Anything can happen in the NFL. That unpredictability—those sudden swings and shocking results—is part of what keeps fans glued to their screens every Sunday. But for teams chasing playoff dreams, the unexpected can quickly become dangerous. And as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for a Week 12 showdown with the Chicago Bears, Mike Tomlin and his team know they can’t afford to sleepwalk into this one.
If anything, Chicago is the textbook definition of a trap game.
Let’s be honest: Ben Johnson and his young squad have made quite a statement this season. Their 7–3 record represents a drastic shift from recent years, and the evidence is right there on the field. Caleb Williams and the Bears are still adjusting to winning consistently, but they’re playing confident, explosive football—and they’ve looked good doing it.
Heading into Week 12, Chicago ranks eighth in the NFL in points per game at 25.8, a huge jump from last season’s average of 18.2. Their offense has more bite, more rhythm, and far more creativity. The driving force behind much of that has been their rushing attack. With D’Andre Swift already at 634 rushing yards, the Bears currently sit second in the league in rushing yards per game (146.6).
Even more eye-opening, they’ve averaged an astonishing 198 rushing yards across their last three contests.
When you pair that with Caleb Williams’ steady growth at quarterback and a defense that’s playing disciplined, opportunistic football, Chicago’s first-place standing in the NFC North makes a whole lot more sense. They aren’t just improved—they’re legitimately dangerous.
The Pittsburgh Steelers do not match up as well as we thought against the Chicago Bears
And that’s where Pittsburgh’s reality becomes clearer. These aren’t the Bears of the past. They’ve shed the disorganized, predictable identity and replaced it with something far more threatening.
The areas where Chicago thrives are the same areas where Pittsburgh struggles.
The Steelers rank 13th in rushing yards allowed per game (106.4), which may look respectable on paper, but cracks have shown against more dynamic ground attacks. Even more concerning, Pittsburgh sits dead last—32nd—in passing yards allowed per game at 261.7. That’s a troubling weakness entering a matchup with a young quarterback eager to make a statement.
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Adding to the uncertainty, the status of Aaron Rodgers remains unclear as he battles a fractured left wrist. If Rodgers is sidelined or limited, the Steelers’ offensive ceiling shrinks, placing even more pressure on their defense to keep Williams and the Bears from dictating the game.
There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Pittsburgh cannot take Week 12 lightly if it expects to remain in the playoff hunt. Chicago is well-coached, fast, aggressive, and confident. They run the ball effectively, protect their quarterback, and play complementary football—everything a trap opponent needs to pull off an upset.
Every win counts from here on out.
What looked like a favorable matchup on paper earlier this season now appears far more difficult in reality. But that’s the beauty—and the danger—of football in November. If the Steelers overlook the Bears for even a moment, they may find themselves on the wrong end of the NFL’s unpredictability.