Bears vs. Steelers: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

One of the more intriguing games on the Week 3 slate features two teams headed in drastically different directions when the Chicago Bears encounter the Pittsburgh Steelers under the national spotlight of Sunday Night Football.

Chicago and new head coach Marc Trestman are off to a hot start in the post-Brian Urlacher era, winning close games against Cincinnati and Minnesota while featuring an efficient new-look offense. 

The old guard remains in Pittsburgh and has done nothing to inspire confidence after being upended at home by Tennessee and then faltering on the road against Cincinnati on Monday Night Football.

Chicago looks to keep the ball rolling as the only undefeated team in the NFC North, while Pittsburgh looks to exit the cellar of the AFC's Northernmost division, which is currently also inhabited by Cleveland. 

Here are the critical details about the prime-time showdown.

When: Sunday, Sept. 22, at 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.

Watch: NBC

Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

Betting Lines (via Bovada)

• Over/Under: 40.5 pts
• Spread: Chicago (-3)

Bears Injury Report (via NFL.com) 

Kyle Long	G	Back	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Martellus Bennett	TE	Shoulder	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Charles Tillman	CB	Knee	Limited Participation in Practice	Questionable
Brandon Marshall	WR	Back	Full Participation in Practice	Probable

Steelers Injury Report (via NFL.com) 

Cortez Allen	CB	Ankle	Did Not Participate in Practice	Out
Jarvis Jones	LB	Heel	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Steve McLendon	DT	Hamstring	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Heath Miller	TE	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Le'Veon Bell	RB	Foot	Full Participation in Practice	Questionable
Curtis Brown	CB	Illness	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Brett Keisel	DE	Calf	Full Participation in Practice	Probable

Will Ben Roethlisberger Survive Behind a Patchwork Line?

The biggest issue in Pittsburgh at the moment is consistency along the offensive line and how it impacts quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Pittsburgh lost starting center Maurkice Pouncey to a season-ending injury in Week 1 as the line allowed Roethlisberger to be sacked five times. With Fernando Velasco under center, Roethlisberger was sacked twice by Cincinnati the following week.

Most concerning outside of his health is Roethlisberger's ability to take care of the football while on the run. With no running game to support him, Roethlisberger has been tasked with doing it all himself—which has resulted in only two touchdowns, two costly interceptions and his completing only 58 percent of his attempts.

The horrid play from Roethlisberger won't fly against Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings. Tillman already has two interceptions on the year, while Jennings has one that he ended up returning for a touchdown.

Like the past two weeks, Pittsburgh will only be as successful as its offensive line.

Prediction

The new clashes with the old in this matchup, and it's the new in Chicago that will ultimately win out. Pittsburgh has drafted questionably the past several years and continues to do the same old things from top to bottom. Like anything else, time will take its toll.

Chicago is too talented on defense for Pittsburgh to adequately move the ball up and down the field. Pittsburgh has scored just 19 points in two games—slightly better than Cleveland's total of 16.

The Chicago offense under Jay Cutler will be able to nickel-and-dime its way down the field as it has the past two weeks. Pittsburgh has no answer for Brandon Marshall and will especially struggle with Matt Forte after encountering issues with Cincinnati rookie Giovani Bernard last week.

Bears roll on the road to remain undefeated as Pittsburgh begins to look toward the future.

Final Score 

Bears win 24-10

Follow B/R's Chris Roling on Twitter for more news and analysis @Chris_Roling