Last-minute FG rescues Steelers against Bears

[November 09, 2021] Chris Boswell kicked a game-winning 40-yard field goal with 26 seconds left and Ben Roethlisberger connected for two touchdowns with tight end Pat Freiermuth as the host Pittsburgh Steelers stretched their winning streak to four games with a 29-27 victory against the Chicago Bears on Monday night.

Chicago grabbed its lone lead of the game with 1:46 to go on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Justin Fields to Darnell Mooney before the Steelers rallied.

Pittsburgh (5-3) prevailed despite being outgained 414 yards to 280 and outscored 21-9 in the fourth quarter. Chicago, which has lost four straight to fall to 3-6, was penalized a season-high 12 times for 115 yards.

Fields passed for 291 yards, the top figure of his rookie season, with a touchdown and an interception.

The Steelers built a 14-3 halftime lead behind rookie Najee Harris' 10-yard touchdown run on the team's opening drive and a 4-yard scoring pass from Roethlisberger to Freiermuth that followed a Cam Heyward interception of Fields.

The Bears' inability to finish drives ultimately added up before Cairo Santos' attempt at a game-winning 65-yarder fell well short as time expired.

Chicago drew within 23-20 with 6:31 to go as DeAndre Houston-Carson returned a fumbled punt return 25 yards for a touchdown. Before his game-winner, Boswell helped atone for a missed point-after earlier in the game by drilling fourth-quarter field goals of 54 and 52 yards. The latter kick capped a drive in which the Bears were flagged for taunting following a sack of Roethlisberger, giving the Steelers a first down.

Chicago Bears defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson (36) warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Trailing 14-0, Chicago visited the red zone in the closing moments of the second quarter but only came away with a Santos field goal. Bears tight end Jimmy Graham dropped a would-be touchdown pass when he was unable to control the ball while falling to the ground.

Chicago's opening possession of the third quarter ended in similar fashion, with Santos kicking a 22-yarder to accompany his 30-yarder minutes before. This time, however, an apparent Graham touchdown reception was negated by a low block penalty against right guard James Daniels.

Santos had drilled 40 successive field goals before his 65-yard attempt was no good.

Back in the lineup following a four-week absence caused by a knee injury, David Montgomery paced the Chicago rushing attack with 63 yards on 13 carries.

Harris gained 62 yards on 22 carries. Roethlisberger was 21 of 30 for 205 yards, while Pittsburgh's Diontae Johnson had five catches for 56 yards.

Cole Kmet led Chicago with six catches for 87 yards.

The Bears were without linebackers Khalil Mack (foot) and Alec Ogletree (ankle) and safety Eddie Jackson (hamstring).

--Field Level Media

[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.