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Brian Batko
11:01
Good morning everybody, Ray and I are posted up at Soldier Field fresh off the news from Mike Tomlin that Aaron Rodgers is OUT today. I will not lie to you, I'm surprised by this.
11:02
Here's how I view this situation: I didn't think it was a lock that Rodgers would start, because they made him questionable for a reason and he was indeed limited Friday, but I thought there was a strong chance they'd tailor a game plan to him with all (or at least a lot) of shotgun.
Carlo
11:03
Rogers inactive ?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:04
No definitive word but likely inactive with the No. 3 QB designation. So, under NFL rules, the only way Rodgers could play is if Rudolph and Howard get hurt and cannot return to the game.
We'll know for sure at 11:30 when the inactive list is distributed.
J D
11:06
JPJ already has a holding penalty and the game hasn't started yet!!  Hope those days are over because he played great last week.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
He did play very well. Tough assignment again today against a Bears offense featuring Caleb Williams.
Brian Batko
11:08
I can't let this get me down from my weekly inactive predictions. In fact, I've got a free space on the bingo card now. Let's go with Aaron Rodgers, Andrus Peat, Logan Lee, Brodric Martin, Alex Highsmith.
David
11:16
Good morning, fellas! I'm in Chicago about to walk over to Soldier. Make me feel good about what I'm about to see...
Brian Batko
11:17
Hey David, I walked over here this morning myself from my hotel. Beautiful stroll through one of the parks and past some museums. Here's what should make you feel good: Steelers don't have their QB1 but Bears don't have their LB1/2/3. Perhaps that's ultimately why Rudolph is getting the nod here. Go under center, run the heck out of the ball against a depleted linebacker corps.
KJ
11:18
Does Jaylen Warren have a "healthy" designation for today, and how much usage can be expect out of him?
Brian Batko
11:19
Yes, but the question is whether they'll fully utilize him or lean more toward Kenny Gainwell with Jaylen Warren coming off the ankle injury.
KJ
11:19
With Rudolph in today, do you expect to see more "downfield shots" from the Steelers today?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:20
Bears have a bad run defense so I would expect the Steelers to establish the run. But yes, if they can get some play-action passing going, then the Steelers could take advantage of Rudolph's ability to stretch the field.
Bucky
11:21
Throw it to DK 16 times.  See what happens?
Brian Batko
11:22
I actually do think the receiver DK Metcalf is meshes better with the QB Mason Rudolph is than Rodgers, which is sort of ironic. But the Bears figure to bracket him a decent amount and even when they don't, 6-foot-4 cornerback Nahshon Wright isn't giving up any height to DK. That could be a fun matchup.
KJ
11:23
Do you believe the Steelers will be able to contain Caleb Williams escape-ability today?  Do you foresee the Steelers putting a shadow on Williams, say someone like Payton Wilson given his speed?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:25
That's a big part of his game. The Steelers do not typically employ a spy so to speak, but they'll definitely be aware of his movement in the pocket. Maintaining rush lanes will be extremely important this week. They'll want to keep him in the pocket and step up to make a play rather than escaping.
KJ
11:27
What is the weather in Chicago like today?  It would be, from an aesthetic and fan viewpoint, awesome to see some snow flurries and some true smashmouth football today!
Ray Fittipaldo
11:28
Not anything close to Chicago winter weather. It's sunny and by game time should be in the 50s. Perfect fall football weather if you ask me.
KJ
11:33
I really have not been following the Bears this season aside from seeing game highlights, but has Ben Johnson brought his propensity for trick plays to Chicago and what may be expect to see from them today?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:34
He's a good offensive coach and yes he brought his playbook with him from Detroit. The Steelers will be aware of everything Johnson has done in the past.
11:35
Steelers inactives for today:
No. 8 QB Aaron Rodgers
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith
No. 71 G Andrus Peat
No. 78 DT Brodric Martin-Rhodes
No. 91 DL Logan Lee
Brian Batko
11:40
Not for nothing, Bears LT Theo Benedet is out today too. Rookie Ozzy Trapilo, a second-rounder, will make his first NFL start.
Jim K in Jax
11:42
Enjoy Chicago guys, what a great city!!!!!!
Magnum Malone
12:17
How do you expect Rudolph to do?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
I think he'll be Mason Rudolph. He has a calm and steadying presence as a backup. I've picked the Steelers all week and I'm not going change my mind now.
Seven
12:18
Morning guys. Any sense that the Chicago fans see this game as something special? Seeing many towel twirlers around town?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
As you can imagine this is a big game for the Bears so it doesn't look like their fans sold many tickets to Steelers fans. I see some black and yellow in the stands, but not your typical road game for the Steelers.
CDub
12:20
So when Ben started due to injury, the veterans weren't happy that he was starting.  Is there a difference this time around?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
You'll have to refresh my memory. Ben played with an assortment of injuries over the years.
Seven
12:21
What do you think the Bears defense does differently against Rudolph than it might have prepared for against Rodgers?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
They might pack the box more and force Rudolph into situations when he has to beat them with his arm.
Seven
12:23
I think CDub is referring to Ben's rookie season, when he had to replace Tommie Gun against the Dolphins. A couple of the linemen said that they weren't excited about being forced to use a rookie QB.
Brian Batko
12:23
The infamous Alan Faneca quote. Well, if that's what CDub means, this has absolutely zero correlation to that considering Mason Rudolph is far from a rookie.
Takoma Tom
12:25
since the bears possibly have 3 linebackers out then Darnell Washington over the middle all day sounds like a winner.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
Darnell Washington against the Bears run defense sounds like a winner to me too.
Seven
12:27
The Steelers running back room seems to have gone from ho hum to pretty exciting recently. Even the rookie looked fairly good last week, didn't he? Except, of course, for the face mask penalty.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
I think it's been a good group all season. I don't necessarily blame the running game's consistency, or lack thereof, on the RBs. There was no drop-off from Warren to Gainwell when Warren was injured.
Takoma Tom
12:29
Will TJ get any sacks today?
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