On October 12th, the Baltimore Ravens were 1-5 and the Steelers were 4-1. Now, both teams are 6-5 and in a tie for first place in the AFC North after the Ravens won their fifth game in a row yesterday and the Steelers lost for the fourth time in their last six.
The Chicago Bears came from behind to beat the Steelers, 31-28 yesterday, as Caleb Williams threw three touchdown passes and the Steelers’ Mason Rudolph threw an interception and lost a fumble on a strip sack, with both of those turnovers leading to Bears touchdowns.
It was the third time this season that the Steelers blew a halftime lead. Rudolph did lead a 95-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter and drove the team to the Bears’ 47-yard line with under a minute to play, but the drive stalled when his fourth down pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, effectively ending the game.
Coach Mike Tomlin says it was a team loss.
Mason Rudolph started in place of Aaron Rodgers, who did not dress for the game due to a fractured left wrist.
Tomlin expects Rodgers to be able to play this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
The coach says the Steelers’ defense had the chance to stop the Bears, but they couldn’t get the job done.
Rudolph was 24 of 31 passing for 171 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. He was told on Saturday that he would start in pace of Rodgers, and he says he was ready.
TJ Watt had a spectacular strip sack in the second quarter, which Nick Herbig fell on in the end zone for a Steelers touchdown. But overall the Steelers had only two sacks and they allowed Williams to find wide open receivers all afternoon long. Watt says they have no margin for error from here on out.
Steelers injury news included cornerback James Pierre, who suffered an ankle injury trying to get off the field late in the game. His injury cost the Steelers a valuable timeout. Wide receiver DK Metcalfe had an ankle injury but returned to action. Tackle Broderick Jones had a neck stinger in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Calvin Anderson.
In the AFC North, the Ravens beat the Jets, 23-10. The Bengals lost to New England, 26-20. The Browns had ten sacks in their 24-10 win over the Raiders.
The Steelers play the Bills in the 4:25 game on Sunday. The Ravens play the Bengals on Thanksgiving day, and the Bengals’ Joe Burrow will return from his toe surgery in that game. He’s missed eight games. The Browns will host the 49ers on Sunday.
