NEWSLETTER
It’s time for some Monday Night Football, the first such go around under the lights for Bears’ rookie quarterback Justin Fields who makes his seventh NFL start tonight against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fields and the Bears come into Heinz Field with the second lowest-scoring offense in the NFL opposed by a defense led by veteran head coach Mike Tomlin, who’s made it very difficult for rookie signal-callers to beat his Steelers over the years.
Teams led by first-year signal-callers are 4-24 against Tomlin’s Steelers
No rookie QB has ever passed for more than two touchdowns against Tomlin
Only three have ever passed for over 300 yards
Thursday Night Football Preview👇https://t.co/kE1HytweTe
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 8, 2021
But, Justin Fields and the Bears will have some more firepower in the backfield tonight with David Montgomery activated from the IR today and playing in tonight’s contest with the Steelers. Monty has been sidelined with a knee injury since the Bears beat the Lions in Week 4, the first win as a starting quarterback for Justin Fields in his young career.
For more on Montgomery’s return:
Report: The Bears Are Expected to Activate David Montgomery to Play TONIGHThttps://t.co/clcUDB6Y6v
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) November 8, 2021
Game Info
Chicago Bears (3-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4) – on ESPN and WGN-9 (Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters), WBBM-AM 780 and WCFS-FM 105.9 (Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, Mark Grote), Westwood One (Kevin Kugler, Trent Green)
Kickoff time: 7:15 CT
Site: Heinz Field
Referee: Tony Corrente
Odds: Bears +7 (-115), O/U 40 (via DraftKings Sports )
Game Thread (Week 9 Preview)
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun.
Hype Video
Can Someone Put the Tight Ends in Motion Already?
Ya know, for a guy who insists on the tight end playing a key role in his offense, Matt Nagy doesn’t fully utilize his tight ends to the best of their abilities.
Coaches
Bears Matt Nagy (31-25) vs. Steelers Mike Tomlin (149-81-1)
Starting Quarterbacks and Projected Game Stats
BEARS: Justin Fields: 17/28, 189 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 7 carries, 39 rushing yards
versus
STEELERS: Ben Roethlisberger: 23/35, 251 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 1 carries, 3 yards
Projected stats via ESPN projections
Bears Offense (Projected Starters in Bold)
QB Justin Fields
Reserves: Andy Dalton
RB David Montgomery
Reserves: Khalil Herbert, Ryan Nall
WR Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
Reserves: Damiere Byrd, Jakeem Grant
TE Cole Kmet
Reserves: Jimmy Graham, Jesse James, Jesper Horsted
LT Jason Peters
LG Cody Whitehair
C Sam Mustipher
RG James Daniels
RT Larry Borom
Reserves: Lachavious Simmons, Alex Bars, Elijah Wilkinson
Bears Defense
DT Akiem Hicks
NT Eddie Goldman
DE Bilal Nichols
Reserves: Khyiris Tonga, Mario Edwards Jr., Angelo Blackson
OLB Robert Quinn, Trevis Gipson
Reserves: Sam Kamara, Christian Jones
ILB Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan
Reserves: Cassius Marsh, Joel Iyiegbuniwe
CB Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor
Reserves: Duke Shelley, Xavier Crawford
S DeAndre Houston-Carson, Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Reserves: Marqui Christian, Teez Tabor
Bears Special Teams
Cairo Santos (kicker), Pat O’Donnell (punter), Patrick Scales (long-snapper), Khalil Herbert (kick returns), Jakeem Grant (punts)
Bears Inactives
Inactives for #CHIvsPIT: pic.twitter.com/3j970cpBND
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 8, 2021
Steelers Projected Starters
Offense
• QB Ben Roethlisberger
• RB Najee Harris
• WRs Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, James Washington
• TEs Pat Freiermuth
• LT Dan Moore Jr., LG Kevin Dotson, C Kendrick Green, RG Trai Turner, RT Chukwuma Okorafor
Defense
• DEs Chris Wormley, Cameron Heyward; NT Isaiah Buggs
• WLB T.J. Watt; LILB Devin Bush; RILB Joe Schobert; SLB Alex Highsmith
• CBs Joe Haden, Cameron Sutton
• FS Minkah Fitzpatrick; SS Terrell Edmunds
Specialists
• Chris Boswell (kicker), Presley Harvin III (punter, holder), Christian Kuntz (long snapper), Ray-Ray McCloud (kick and punt returns)
Steelers Inactives
Zach Banner won't play for #Steelers again. Anthony McFarland returns back to inactive status as well. Joining them are Dwayne Haskins, Ahkello Witherspoon, Buddy Johnson and Eric Ebron.
— Neal Coolong (@NealCoolong) November 8, 2021
