Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to turn their season around against Jay Cutler’s Chicago Bears. Join us for live scores and commentary from 10.30am AEST.
The Steelers, currently 0-2 and experiencing their worst start since 2003, have looked terrible in both games and criticism is pouring in from fans and media alike.
Pittsburgh, traditionally a running team, has totalled 75 yards on the ground through the first two weeks and has been outscored 36-19 during that span.
All eyes are on offensive coordinator Todd Haley and his unit to pick up their game, including the attention of the head coach.
“The most significant reason we’re 0-2 is we’re not scoring enough points,” said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin this week to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In contrast, Bears coach Mark Trestman is in his first year in the NFL and is the only first-year head coach to remain undefeated, albeit winning two narrow ones.
Last week’s 31-30 victory over division rivals Minnesota Vikings came with via a touchdown strike to tight end Martellus Bennett in the last ten seconds of the game.
Bennett now has three touchdowns in his first two games with Chicago, and runningback Matt Forte is also off to a great start with 252 scrimmage yards.
The NFL’s best kick returner Devin Hester has also found his stride – he averaged almost 50 yards a return last week on his way to winning his 13th NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.
With both teams coming from separate conferences, neither side is very familiar with their opponent, so we should see an increased output from both offenses – for example, Bears wideout Brandon Marshall averages eight catches and over 100 yards against AFC opponents, and Roethlisberger’s home record against NFC teams is 15-1.
The last game between Pittsburgh and Chicago was in Week 2 of the 2009 season, wherein Cutler (in his second game as a Bear) went 27-of-38 for 236 yards and two touchdowns to lead Chicago to a narrow 17-14 win.
Chicago cornerback Charles ‘Peanut’ Tillman also starred in the game with an interception and a forced fumble.
All hope for the Steelers is not yet lost. Since 1990, 22 teams have started the season 0-2 and still made the playoffs, including a 2007 Giants team that went on to win the Superbowl.
That number reduces to three if they lose this one and start 0-3.
Join us on the Roar for live commentary from kickoff at 10.30am AEST.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Thanks, Nigel.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Hmmm, it's getting interesting!
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Hi Nigel. I hate stripping, from the 80s (I think) when the Patriots got to the Superbowl because they stripped the opposition players all the time. It's not a skill.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Bears 40 – 23 Steelers It may have had some more interesting moments than expected, but the predicted result occurs with the Bears securing a victory to go to 3-0, and the Steelers will fall to 0-3 and a long way behind the division leaders in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh will head to London next week to play the Vikings, and the Bears will play in Detroit. Great work as a game manager by Cutler, but the game was won by the Bears defense. Roethlisberger and Brown connected often for a number of good plays, but were let down by early turnovers and some defense ineptitude. Thanks for following! Next week: Patriots and Falcons!
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 1:30 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers That totals five turnovers by the Steelers, who've yet to force one of their own on the season. Bears will kneel it to end the ball game.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 1:39 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers INTERCEPTION! Roethlisberger misfires and Conte is able to pick it off easily in midfield, and Brown picks up a flag for unnecessary roughness on the tackle.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 1:55 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers Third-and-five. Bears are content to give it to Bush up the middle, and burn the last Steeler timeout. It'll be Steeler ball from the 31.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 2:00 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers Another handoff to Bush, makes about four yards up the middle. The Steelers will use their timeouts, if they stop Chicago on third down they can take their last timeout and have almost two minutes.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 2:20 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers Handoff to Bush up the middle, that'll take us to the two minute warning. TWO MINUTE WARNING.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 2:35 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers Roethlisberger buys time in the pocket again, and first over the middle before being knocked away by Briggs. Roethlisberger's skills in moving around the pocket are just amazing. Fourth down - goes to Brown, but he can only get six yards and its a turnover.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 2:45 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers Pittsburgh take their first timeout. Now on the 25, pass is dropped by Sanders inside the 10. Pass on second down is incomplete, picked off by Conte but he didn't get the feet in bounds.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 2:57 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers Roethlisberger evades the pressure and throws long downfield to Brown for 27 yards and a first down - a huge game for Brown, almost 200 yards now!
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 3:00 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers Roethlisberger is getting hit after after just about every pass play. Dwyer makes the catch and gets out of bounds for 5 yards, but a holding call comes in and backs them up 10 yards.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 3:20 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers Paulsen makes a catch of 6 yards on first down. Pittsburgh airing it out now, and they pick up another first down to Sanders on the sideline.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 3:57 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers That's more or less ended the Steelers chances of getting back into this game, and its a deserved win for Mark Trestman and the Bears. On first down Cotchery comes open downfield for 23 yards.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 3:57 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers Extra point is blocked by Polamalu. Ben was swamped in the pocket as Lance Briggs knocked the ball away, and then it bounced favourably to Peppers.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 4:15 Bears 40 – 23 Steelers FUMBLE! Roethlisberger is stripped by the Bears and it ends up in the arms of Julius Peppers, who races away for a TOUCHDOWN!
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 5:18 Bears 34 – 23 Steelers Dwyer takes a carry up the middle to secure the first down. Steelers aren't in a hurry-up offense just yet. Brown comes open over the middle for a first down and 16 yards.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 5:48 Bears 34 – 23 Steelers Steelers starting from their own 26. Roethlisberger flips it to Dwyer for nine yards on first down.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
Q4 – 5:48 Bears 34 – 23 Steelers Ref's call: TOUCHDOWN Bears! Huge play by Bennett to get his feet in! Two possession game once more. No more challenges left for the Bears.