Will the Bears get back on track in Pittsburgh?
Four weeks ago, this would have been a matchup of a 3-2 team against a 1-3 team. However, Chicago was the 3-2 team then. Since then, they have lost all three of their games, whereas Pittsburgh has won them all.
So the Steelers are the favourites going into this game. However, they have not really been convincing in all their victories – especially offensively. None of their four victories so far have come by more than a one-score difference.
So the question for Monday is whether they will finally manage to make a statement. We doubt it, as they are simply too limited offensively this season. With that said, the Bears should also be able to keep up well and force a close game.
For Steelers vs. Bears, our overall prediction is a low-scoring game that won’t be decided until the fourth quarter. An interception could make all the difference – and that can’t be ruled out for either Big Ben or Fields.
Kickoff of the Monday Night Game is at 02:15 on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh and the game will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Statistics & current form
The success against the Browns was huge for the Steelers, even if offensively not much went together again. But at least their defence showed again that it has become a bulwark.
This way, the weak offensive performances can be covered again and again – the only question is how much longer. Luckily for them, Chicago is another team that is very stingy with points, so the Steelers are the favourites in this game as well.
Steelers don’t average 19 points
With 18.9 points per game, Pittsburgh still ranks in the bottom 7 of the league in points scored. That undoubtedly has a lot to do with an increasingly degrading Ben Roethlisberger, who is just 87.6 points in passer rating.
That puts him well behind even some backup quarterbacks like Mike White or Cooper Rush. With only four interceptions so far, he has at least been able to avoid the really big mistakes, which has been rewarded accordingly.
Running game still worrying
A big problem for the Steelers also remains their rushing game. With only 86 yards per game, they are the fifth weakest there and so Big Ben is not exactly well supported in his game. With only three rushing touchdowns, they are also at the bottom of the league in this statistic.
Sure, their defence saves them and could do so again against Chicago, but big blowout wins are not to be expected that way. Therefore, for Steelers vs. Bears, a bet on Chicago +6.5 is the much more promising option. Pittsburgh has never been able to put more than one score difference on the scoreboard.
Key Players:
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Chase Claypool
TE: Pat Freiermuth
K: Chris Boswell
Chicago Bears – stats & current form
The Bears have slipped from a 3-2 record to a 3-5 record, pretty much squandering all playoff hopes in just three weeks. Especially when you consider how these defeats came about.
All three losses were by double digits, even if they led until the fourth quarter, as they did against the 49ers the previous weekend. So the Bears’ final spurt is clearly in need of improvement.
Bears atrocious in fourth quarter
There’s one statistic that sums up the Bears’ entire problem. They actually have yet to win a fourth quarter all season. Even in their three wins, they’ve gone into that final period with a lead.
At least that speaks to the fact that they can start games quite well, which should also be important for Monday. Although the Steelers are not an overpowering opponent offensively, it will be difficult to win again, although not impossible.
A lot of bad luck at the running back position
After running back No. 1 David Montgomery went down at the beginning of the season, Damien Williams and Khalil Herbert were also affected in recent weeks. The latter, however, is now available again – a small glimmer of hope in the running game.
For Chicago, Monday will be about keeping the game close and as a low scoring game, which should work well. The 40-point mark should not be exceeded again in this duel, as it has been eight times in the last ten duels.
A low-scoring game often inevitably leads to close games, which offers the chance to create a surprise with a big play at the end. For Pittsburgh vs. Chicago, the odds on Bears +6.5 are therefore good to play.
Key Players:
QB: Justin Fields
RB: Khalil Herbert
WR: Allen Robinson
TE: Jimmy Graham
K: Cairo Santos
Pittsburgh Steelers – Chicago Bears Direct Comparison / H2H Record
The head-to-head comparison between these two teams actually tips slightly in favour of the Bears, who have won all three of their last meetings, including a game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ last success against Chicago was 16 years ago.
What was striking was that it often came down to low-scoring games. Of the last ten duels, the 40 points were exceeded only twice. We do not expect more than this number to be scored on Monday either.
For Pittsburgh against Chicago, a bet on sub-par points is therefore a good alternative to catch a total failure of an offence. After all, this can’t be ruled out either.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Chicago Bears tip
The Bears have been the Steelers’ fearsome opponents of late, even though the two teams haven’t met very often. We don’t see a convincing Steelers win coming here either, as they usually always struggle to win.
For Steelers vs. Bears, a bet on Chicago +6.5 is our recommendation. Pittsburgh’s last final score was 15-10, so this could end up being the same against Chicago – although even an upset by the Bears is within the realms of possibility.
A betting alternative are the already mentioned sub-points. Even though the oddsmakers are setting the total quite low at 39 points, it will still be difficult to reach that total with these weak offensive lines.
