Duel Opinions: Steelers/Bears Keys to the Game (2017, Week 3)
Each week the Steel City Underground staff will put their brilliant minds to task in order to come up with their keys to the game, or, those players, coaching decisions, or situations which could determine the outcome of the game.
Brian E. Roach
They key to this game is to play sound football. Limit mistakes. Avoid turnovers and drive-killing or drive extending penalties. The Steelers are clearly the better team, and that is no disrespect to the Bears. The Bears are a better team than their 0-2 record indicates. This is a team that was within a few plays of beating the Atlanta Falcons to open the season. Mike “Statuesque” Glennon has thrown for 514 yards in the first two games and has completed 52 out of 85 passes thrown (61%). They managed 125 yards rushing against the Falcons (and 20 against the Bucs). They may be getting their best offensive lineman back in Kyle Long. On the defensive side of things, if the Bears excel in one area right now, it is limiting opposing rushers. An underrated front seven held the Falcons to 2.8 yards per carry in Week 1 and also limited the Buccaneers averaging 3.4 per carry. The secondary is suspect, but Ben has to be smart with the ball, and not force it. Play a smart game – take what is given to them and they will come home 3 – 0. The bottom line is the only way the Steelers can lose this game is to beat themselves.
Terry Fletcher
GET AFTER THIS QB! QB Mike Glennon accounted for three of the four turnovers with two interceptions—one of which was returned for a touchdown—and a fumble. He may have respectable passing stats But the turnovers were costly and his lanky body has no mobility when it comes to getting out of the pocket. If we can get after him (I’ll try not to whine about wanting more James Harrison here) he will be forced to make some bad decisions. I believe this will be a defensive win for the Steelers. The Bears really do not have an answer to cover both AB and MB and I could see Coach Tomlin utilizing the ground and pound skills of rookie RB James Conner if Bell continues to get stopped at the line of scrimmage. Prediction Steelers 35 Bears 10
Zach Metkler
My key to the game is to finally begin to establish the run game. So far this season, Le’Veon Bell has just 119 rushing yards and is averaging a poor 3.2 yards per carry. The past 2 weeks have essentially been Bell’s “preseason”, as he continues to knock the rust off. But for the offense to really find its rhythm this season, they need to really pick it up on the ground, which will only lead to great things for the offense as a whole. The Bears’ run defense is middle of the pack so far this season, allowing just 90.5 rushing yards per game, thanks to a surprisingly sound front seven. If the Steelers want to ensure that this game doesn’t turn into a classic Steelers’ “trap game”, they need to find a way to really establish a run game. When the Steelers’ ground game is clicking, good things happen. Let’s see that start this weekend against the Bears.
Jimmy Norkewicz
My key to the game is stopping the run. The Bears have two very talented backs in Jordan Howard (whose shoulder is a little banged up but appears to be fine) and Tarik Cohen. They could put Mike Glennon, Mitch Trubisky, heck even their 3rd string quarterback in and they’ll have success offensively if we can’t stop their ground game. The only time the Vikings had success offensively versus the Steelers was when Dalvin Cook started getting off chunks of yards with his legs in the second half. My other key is what Zach said and that’s establishing the run for us. Having Ben throw less due to his documented struggles on the road is a good thing for us. Our line performed better in Week 2 with run blocking, but it seemed like Bell was still a step too slow, so here’s to hoping that both the line and Bell can be in sync on Sunday.
Joe Kuzma
My key to the game?
Not allowing Bears QB Mike Glennon to look like a Hall of Fame passer. We poked fun at Mike Tomlin’s comments that Glennon looks “statuesque” in the pocket, but if he’s allowed to have too much time to make decisions, those decisions could make the Steelers look bad. Glennon has thrown some picks, but he’s also been fairly accurate through the first two weeks of the season. He’s basically playing with grocery baggers (camp bodies) as starting receivers right now, so their timing and rapport are coming along just like the Steelers are. It’s up to Pittsburgh to disrupt that timing and make the most of doing so on Sunday.
Mike Pelaia
My number one key is the team not looking past this game to the Ravens game. If they get too confident that they’ll win this game and start mentally preparing for the Ravens game next week, they could find themselves in a tighter game than they want to be in.
Eric Herrmann
My key is our cornerbacks. Mike Glennon has thrown his fair share of interceptions this season, and as everybody knows, the team winning the turnover battle tends to win the game. If Artie Burns, Joe Haden, or Mike Hilton manage to get a pick that could help swing the momentum of the game. While Glennon isn’t exactly a quality starter, he’s still capable of winning games and making NFL throws. Our cornerbacks need to be disciplined and if they have the opportunity to pick off the ball, they can’t squander it. A splash play like a pick six, which Glennon seems to have an affinity for, could make all the difference in this matchup.
Tina Rivers
The Steelers can not look past the Bears to the Ravens. They have to remain focused on the team in front of them. That said, they will need to be on task – play smart defensive schemes and be solid in tackling and take advantage of opportunities to make Glennon panic in the pocket. If they take away the long routes, Glennon will look for Tarik Cohen – his outlet. Jordan Howard has been inconsistent, at best, in the run game. Offensively, Roethlisberger must – yes, must – spread the offense by utilizing the run and pass by mixing targets. This week they have the opportunity to ‘share the love’ so to speak and will be successful if Chicago has too many targets to effectively cover. Get locked onto a of couple guys and the Steelers will struggle. Time for Bell to step up in both the run and pass game.
Mitchell Reese
My keys to this game are simple. Play to Pittsburgh’s level of football and not Chicago’s. What I mean by this is in recent memory, The Steelers have been known, when they play statistically “bad” teams, to play almost similar football, and either barely sneak out a win, or lose Big in these games. This weekend needs to be a different Steelers team when they step foot in the stadium against the Windy City Bears. This team needs to continue to play solid defense, keep Ben protected, and most of all establish the run game. Jordan Howard can be a threat, and Mike Glennon is as unpredictable as can be, but this Steelers team when playing to their max potential should be able to wash this team away by a large score.
Tommy Jaggi
The Steelers are clear favorites as they travel to Chicago this Sunday to face the Bears. Pittsburgh grossly outmatches the Bears in terms of talent on the roster, and regardless of where this game is played, the Steelers will be heavy favorites.
My Key to this game is the Steelers offense. The Steelers have one of the most talented offenses in the league, but they have yet to work out all of the minor glitches. Martavis Bryant and Le’Veon Bell have only played two games together since 2015, and they got off to a sluggish start in their first road game against the Browns.
Pittsburgh, typically, is much better offensively at home. Todd Haley’s game plan is more apt to air the ball out at Heinz Field as opposed to when they are on the road. Roethlisberger typically seems much more comfortable playing on his own turf as well.
If the Steelers can come out swinging offensively against the Chicago, it’s going to be along afternoon for Bears fans. However, if it takes Big Ben and company a while to get things going, expect yet another road game that is much closer than it has to be.
