The Chicago Bears (7-3) enter Week 12 as the leader of the NFC North, with a chance to add a crucial win versus the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) to help them hold onto the division down the stretch.
It won't be easy for the Bears, who are now decimated on defense, but if they want to add their fourth straight win, they will have to accomplish the three following keys to success:
Create explosives in the passing game
Sunday is the latest opportunity for the Bears' passing attack to flex their muscles against a porous air defense, and Caleb Williams and the offense have already shown that they can beat up on bad units.
Entering the weekend, the Steelers' 261.7 passing yards allowed per game are the most in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals also rank near the bottom of the league, and not only have the Bears already beaten both of those teams, but they did so thanks to two of Williams' three 280+ yard passing performances on the season.
It will be a similar game plan for the Bears versus the Steelers: capitalize on deep shots while keeping the ball out of harm's way. The Steelers still feature top-tier players who can affect the pass game in defensive back Jalen Ramsey and pass rusher T.J. Watt, but if the offensive line can give the quarterback enough time and protection, Williams and the offense will be able to capitalize on chunk plays to end this one before it gets started.
Get creative to help the young linebackers
The Bears' defense has been riddled by injury all season, but now it is the linebackers' turn to test their depth.
With T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell set to miss the Steelers game and Tremaine Edmunds going to injured reserve, the Bears' starting linebackers versus the Steelers will be rookie Ruben Hyppolite II and D'Marco Jackson. If Aaron Rodgers, who is questionable heading into the game, plays, the young, inexperienced linebacker corps will be the weak link the Steelers focus on.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has to get creative with his personnel groupings to help this duo in the middle. Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who could very well play a little bit of linebacker/box safety, could be a big part of that plan, as well as strong safety Jaquan Brisker playing closer to the line.
The Steelers practically live in 12- and 13-personnel, and the Bears will have to be heavy and skilled enough to shut down the downhill rushing attack and any subsequent play-action attempts. Look for Allen to help out his backers as they both make their first start in Chicago.
Control the tempo for 60 minutes
More than anything, the Bears have to play their brand of football, which means pounding the rock, winning the turnover battle and being aggressive on defense.
The Bears haven't had a win in which they dictated the entire game flow since perhaps their victory over the New Orleans Saints. Sunday's game versus the Steelers may be their best chance since that win. If the Bears can get out to an early lead, they should be able to lean on their prolific rushing attack while forcing the Steelers' offense to abandon their rush game and heavy sets.
Read more: 3 key stats that defined Bears' last-second victory over Vikings in Week 11
The Bears currently have the NFL's best turnover margin, a key factor in controlling game flow. Now, they need to take a step forward on third down, where their conversion rates rank 11th on offense and second on defense. If the Bears can sustain long drives on offense and keep the Steelers off the field, they should be able to stack their eighth win of the season.