Steelers run defense faces another challenge in Bears

Moving on from one top-five rushing offense to another, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense insists it’s ready for the challenge.

Eight days after limiting the Nick Chubb-led Cleveland Browns rushing offense to its third-lowest yardage production in any of its past 16 games, the Steelers next get a Chicago Bears attack that averages 136.6 per game on the ground.

“You are happy you did well (Sunday in Cleveland), but let’s see if we can continue to do well and see if we can build on it,” defensive lineman Cameron Heyward said Thursday. “Staying in our gaps, understanding what happens if we fall short, understanding it’s an 11-man job.”

The Bears have averaged 158.0 rushing yards over their past five games, albeit that total buttressed some by the scrambling ability of rookie quarterback Justin Fields (184 rushing yards the past three games).

The Steelers already have faced the NFL’s No. 1 (Cleveland) and No. 8 (Buffalo Bills) rushing offenses, and in addition to the No. 5 Bears and another meeting with the Browns, have two games against the No. 3 Baltimore Ravens with one each against the No. 4 Tennessee Titans and No. 10 Minnesota Vikings remaining on the schedule.

For the season, the Steelers are allowing opponents an average of 106 rushing yards per game. They’re tied for 11th in opponent per-carry average (4.2), but over the past three games the Steelers are allowing 5.1 yards per rush.

“We want to do the best we can to stop the run,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. “Keeping it within (a per-carry average of) 3.7 is our goal, and we are not at our goal yet. So have to be better than we have been doing.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.