On a cold, electric Sunday in Chicago, the Chicago Bears pulled off one of the most improbable defensive performances of the 2023 NFL season — beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-28 at Soldier Field — while playing without their top three linebackers. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. And it came with a roster so shredded, you’d think the injury report was written in blood.
When the Linebackers Vanished
The Bears entered Week 12 already thin at linebacker. Then, on Saturday, November 25, 2023, Tremaine Edmunds was placed on injured reserve. By kickoff, T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell were sidelined too. That left the defense with zero established starters at the position. Rookie Ruben Hyppolite II, starting at weakside linebacker, lasted just 15 minutes — exiting with a shoulder injury before the end of the first quarter. The Bears were down to their last resort.The Unsung Hero Who Showed Up
Enter Amen Ogbongbemiga. A special teams demon since joining the team in 2021, Ogbongbemiga had never taken a single defensive snap in 2023. Not one. Not in preseason. Not in Week 1. Not even in garbage time. But with the defense collapsing around him, he stepped into the middle of the field like he’d been there all season. He didn’t just play — he held his ground. And he wasn’t alone.D’Marco Jackson, a journeyman linebacker who had spent most of the year on the bench, started at middle linebacker in place of Edwards. He responded with a career-high 15 tackles — a performance that would’ve made Pro Bowl voters take notice if they’d been watching. Jackson didn’t just tackle. He read the Steelers’ runs like a chess master, flying to the ball on every snap.
Interceptions, Fumbles, and a Defense That Refused to Break
The Bears’ offense got help from a defense that turned chaos into points. On the second defensive snap of the game, Nahshon Wright, filling in for injured starter Jaylon Johnson, made a one-handed, diving interception off Mason Rudolph — his fifth of the season. That pick set up DJ Moore’s 4-yard touchdown. Later, Montez Sweat stripped the ball from Najee Harris, leading to Kyle Monangai’s 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.The game’s final play? Jaquan Brisker, the Bears’ safety and emotional leader, leapt like a spring-loaded trap and got a fingertip on Rudolph’s fourth-and-6 pass at the Chicago 47. The ball fluttered harmlessly to the turf. Game over.
“This group is resilient,” Brisker said afterward, voice hoarse but steady. “We make a lot of plays, we trust each other. Chemistry is growing. You can tell we don’t get too high, too low. We just stay neutral — and we know how to finish.”
How Did They Do It?
The numbers don’t lie. The Bears’ defense allowed 31 points — but they forced three turnovers, two of which directly led to touchdowns. They held the Steelers to 3-of-12 on third down. They sacked Rudolph four times. And they did it with a front seven that looked like a practice squad lineup.What made this possible? Discipline. Preparation. And a coaching staff that didn’t panic. Defensive coordinator Alan Williams didn’t overhaul the scheme — he just asked his backups to play their assignments, trust their teammates, and make plays. And they did. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t perfect. But it was effective.
For context: Last season, the Bears lost three straight games when two or more linebackers went down. This year? They’re 4-1 in games where a starting linebacker misses the game. That’s not luck. That’s culture.
What This Means for the Bears’ Season
This win wasn’t just about beating Pittsburgh. It was about proving they can survive their own mess. The Bears now sit at 7-4 — one game behind the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. Their playoff hopes are alive, but they’re not built on stars. They’re built on scraps.With injuries piling up at cornerback, linebacker, and even safety, the Bears have become the NFL’s most improbable resilience story. They don’t have depth — they have grit. And right now, grit is the only thing keeping them afloat.
Meanwhile, the Steelers — who lost three players to injury during the game, per coach Mike Tomlin — now face a brutal stretch: road games against Kansas City, Buffalo, and Baltimore. They’re 5-6. And they’re running out of time.
What’s Next?
The Bears travel to Detroit next Sunday to face the 8-3 Lions — a team that’s been scoring at will. If they can’t get Edmunds or Sewell back soon, they’ll need Ogbongbemiga and Jackson to keep playing like Pro Bowlers. And if Wright keeps making those interceptions? They might just make the postseason without a single healthy starting linebacker.One thing’s certain: The Bears aren’t waiting for their stars to return. They’re making their backups into stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Bears manage to win without their top three linebackers?
The Bears leaned on unheralded players like D’Marco Jackson, who recorded a career-high 15 tackles, and Amen Ogbongbemiga, a special teams ace making his first defensive snap of the season. Their defensive scheme stayed simple, emphasizing gap control and forcing mistakes — which led to three turnovers that directly resulted in touchdowns. The coaching staff’s adaptability and the players’ discipline turned a depth crisis into a statement win.
Who is Amen Ogbongbemiga, and why was his performance so surprising?
Amen Ogbongbemiga had played zero defensive snaps in the 2023 season prior to this game — his entire role had been on special teams since joining the Bears in 2021. His emergence as a reliable linebacker in a crisis was unprecedented. He didn’t just play; he made key tackles and held the middle of the field against Pittsburgh’s rushing attack, proving that depth isn’t always about talent — sometimes it’s about readiness.
What does this win mean for the Bears’ playoff chances?
At 7-4, the Bears are one game behind the Packers in the NFC North and hold the tiebreaker over the Falcons and Panthers. This win proved they can win without their best players — a crucial trait for playoff teams. With tough games ahead against Detroit, Green Bay, and Minnesota, their ability to overcome injuries could be the difference between a wild-card berth and missing the postseason entirely.
How does this compare to other injury-riddled wins in NFL history?
The 2023 Bears’ win echoes the 2017 New England Patriots’ Super Bowl run, where they won key games with backups at cornerback and safety. But few teams have won a close, high-stakes game with three starting linebackers out — and a rookie who exited in the first quarter. The Bears’ depth chart looked more like a practice squad, yet they outplayed a Steelers team that was also banged up. It’s one of the most remarkable defensive performances in recent memory.
What’s the status of Tremaine Edmunds and other injured linebackers?
Tremaine Edmunds was placed on injured reserve on November 25, 2023, meaning he’s out for at least the next four games. T.J. Edwards suffered a hamstring strain, and Noah Sewell has a knee sprain — both are listed as day-to-day. There’s no official timeline for their return, but head coach Matt Eberflus has said they’re “monitoring progress daily.” The Bears won’t risk rushing them back — not after seeing how well their backups played.
Why is Jaquan Brisker’s final play so significant?
Brisker’s hand on Mason Rudolph’s fourth-down pass wasn’t just a game-sealer — it was symbolic. He’s the emotional anchor of a defense that’s lost its stars. That play showed the Bears don’t need elite talent to close out games — they need poise, awareness, and the will to make one last stop. It’s the kind of moment that defines teams that outlast their limitations.
