Aaron Rodgers’ wrist. Mason Rudolph’s momentum. Rodgers’ record in Chicago versus the Steelers stinking in Soldier Field.

These have been the storylines all week in advance of Steelers-Bears in Chicago on Sunday afternoon.

But the quarterback-dominated headlines are swallowing up some other significant Steelers talking points.

We get to those right now in this Friday’s “Football Footnotes.”

Hopefully, the Kyle Duggar pick-6 last week against Cincinnati drilled home how effective the Steelers’ “3-OLB” look can be.

As we outlined after the game, pressure created by outside linebackers T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer made that play happen.

KYLE DUGGER PICK-6 OFF JOE FLACCO.

CINvsPIT on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/pMduSrhO1R

— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025

Sawyer’s development of late has allowed that package to be used more often, even with Alex Highsmith hurt.

“Our coaches are doing a great job of switching stuff up and giving offenses different looks,” Sawyer said Thursday. “We are mixing up the personnel. It’s paying off.”

Having three true pass rushers on the field as interchangeable pieces makes that defensive grouping extremely difficult for offenses to block.

“Nick can rush from anywhere,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “If he gets the space needed, he can really be a hard block for guys inside because of his quickness. That is one thing that is attractive about that package. But we also like Nick rushing outside. I think that package gives us the flexibility to deploy him anywhere.”

Personally, I’d like to see the Steelers use it more often. It could definitely be useful against a Bears offense that is tied for sixth in the NFL in yards per play (5.8). Head coach Mike Tomlin says the Steelers need to win a lot of first and second downs to make that happen.

“It’s about getting people in one-dimensional pass circumstances and getting our very best rush men on the field regardless of position,” Tomlin said.

Austin echoed that belief.

“I think the game constitutes how much we use it or not. It’s all game-driven, how we’re doing it. How we’re doing in that particular package is how much we’ll use it,” Austin said.

The Bears allow 5.2 yards per rush, tied for 29th in the NFL.

After Kenneth Gainwell’s big game against the Bengals, I was asked if I was going to throttle back my criticism of what the Steelers are doing with their running backs on third downs.

No, actually. I think that game kinda helped prove my point.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that Gainwell’s two best games have come when he has had the most opportunities. Those occurred last week and in Dublin when Jaylen Warren was injured both times.

Until or unless Kaleb Johnson proves worthy of more carries, I thinks it’s best to let Gainwell be his own first-and-second-down back. And let Warren be his own third-down back.

Enough with this silly approach of taking Warren off the field on third down for Gainwell, when third downs are Warren’s best attribute. And enough of assuming Gainwell can’t handle first and second down when he has twice proven effective at doing so.

Let Warren have the bulk of the series, but when he needs a break, give Gainwell a few full series per game.

“There are a lot of situations you go through. Sometimes it depends on how you want to attack 3rd down,” offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said Thursday. “It’s just been an odd season in terms of play counts… We talk about those situations every week. But the good problem to have is that both of those guys are really good players.”

Agreed. I just hope the Steelers eventually figure out how to max out the effectiveness of both of them.

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Under less QB-centric circumstances, Mike Tomlin’s admission that Darius Slay is still slated to be the starting cornerback opposite Joey Porter Jr. as opposed to James Pierre would be the primary talking point all week.

“He steps back in and plays,” Tomlin said of Slay. “We’re certainly going to continue to play James. He’s deserving of that, but if healthy, Slay is going to play.”

Why? What evidence is there that this is a smart move?

It is just so … Tomlin. Defer to the veteran. Keep the guy with a nice resume happy. Don’t admit you were wrong about cutting a guy three months ago.

C’mon. We can all see it. Slay is on the downside. Maybe (kind of like Rudolph), Pierre is starting to figure it out in his late 20s.

Meanwhile, there weren’t exactly protests in the streets of Philadelphia when Slay walked away to sign here. As well-liked as he was, Eagles fans seemed to have the good sense that Slay’s best days were behind him.

“When you have Slay, we have some veteran experience. I think what we’ll do is we’ll see how that works out,” Austin said. “In terms of where we want to utilize (Pierre), because I think he’s earned the right to be on the field, and we’ll just go from there.”

I’m guessing that’s music to the ears of Bears receivers Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore.

We all know how heavily the Steelers rely on turnovers and sacks to get off the field. They have 18 takeaways, tied for third in the NFL — four behind the NFL-leading total of 22 by Chicago.

However, the Bears almost never give the ball away. Their giveaway total of six is the lowest in the NFL. The Bears’ turnover differential of plus-16 is six better than Houston’s for the NFL lead.

Part of the reason for that low giveaway total is that quarterback Caleb Williams rarely gets sacked. The Bears have yielded just 16 sacks on the season. Only six teams have given up fewer.

The Steelers’ sack total of 33 is fourth-best in the NFL.

Many people are harping on how big a game this is going to be for Pittsburgh. Rightfully so.

The Baltimore Ravens play the New York Jets this Sunday. They’ll win for sure and improve to 6-5. Couple that with a Steelers loss (they are 1-12 in Chicago against the Bears), and Tomlin’s team will drop back into a first-place tie atop the AFC North.

But it’s a huge outcome for the Bears too. At 7-3, Chicago leads the NFC North. But second-place Green Bay (6-3-1) is at home against 4-6 Minnesota, while the 6-4 Detroit Lions are hosting the 2-9 New York Giants.

A loss could plummet the Bears all the way from first place to third place in the North, and potentially even out of a playoff spot heading into a short week trip to play the Eagles on Friday.

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