It's just like the Bears. Finding themselves in another tight, fourth quarter spot. Up only three points on the Steelers, trying to keep Pittsburgh from reaching range for a game-tying field goal with only seconds to play. It's fourth down and six yards to go at midfield. Jaquan Brisker blitzes, leaps and bats away quarterback Mason Rudolph's last pass to end the Steelers chances, booking a fourth straight win for the Bears, 31-28.
Caleb Williams 19/35 passing, 239 yards. His third touchdown pass, second of the game to D.J. Moore puts the Bears in the lead for good in the third quarter.
Moore only had 1 catch the previous two games.
"Having two touchdowns, I know is big for our confidence, as a relationship, things like that for this year." Williams says.
"Having one of our star guys getting going only builds momentum for us as a team and so it was good to say that (Moore's five catches for 64 yards and two scores)."
Williams makes up for a strip sack fumble in the endzone for a Steelers touchdown with a strong second half and eventually a good QB-rating of 104.3.
The Bears have won eight of nine games, to go 8-3. And each victory has been it's own thrill ride.
"Nah, nah, nah. You don't ever get used to winning. It's one of the best feelings in the world." Williams exclaims.
And in the post-game locker room-
"Everybody was dancing, going around shaking hands, celebrating and congratulating each other and showing appreciation to each other. We had guys step up, and step up big for us today. You never get tired of those (wins), you can't get tired of these types of wins."
Rookie left tackler Ozzy Trapilo covers well for injured Theo Benedet.
Grady Jarrett and the Bears defense (minus all three injured starting linebackers) get two sacks and two turnovers, plus the pivotal stop at mid-field on Pittsburgh's final drive.
"All of this goes back to the work we put in in the off-season up to this point." says Jarrett.
"Just the grind, the belief, the effort guys put in day-in day-out, it's not anything that happened overnight. And I think we're hungry for more."
Hungry for more wins. And maybe as soon as Friday. When they do some Black Friday shopping at Philadelphia.
"It's something we've been mindful of the moment the schedule came out." Head coach Ben Johnson says.
"Our coaches, I know our defensive coaches were certainly in the office a little bit later towards the end of last week there, getting ahead. We'll have some coaches go into the office after the game here tonight (Sunday night). Tomorrow (Monday) it's going to be full steam ahead.:
The math-obsessed Johnson wittily points out, "We actually get an extra day. Normally you go Sunday to Thursday at least once a year. So, Sunday to Friday is actually going to be pretty nice."
Johnson's Bears hold a closed, light walk through today, with practice scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday.
They're shaping up about seven-point underdogs against the (8-3) Eagles, Friday at 2 p.m.
The defending champions were stunned at home in Philadelphia by Dallas, 24-21, blowing a 21-0 lead. Losing on Brandon Aubrey's 42-yard field goal as time expires.
Both Green Bay and Detroit pull off Sunday victories to stay within sniffing distance of the Bears in the division race.
NFC North
Bears 8-3
Green Bay 7-3-1
Detroit 7-4
Minnesota 4-7