GRADING THE BEARS
QUARTERBACK
CMike Glennon ( 15- for- 22, 101 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 74.2 rating) still is struggling to make the most of what he has to work with. He threw an interception in the fourth quarter that led to the tying FG, but otherwise avoided disaster. At least he was better than he was last week.
RUNNING BACKS
A+ Jordan Howard ( 23 carries, 138 yards, 2 TDs) and Tarik Cohen ( 12- 78) carried the Bears’ offense, especially in OT when they combined for all 74 yards of the winning touchdown drive, capped by Howard’s 19yard burst.
RECEIVERS
DNot much here. Deonte Thompson’s nine- yard catch on third- and- 16 was the only reception by aWR all day. TE Adam Shaheen caught a two- yard TD. TE Zach Miller had a 17- yard catch. And that was it. Running backs caught 12 of Glennon’s 15 completions.
OFFENSIVE LINE
A- Another makeshift kind of day as C Hroniss Grasu left with an injury and Bradley Sowell filled in at guard. Can’t argue with the results, especially late when the Bears’ running game dominated. The Bears rushed for 220 yards on 38 carries ( 5.8 avg.).
DEFENSIVE LINE
A- The Bears did a solid job up front as Akiem Hicks ( 4 tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 fumble recovery)& Co. occupied blockers to allow LBs to make plays. Bears kept Le’Veon Bell in check ( 15 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD). Eddie Goldman is still finding a groove.
LINEBACKERS
A- Pernell McPhee and Willie Young had sacks from the outside and Danny Trevathan was effective in the middle ( 10 tackles) as the Bears prevented the Steelers from the big play. John Timu was solid as a replacement for Nick Kwiatkoski. Leonard Floyd was quiet again.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
B+ Bears got a little lucky as Antonio Brown burned Marcus Cooper early but Ben Roethlisberger just missed him. Cooper later had a key pass breakup. Bryce Callahan had a sack and forced fumble in the first half on a slot blitz. Another impressive game for Kyle Fuller.
SPECIAL TEAMS
B+ A banner day was marred by one gaffe. Sherrick McManis recovered a muffed punt to set up a TD drive and blocked a FG to set up an apparent TD. But Marcus Cooper misjudged the goal line and lost the ball at the 1- yard line.
COACHING
A- Bears responded well against a quality opponent after playing poorly at Tampa Bay last week. Though the Bears were outscored 10- 0 in the third and fourth quarters, they controlled the LOS and dominated in overtime— marks of a good team. But how long will it last?