Steel City Underground presents post-game takeaways in our Steelers Offseason Recall series, revisiting key moments from the 2025 season and how they shaped the year that followed.<\/p>\n
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Soldier Field hoping to maintain control of the AFC North race. Instead, they left Chicago with a frustrating 31-28 loss that exposed many of the same problems that had followed them throughout the season.<\/p>\n
Playing without injured starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers<\/a>, Mason Rudolph<\/a> helped Pittsburgh build a 21-17 halftime lead. T.J. Watt<\/a> and Nick Herbig<\/a> combined for one of the defense\u2019s biggest plays of the year, while the offense controlled possession, gained more yards and finished every red-zone opportunity with a touchdown.<\/p>\n However, Pittsburgh\u2019s offense disappeared during the third quarter, the defense surrendered another 30-point performance and the Steelers failed to finish their final opportunity.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Aaron Rodgers ruled out before kickoff<\/p>\n Rodgers entered the weekend as a game-time decision because of a wrist injury suffered during Pittsburgh\u2019s Week 11 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers officially ruled him out only hours before kickoff, giving Rudolph his first start of the season.<\/p>\n Curiously, Rodgers was not listed among Pittsburgh\u2019s inactive players and was not designated as the emergency third quarterback. Despite being technically active, he remained on the sideline and did not take a snap.<\/p>\n Rudolph completed 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He did not provide many explosive plays through the air, but he generally operated the offense efficiently and kept the Steelers within striking distance.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt ready today,\u201d Rudolph told reporters following the game.\u00a0Head coach Mike Tomlin<\/a> praised his backup quarterback\u2019s composure, particularly during Pittsburgh\u2019s late comeback attempt.<\/p>\n \u201cHe made plays for us, particularly in the fourth quarter,\u201d Tomlin said. \u201cBut as a collective, him included, we didn\u2019t do enough to win.\u201d<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Watt and Herbig provide an early spark<\/p>\n Pittsburgh\u2019s defense delivered one of the game\u2019s defining moments during the first half.\u00a0With Bears quarterback Caleb Williams<\/a> backed into his own end zone, Watt came around the edge and knocked the football loose. Herbig recovered the fumble for a touchdown, giving the Steelers a critical defensive score.<\/p>\n The play represented the formula Pittsburgh needed against Chicago: pressure Williams, create mistakes and turn those opportunities into points.<\/p>\n For a time, it appeared the defense might take control of the afternoon. The Steelers carried a 21-17 advantage into halftime and received the second-half kickoff with a chance to extend their lead.<\/p>\n Instead, the game quickly turned in Chicago\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Steelers win several statistical battles<\/p>\n The final statistics made the loss even more difficult to explain.\u00a0Pittsburgh controlled the football for 33 minutes and nine seconds compared to Chicago\u2019s 26 minutes and 51 seconds. The Steelers ran 69 offensive plays to the Bears\u2019 61 and outgained Chicago 345-328.<\/p>\n They also produced 22 first downs compared to 19 for the Bears and finished a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone.<\/p>\n Those numbers would typically point toward a Pittsburgh victory. However, the Steelers went only 1-for-3 on fourth down and committed two turnovers. Chicago took advantage of those mistakes, while Pittsburgh repeatedly failed to convert its possession advantage into additional points.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Third-quarter offense disappears<\/p>\n The Steelers received the ball to begin the second half with a four-point lead and an opportunity to take control of the game: they did the opposite.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh\u2019s first third-quarter possession lasted six plays and gained only 11 yards. The next series ended after three plays and seven yards. On the following possession, Bears defensive end Montez Sweat<\/a> strip-sacked Rudolph, producing a fumble that helped Chicago continue its comeback.<\/p>\n In total, the Steelers ran 12 plays for only 12 yards during the third quarter. They punted twice, lost a fumble and failed to score.<\/p>\n The collapse was especially surprising considering how efficiently Pittsburgh had moved the football during the first half. The offense had controlled the clock and finished drives, but completely lost its rhythm after halftime.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Defense allows 30 points again<\/p>\n While Pittsburgh\u2019s offense stalled, its defense could not stop the Bears from taking control.\u00a0Williams recovered from the early strip-sack to complete 19 of 35 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns. Chicago scored 17 unanswered points across the third and early fourth quarters, turning Pittsburgh\u2019s halftime lead into a 31-21 deficit.<\/p>\n The Bears became the fifth opponent to score at least 30 points against the Steelers during the 2025 season.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh had previously allowed 35 points to the Green Bay Packers, 33 to the Cincinnati Bengals, 32 to the New York Jets and 31 to the Seattle Seahawks.<\/p>\n By comparison, the Steelers had surrendered more than 30 points only twice during the entire 2024 regular season. The performance continued a troubling trend for defensive coordinator Teryl Austin<\/a>\u2018s unit. At the time, Pittsburgh ranked 28th in total yards allowed, 20th in points allowed and last in the NFL in passing yards surrendered.<\/p>\n The Steelers often appeared to recognize what Chicago was preparing to do, but recognition did not translate into stops. Missed assignments, poor reactions and inconsistent tackling allowed the Bears to maintain their momentum.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Rudolph leads a late comeback attempt<\/p>\n Despite trailing by 10 points, Pittsburgh did not go away quietly.<\/p>\n Rudolph directed a 17-play fourth-quarter drive that covered 63 yards and consumed more than nine minutes. He finished the possession with a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth<\/a>, cutting Chicago\u2019s lead to 31-28 with 6:27 remaining.<\/p>\n The drive displayed the patience and control Pittsburgh\u2019s offense had lacked throughout the third quarter. However, the Steelers had used a significant amount of time and still needed their defense to produce another stop.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Tomlin\u2019s late punt pays off, but only temporarily<\/p>\n Pittsburgh received the football again with 4:37 remaining and a chance to tie or win the game. Rudolph appeared to scramble for a 22-yard gain and a first down, but an illegal formation penalty erased the play. An incomplete pass on the following snap left the Steelers facing fourth-and-9.<\/p>\n Rather than keep the offense on the field, Tomlin elected to punt.<\/p>\n The decision was immediately questioned, especially after Corliss Waitman<\/a>\u2018s punt traveled only 33 yards. Pittsburgh\u2019s defense had struggled to stop Chicago throughout the second half, making it a major gamble to voluntarily give the football back to Williams.<\/p>\n However, the decision briefly worked. The Steelers forced a three-and-out and gave Rudolph one final opportunity with less than a minute remaining.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Final opportunity falls short<\/p>\n Pittsburgh moved the football near midfield and faced fourth-and-6 from the Chicago 47-yard line.\u00a0With the season\u2019s division race tightening, the Steelers needed one more completion to continue the drive and potentially move into field-goal range.<\/p>\n Rudolph\u2019s pass never reached its target. Bears defensive back Jaquan Brisker<\/a> knocked the ball down at the line of scrimmage, ending the comeback attempt and sealing Chicago\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n It was a fitting conclusion to an afternoon filled with missed opportunities. Pittsburgh had led at halftime, controlled possession, gained more yards, scored on defense and converted every red-zone appearance. None of it was enough to overcome two turnovers, a disastrous third quarter and another uneven defensive performance.<\/p>\n