The Chicago Bears will square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon, meaning the return of Aaron Rodgers to the Windy City. Rodgers tormented the Bears during his time with the Green Bay Packers, and with the Bears atop the NFC North with a 7-3 record, a win could be what Chicago fans need to jump on board for the playoff push.
While stopping Rodgers comes with some emotional baggage, there’s a chance that things could become easier this time around. Rodgers is nursing a broken left wrist, and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has been coy about his status for Sunday’s game. While there was a real possibility that Rodgers could miss Sunday’s game, he suited up for a limited practice on Thursday, according to the team’s injury report.
Playing Rodgers would be an upgrade over the Steelers' backup, Mason Rudolph. But while Pittsburgh may want its starting quarterback out there, it’s a move that could backfire in the Bears’ favor on Sunday afternoon.
Bears Could Feast on Turnovers Regardless of Steelers’ QB Decision in Week 12
The Bears' defense has been one of the keys to Chicago’s revival under Ben Johnson this season, as they’ve been the NFL’s best team at forcing turnovers. The Bears rank first in the NFL with a 20% turnover rate, 15 interceptions, and 22 total turnovers. Typically, facing a quarterback like Rodgers would put Dennis Allen’s unit to the ultimate test.
While Rodgers has done a tremendous job at limiting turnovers throughout his career, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor noted that he was taking reps from the shotgun “in some sort of stabilizer” on Thursday. While the fractured wrist is on his non-throwing side, there’s no way the wrist can be 100% going into Sunday’s game, and it could compromise Rodgers’s decision-making.
The Steelers and Rodgers are likely both OK with Rodgers playing through the pain. But if Rodgers has a setback, the news could be even better for the Bears. Rudolph is a six-year veteran, but he has a 9-8-1 record in 18 career starts. Even better for Chicago is that Rudolph has his own knack for turning the ball over, tossing 20 career interceptions and nine interceptions over eight games last season.
With Chicago needing a win to stay atop the division, the choice between an injured Rodgers and a turnover-prone Rudolph could be two paths to victory. Hosting the Steelers at home only adds to the things lining up in the Bears’ favor, and it could lead Chicago to an easier-than-expected victory on Sunday afternoon.