| 20 September 2009
Everyone including myself had written this game off from the start as a loss. Not because I'm full of pessimism, just full of a little bit of realism that it would take a lot for the Bears to execute a game plan that would have the Bears in position to win. This is afterall the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers a team that doesn't make a lot of mistakes nor do they give up many big drives that put teams in position to win. The Bears and Jay Cutler however showed that they are more mature and more developed on offense than anyone would give them credit for.
I didn't think that the Bears would be able to dink and dunk with enough consistency to go 97 yards, the longest drive the Steelers' defense has given up in three years. I had faith that Cutler could make those type of plays, but didn't feel that the receivers would be consistent enough to make the tough catches in traffic to keep drive alive. 
But plays came from the most unexpected of places today, Kellen Davis five catches for only 38 yards, and a touchdown, but they were five clutch catches when the Bears needed someone to step up and Davis did just that. The rookie Johnny Knox who continues to improve on a weekly basis and will only get better as the season goes on, taking some big shots and holding on to the football Knox caught the fourth quarter touchdown pass to tie the game at 14.
Cutler was polar opposite of what he was a week ago, completing 27 of 38 71-percent of passes to seven different receivers. Standing in the pocket against a fearsome Steeler rush that applied a lot of pressure but only came up with one sack. Cutler did a lot with his legs, more than any QB before him.
On the final drive of the game Cutler completed five consecutive passes to put the Bears in position to kick the game winning field goal. Hit the game winning field goal Robbie Gould did and a big rip roaring wave of excitement went over the Chicagoland area.
The excitement wasn't over as new found special teams demon Jamar Williams sprinted down the field on the ensuing kickoff and punched the ball out for a fumble that Craig Steltz recovered officially sealing the victory.
The Bears took my breath away and undoubtedly sent some shock waves through the NFL and the media that covers the NFL. No one including myself thought the Bears could come up with such a clutch victory under such tough circumstances, those being the Steelers defense.
Offensive coordinator Ron Turner called a sometimes shaky game but in the end he was masterful with the way he put the Bears in position to win. Cutler continually took what the Steelers gave him and the Bears kept coming up with the ball even after taking big hits from the Steelers secondary.
On defense Tommie Harris showed up and made two big plays in the fourth quarter, he collapsed the pocket forcing a sack and then shot through his gap and dropped the RB for a loss. The Bears' front seven was essentially dominated and whipped throughout much of the game, but they continually would come up with a play when it mattered most.
Whether it was just enough pressure to force an errant throw by Big Ben, they did what it took to keep the Steelers out of the end-zone. Example another big drive by the Steelers comes up empty when Charles Tillman picks off a pass. Forcing the Steelers into field goal attempts that their kicker missed, on two separate occasions.
While this wasn't easy on the eyes, Cutler seemed to show a high level of maturity and poise in leading the Bears on their game winning drive. Cutler was under pressure a lot but stood in the pocket and made tough throws. The Steelers didn't play a bad game, the Bears were not intimidated.
They played with a bit of a chip on their shoulders in this game after seemingly everyone picked the Bears to without question lose. But they didn't lose their poise one time, they hung together as a team and thoroughly impressed. The Beas will be talk of wrap up week and will have plenty of people eating crow.
Even I feel like bit of a horse's ass for not keeping enough faith that to think that the Bears would pull out such a tough victory. Good teams find a way to win the big games, game that count regardless of what the calendar says and the Bears came out with a big victory today against the defending world champions.
Here are the highlites from the game via NFL.com
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