Bears vs. Steelers Recap: A Wild Back-and-Forth Battle in Season 2, Episode 17 of The Shawn Mackey Show

In Season 2, Episode 17 of The Shawn Mackey Show, I break down one of the most entertaining games of the Bears’ season: a 31–28 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The matchup was a roller coaster from start to finish, featuring explosive plays, defensive breakdowns, big-time throws, costly mistakes, and a thrilling finish.

Despite recent success on the ground, the Bears’ running game was nowhere to be found in this one. Chicago mustered only 99 total rushing yards, led by Kyle Monongai’s 48 yards on 12 carries. I raised an important question—are we witnessing Monongai slowly taking over as Chicago’s RB1? With his combination of speed, power, and ability to handle a full workload, it’s starting to look that way.

Quarterback Caleb Williams delivered a mixed performance, throwing for 239 yards and three touchdowns but missing 16 throws and committing a critical turnover when T.J. Watt strip-sacked him for a defensive score. Still, Williams showed resilience by leading key late-game drives that ultimately sealed the victory.

Defensively, the Bears were up-and-down. While they struggled to contain the Steelers’ run game—allowing 186 rushing yards—the fourth-quarter defense stepped up when it mattered most. Montez Sweat dominated the line of scrimmage with two sacks and three tackles for loss, and linebacker Demarco Jackson turned in one of the strongest defensive performances of the season with 15 tackles.

I also spotlighted the struggles of cornerback Nick McCloud, who continues to be targeted relentlessly by opposing offenses due to his high completion rate and passer rating allowed. Pittsburgh took full advantage.

The episode wrapped with my Forgotten NFL Legend segment, featuring Daryle “The Mad Bomber” Lamonica—a quarterback famous for his fearless desire to launch deep passes on any down, any situation, any time. His career accomplishments with the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders helped shape the early years of the AFL and NFL.

The Bears sit at 9–3, but the road gets tougher from here.

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