On the strength of hard-hitting defense, Jay Cutler's right arm and Robbie Gould's clutch kicking, the Chicago Bears won their home opener in an extremely tough fight with the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers outgained the Bears 308 to 275 in a gritty defensive battle. They had 21 first downs to the Bears' 17. They, unlike the Bears, were able to effectively run the football. In the end, though, the Bears won on the strength of something the Steelers lacked: the ability to hit a big field goal.
In the rainy, somewhat-windy conditions at Solider Field in Chicago, Jeff Reed missed two second-half field goals. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Bears kicker Robbie Gould coolly booted a 44-yarder with just 15 seconds left to win it for the Bears. The game was cemented when Stefan Logan fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and the Bears recovered.
On the Bears' side of things, so many positives can be taken away from this game. Cutler showed the ability to lead his team on a game-tying drive, taking the Bears 72 yards and finding Johnny Knox in the end-zone to even the score at 14-14 with 6:21 left in the game. Cutler then took the Bears 41 yards to set up Gould's game-winner.
Along the way, the Bears seem to have found a gem in rookie Johnny Knox. Knox made a 68-yard grab last week against Green Bay, and Sunday he caught six passes for 70 yards, including the aforementioned game-tying touchdown grab. Greg Olsen made big catches, as did Devin Hester. Kellen Davis, who entered the season as the third-string tight end snared five balls for 38 yards the Bears first touchdown. All in all, it was a solid day from a receiving corps constantly maligned in the offseason.
Most importantly, Cutler took care of the ball. He threw zero interceptions, which was one less than Ben Roethlisberger.
Chicago Bears Photos
CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Nick Roach #53, Alex Brown #96 and Danieal Manning #38 of the Chicago Bears gang tackle Willie Parker #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nick Roach;Alex Brown;Danieal Manning;Willie Parker
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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: Kellen Davis #87 of the Chicago Bears holds on to the ball for a touchdown as he's hit by Tyrone Carter #23 and James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kellen Davis;Tyrone Carter;James Farrior
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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Nick Roach #53, Alex Brown #96 and Danieal Manning #38 of the Chicago Bears gang tackle Willie Parker #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nick Roach;Alex Brown;Danieal Manning;Willie Parker
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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes the ball against against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger
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Chicago Bears tight end Kellen Davis scores on a pass from quarterback Jay Cutler in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) looks for a receiver as Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Tyrone Carter, right watches in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears rolls out to look for a receiver against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jay Cutler
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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: Kellen Davis #87 of the Chicago Bears holds on to the ball for a touchdown as he's hit by Tyrone Carter #23 and James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kellen Davis;Tyrone Carter;James Farrior
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Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay (22) and linebacker James Farrior in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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Chicago Bears tight end Kellen Davis (87) is congratulated by teammates Frank Omiyale (68) and Chris Williams (74) after a touchdown reception in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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From the Steelers' end, the game reeks of missed opportunities. Roethlisberger's interception occurred in Chicago territory. Obviously, you have the two missed field goals for Reed -- before Reed's first miss, though, the Steelers had the ball at the Bears' 10. A stuffed running play and an Alex Brown sack drove them back to the 20. They also failed to convert a 3rd-and-2 before Reed's second miss. Still, they were in position to win the game -- or at least head to overtime. Considering they are the defending champs, though, they won't be headed home with anything other than a sour taste in their collective mouth.
The Bears head to Seattle next week to take on a Seahawks team who got shredded by Frank Gore Sunday. Thus, it would appear a good opportunity to get Matt Forte (just 29 yards on 13 carries Sunday) on track.
The Steelers will look to bounce back as they travel to Cincinnati, where they'll be facing a Bengals team that upset the Packers in Lambeau Field Sunday.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JETS have the BEST Defense in the NFL. Bar none.....
Go Bears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
actually migg 1 of many but your so mad that it's understable you make that mistake. bears lose home opener and worry but steeler fan loses 1 fricken game and have to swear like sailor come on man don't make the bears fans look good.
By the way, I was there at the game yesterday and apparently you didn't see the LARGE GROUP OF STEELER FANS by the Field Museum who were cheering for their team DESPITE the loss to the Bears. We held our heads high despite the loss. It was the ignorance of some foul mouthed Bears fans who thought it necessary to make themselves look bad. Let's face it, every team has a small percentage of fans who spoil it for everyone else. Based on some of the actions of a handful of Bears fans, I understand why Green Bay doesn't get along with Chicago. By the way, HOW MANY SUPER BOWL RINGS DO THE BEARS HAVE?
generalchaus:you are right there are some steeler fans that are just to much,we dont have to have a heart attack,we just came off winning our 6th trophy and some of these guys arent happy,me im more than happy,usually when thr dtrrlrtd win the super bowl, i let them have two or three years to get there again,reason is its so hard to get there year in and year out,when you win the super bowl, the next year every team that plays you is their super bowl cause they want to the best,and the steelers are the best,but if they dan grind it out then more power to them,STEELERS 4EVER
Who cares who wins ? It is just entertainment.
Of course when my family has someone on the team ,I care who wins....other than that ...enjoy.
Steelers are still #1 in my book. They have been #1 even before they won a superbowl. Really hard to forget "Mean Joe Green" "franco Harris" and the rest of the team....
This was a fluke. Same as the Jets flukey win. Cutler is too inconsistant. Cutler + no Erlacher= disaster. See you chumps at the bottom of the division.
You mean "Urlacher"? Learn how to spell if you want to make a point, idiot.
You're right, at least as far as yesterday was concernd. But the Jet's offense....man they are a joke. 15 yards total offense in the first half. Thats not NFL by any stretch dude. Sanchez has a LONG way to go.
Thanks to Alge Crumpler, the Bears weren't subject to facing the great defensive playing of Troy Polamalu. I won't cry over spilled milk, but the game would have been MUCH different if Troy weren't in Pittsburgh during the game.
dlrllynn, you're right. It would have been a different game if Polamalu had played. Evidently you didn't watch the game, or if you did, you didn't watch most of it. Troy was there on the sideline and they showed him every time(almost) that there was a play in the Pittsburgh secondary. You could tell he wanted in, but he was in civies. Tyrone Carter's a good hitter, but he lacks Troy's closing speed. Both of DA Bears tds were thrown to Carter's man and the 1st wouldn't have been if it was Troy was there. But like you, I won't cry over splilled milk. One game does not a season make.(unless it's the playoffs, lol) Anyway, "GO STEELERRS"!!!!!! Stairway to Seven..
I got the information from someone at the Steeler front office...apparently, I was lied to. I was told that Troy was not going to make the trip. I shouldn't believe everything I am told...however, info coming from the front office, you'd think that it would be correct information.
Go ahead and post while you can, bears fans! Because, come january, you wont have anything to be posting about.
SORRY BUT JAY WILL TAKE YOU UP THEN DOWN,HE'S MORE WORTHLESS AS ROMO.
Thanks Rottenburger! You blew it again. Get better Polamalu, we steeler fans need you!
What a bunch of Pu$$ys you Steeler fans sound like when you lose a game.. The Bears played a great team and won. Take it like men and stop crying. One thing I know is Chicago as a sports town rules over Pittsburgh which you don't hear much from when the Steelers aren't playing. And quit rubbing the "How many rings thing" in peoples face. Nobody likes a sore winner. Pu$$ies!
Bare Man: you obviously didn't see the dozens of Steeler fans by the Field Museum after the game cheering despite just losing by a field goal. I heard an ignorant comment from a Bear fan say...maybe someone should tell them they lost. The Steeler fans showed support to their beloved team despite a loss. Can you say that about Bear fans? Or are the Bears fans sore losers? As for Super Bowl ring comparisons, we usually only bring it up when it is necessary. Like when ignorant people make comments about something they know nothing about.
Hats off to the Bears. They played better and won the game. I don't mind my team getting an early wake up call that they need to step it up and reminded that any given sunday their opponenent can beat them. The Bears caught Jeff Reed sleeping. Go Steelers!
As a Steelers fan since '69 I've seen the worst and the best the Rooney's teams have had to offer. Yesterdays performance reeked of a poor offensive game plan that was even more poorly executed. How many long passes did Ben have to overthrow, badly overthrow, his receivers before he was reigned in? Why in the hell do you throw into the end zone on 3rd and 2 in Bears territory when a first down gets you a shot at the end zone anyway? This looked like a team that was desperate, not the reigning Super Bowl champs. All stats taken into consideration, we were outplayed on both sides of the ball by a team that showed far more heart and desire than my Steelers brought to Chicago. Hopefully, they learn from this embarrassment and take some emotion into the Bengals game. This fan will be face-palming until then.