Vincent Parise, Bears WireSun, November 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM UTC·3 min readThe Chicago Bears are getting set to face Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. That is a weird sentence, but it’s the reality of the situation in 2025.
Pittsburgh comes in with a record of 6-4, one game lower in the league standings than the 7-3 Bears. For a variety of reasons, it is going to be an incredibly tough game for the first-place Bears.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf Chicago is going to hold onto that first-place spot in the NFC North, it will need a handful of players to step up to the plate in a big way. These are five really important ones to keep an eye on.
DE Montez Sweat
The Bears must get pressure on Aaron Rodgers if they want to win. He isn’t as mobile as he was during his Green Bay Packers days, so it will make him uncomfortable if he faces tons of pressure. Defensive end Montez Sweat is the player who can lead the charge in this avenue. He hasn’t had a great year, but he's really hit his stride over the last few games. A multi-sack game can turn it all around, especially when it’s Rodgers on the other side.
QB Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams is the quarterback for Chicago, meaning he will have the most significant impact on the Bears' result. Matching or being better than his childhood idol, Aaron Rodgers, would be a great way to find a win. With injuries on defense, Williams and the offense needs to step up and be able to score points and keep up with Pittsburgh's offense.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementS Kevin Byard
Aaron Rodgers is still outstanding, despite his age, at protecting the football. If the Bears can find a way to force him to turn the ball over, things could unravel. Taking the ball away has been a true strength for Chicago this year, led by safety Kevin Byard's league-leading five interceptions. The Bears defense will look to continue that dominant streak.
RT Darnell Wright
Darnell Wright has had a great season at right tackle for the Bears. Playing with other good linemen has gone a long way in his development. However, he is still taking too many penalties. That must be cleaned up. Keep an eye on him in this game to see how he performs in all aspects.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWR Rome Odunze
The Bears need to have an offensive explosion in a game that they defend well. A true team win will go a long way with their confidence. Williams, having a big game with wide receiver Rome Odunze, will help them score some points. We’ve seen this duo make big-time plays this year, and they’d love to see it continue against the Steelers.
LB Ruben Hyppolite II
With Chicago down all three starting linebackers in Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell, the Bears will turn to rookie Ruben Hyppolite II, as well as D'Marco Jackson, to lead the charge against the Steelers. Hyppolite has seen limited action as a rookie, but he'll be thrust into a starting role, potentially for the next month, with Edmunds on injured reserve.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Steelers: Chicago players to watch in Week 12
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