Steelers vs. Bears: Winners and losers from the Week 9 win

Steelers loser: Second half football

This game was unfortunately a tale of two halves for the Steelers. The first half was a consistent and steady one, as the offense and defense both played well and held the Bears to three total points. The team failed to make any significant changes at halftime though and were subsequently outscored 24-15 in the second half.

The real issue was the fourth quarter, as the Bears piled on 21 points en route to the almost comeback victory. This wasn’t all a game-planning error, as McCloud fumbled a punt which resulted in a quick Chicago score. That said, the offense stalled, and the defense failed to counter anything that the Bears put together.

This was a game the Steelers should have won and won handily by. Instead, a late-game field goal was the deciding factor despite the fact that the Bears were outscored by 20-6 before the fourth quarter. The second-half Steelers failed to keep up the momentum of the first half, and as a result, it almost ended this game in a loss.

While the Steelers winning this game was needed, it certainly wasn’t done pretty. Despite a great first half, a slower-paced second one, and a miserable fourth quarter nearly resulted in the comeback loss. A win is a win, but the Steelers’ string of victories has certainly given the team a reason to be concerned.