Bears' Unheralded Linebackers Prove They're the Real Deal in Thrilling Win Over Steelers.
The Chicago Bears' 31-28 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday was a testament to the team's depth and resilience, particularly among its linebacking corps. The unit, which many pundits expected to be a liability coming into the season, stepped up when it mattered most.
D’Marco Jackson, a special teams specialist who made his first career start at middle linebacker, led the team with 15 tackles. He was one of two players awarded game balls by coach Ben Johnson, who praised the entire linebacking unit for their efforts. The team's success in this area is a sign that the Bears are building a strong foundation for future success.
Rookie Ruben Hyppolite II started at weak-side linebacker but left the game with a shoulder injury after just one quarter. His departure was replaced by special teams player Amen Ogbongbemiga, who had 14 tackles of his own and proved that he can contribute in a starting role. This kind of depth is crucial for any NFL team, especially those looking to make deep playoff runs.
The win also highlights the Bears' ability to overcome adversity, as several key players dealt with injuries throughout the game. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson suffered a hip injury, forcing Nick McCloud into action, while safety Kevin Byard III was asked what it meant to watch the backups perform so well in such a critical moment. His response? "Nothing that I didn’t already know about this group," he said. "We’re very resilient."
In other news, the Steelers announced on Saturday but did not reveal until Sunday morning that they would be holding Aaron Rodgers out of their game against the Bears due to concerns over his availability for next week's matchup against the Bills. Coach Mike Tomlin cited a fluid practice session by Mason Rudolph as the reason for this decision.
Rodgers' injured left wrist caused him to miss most of the practice session last week, and while he was able to participate in some drills, it was clear that he still needs time to heal. When asked about his situation on Sunday morning, Rodgers simply pointed out different parts of Soldier Field and discussed football strategies with wide receiver Ben Skowronek.
In other news from around the league, Ozzy Trapilo made his first NFL start in place of left tackle Theo Benedet due to a quadriceps injury, while Luke Newman played for Jonah Jackson briefly before leaving in the second quarter. It was clear that neither was overwhelmed by their new roles, as the Bears allowed only one sack.
On the ground, D’Andre Swift had just eight carries for 15 yards and fumbled once, but Kyle Monangai broke out for a touchdown after his 48-yard carry to become the first rookie running back in three consecutive home games since Walter Payton did it 50 years ago. Nahshon Wright's interception in the first quarter moved him into a tie with Kevin Byard III for the NFL lead in interceptions, each with five.
Despite their many successes on Sunday, there is still much work to be done before the Bears can look back and declare themselves truly contenders. But if this win was any indication of things to come, it's clear that they have the talent and resilience to make a deep playoff run.
The Chicago Bears' 31-28 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday was a testament to the team's depth and resilience, particularly among its linebacking corps. The unit, which many pundits expected to be a liability coming into the season, stepped up when it mattered most.
D’Marco Jackson, a special teams specialist who made his first career start at middle linebacker, led the team with 15 tackles. He was one of two players awarded game balls by coach Ben Johnson, who praised the entire linebacking unit for their efforts. The team's success in this area is a sign that the Bears are building a strong foundation for future success.
Rookie Ruben Hyppolite II started at weak-side linebacker but left the game with a shoulder injury after just one quarter. His departure was replaced by special teams player Amen Ogbongbemiga, who had 14 tackles of his own and proved that he can contribute in a starting role. This kind of depth is crucial for any NFL team, especially those looking to make deep playoff runs.
The win also highlights the Bears' ability to overcome adversity, as several key players dealt with injuries throughout the game. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson suffered a hip injury, forcing Nick McCloud into action, while safety Kevin Byard III was asked what it meant to watch the backups perform so well in such a critical moment. His response? "Nothing that I didn’t already know about this group," he said. "We’re very resilient."
In other news, the Steelers announced on Saturday but did not reveal until Sunday morning that they would be holding Aaron Rodgers out of their game against the Bears due to concerns over his availability for next week's matchup against the Bills. Coach Mike Tomlin cited a fluid practice session by Mason Rudolph as the reason for this decision.
Rodgers' injured left wrist caused him to miss most of the practice session last week, and while he was able to participate in some drills, it was clear that he still needs time to heal. When asked about his situation on Sunday morning, Rodgers simply pointed out different parts of Soldier Field and discussed football strategies with wide receiver Ben Skowronek.
In other news from around the league, Ozzy Trapilo made his first NFL start in place of left tackle Theo Benedet due to a quadriceps injury, while Luke Newman played for Jonah Jackson briefly before leaving in the second quarter. It was clear that neither was overwhelmed by their new roles, as the Bears allowed only one sack.
On the ground, D’Andre Swift had just eight carries for 15 yards and fumbled once, but Kyle Monangai broke out for a touchdown after his 48-yard carry to become the first rookie running back in three consecutive home games since Walter Payton did it 50 years ago. Nahshon Wright's interception in the first quarter moved him into a tie with Kevin Byard III for the NFL lead in interceptions, each with five.
Despite their many successes on Sunday, there is still much work to be done before the Bears can look back and declare themselves truly contenders. But if this win was any indication of things to come, it's clear that they have the talent and resilience to make a deep playoff run.
! I mean, who needs superstars when you've got a unit that's like "Hey, we've got this" 
? And seriously, 15 tackles from D'Marco Jackson? That's like me trying to eat a whole pizza by myself – it's gonna happen eventually 
! But for real tho, depth is key in the NFL. It's like having a strong foundation that says "Hey, we can handle whatever life throws at us" 
their linebacking unit is straight fire 
d'Marco Jackson and Ruben Hyppolite II may not be the most well-known names but they're absolutely crushing it out there 
and it's awesome to see the team's depth and resilience being showcased 
now let's just hope Aaron Rodgers doesn't get hurt for real 
I'm loving the depth of the Chicago Bears' linebacking corps right now! 
The stats are crazy, 15 tackles from Jackson and 14 from Ogbongbemiga 
I think this is a sign that they're building something special. And can't count on a few injuries to take them down 
They showed resilience and talent in a big win over the Steelers. Not saying it's gonna be an easy ride, but if they keep playing like this, I'm all for it! 
but they seem legit 
dmarco jackson 15 tackles is no joke 
. Can't they just let us have a decent conversation without all the distractions? 
And another thing, why do they always gotta make me log in again every time I try to post? It's like I'm some kind of newbie or something 
, especially with D'Marco Jackson stepping up and showing us what he's got. And on a completely unrelated note, how many times do I have to reset my browser just to get this forum to load properly? 
d'marco jackson is like the real MVP 
The Bears are definitely building something special and I'm excited to see where this season takes them 
d'marco jackson and amen ogbongbemiga are killing it out there 
15 tackles each? that's crazy talk 
and i love how ben johnson gave them both game balls, he knows what's up 
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