Why the Bears will or won’t win vs. Steelers in Week 12

Week 12 is here, and the Chicago Bears are in full control of their playoff destiny as the current leaders of the NFC North.

Despite almost every win being a grind, they have found a way to be 7-3 after an 0-2 start. It will take a lot more than that to win the division, or even be a wild-card team, but they have the chips on their side of the table right now.

This week, the Bears welcome a well-known adversary in Aaron Rodgers is on the other side. This time, he is in different colors as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

At 6-4, Mike Tomlin's team is on pace to be over .500 once again, but what is their ceiling? It will depend on where Rodgers can take them. This game, in particular, can go many different ways. This is why the Bears will or won't win the game:

Why the Bears will win

The Bears will win the game because they are a better team overall. There are moments where the Steelers look like a top team, especially early in the season, and there are moments (lately) that they look like they are going to fall out of it. Rodgers is also questionable to play, but it seems like he is giving it his all to try and play. If he's not at 100 percent, the Bears should be able to take advantage.

In most weeks, Pittsburgh is not blowing anybody out, but they aren't getting blown out themselves either. That is the type of game that Ben Johnson's Bears thrive in, though. One-score miracle-type victories are Bears specials in 2025. They will be very comfortable in this game, which will lead them to victory.

Why the Bears won't win

Aaron Rodgers is on the other team. That means a loss for the Bears nine times out of 10 over the last 20 years. They have only beaten him five times during his entire NFL career. You think this team is the one that breaks through next? Rodgers does one thing well, even into his old age (football years), and that is to protect the ball. He doesn't turn it over with much regularity. That has been something that makes him extra special throughout his Hall of Fame career.

Well, the 2025 Bears thrive on forcing turnovers. Their turnover margin is the best in the NFL. If Rodgers doesn't allow that to happen, the Bears will find it very difficult to defend and put up points. As long as Rodgers is under center, there's a chance the Bears won't win. This will be his last time playing at Soldier Field, so he will also have a little extra motivation to win the game. He will find a way.

Then there's the injury struggles. Chicago will be without all three starting linebackers -- Tremaine Edmunds (injured reserve), T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell -- which gives Rodgers the opportunity to shred the middle of the defense.

Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Steelers: Why Chicago will or won't win in Week 12