that somewhat rhetorically, because last night Houston absolutely throttled Buffalo—Allen got sacked eight times. It just reinforces that this season feels wide open, and as the old saying goes, “Any Given Sunday.”

There are way too many variables to account for to evenly compare two different games, even though that's what we do. Weather, injuries, officials, home/away, rest.

You almost have to treat each week as if both teams are 0-0. Any Given Sunday is real.

[adam]

4 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

Any given Sunday is very true.  We could be overlooked and under prepared for by our opponent.  We could call and execute a perfect or flawed game.  We could get breaks or get hosed by the officials.  What we can control is our attitude.  The right attitude, leads to better focus and intensity.  Those traits lead to better practice and study habits.  Repetition of those lead to consistent execution.  We are seeing this at the end of games lately.  The team is learning to win.  I personally believe that the fold part is over.  Don't get me wrong.  We can still take an ass whooping, but we aren't gonna lie down for it anymore.  Bear down!

I was writing my reply and didn't see yours until I posted. 

2 minutes ago, adam said:

There are way too many variables to account for to evenly compare two different games, even though that's what we do. Weather, injuries, officials, home/away, rest.

You almost have to treat each week as if both teams are 0-0. Any Given Sunday is real.