Magical season for Bears may include avoiding biggest advers...

Magical season for Bears may include avoiding biggest adversary

How far has the "ownership" of the Bears mentality gone for Rodgers? He sent a message to Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who took over for him in Green Bay, congratulating him on "keeping the ownership in place" after Love and the Packers won in Chicago to open the 2023 season. However, this appears to be a different Bears team than the one that has been under Rodgers' control for years. After escaping with a 19-17 win in Minnesota on Sunday thanks to a game-winning field goal by Cairos Santos, the Bears enter Sunday's game against Pittsburgh with a 7-3 record. Five of those seven wins this season have come thanks to late fourth-quarter rallies, including in each of their last three games. The Bears are showing this is a different team under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, and it could be a team that could finally break free of the spell that Rodgers has cast over the franchise for years. That, however, may not happen now with Rodgers' wrist injury. And, if Rodgers doesn't play on Sunday, it's unclear when the Bears might get their next shot at the quarterback who turns 42 on Dec. 2. Of all of the tests the Bears have passed so far this season, another important milestone (at least psychologically) would have been for Chicago to down Pittsburgh with Rodgers under center and pin a loss on one of their greatest adversaries. Now, the Bears will focus on what they need to do if Rudolph is the one taking snaps as they look to continue to show there's a new attitude and confidence in the Windy City.

However, this appears to be a different Bears team than the one that has been under Rodgers' control for years.

After escaping with a 19-17 win in Minnesota on Sunday thanks to a game-winning field goal by Cairos Santos, the Bears enter Sunday's game against Pittsburgh with a 7-3 record. Five of those seven wins this season have come thanks to late fourth-quarter rallies, including in each of their last three games.

The Bears are showing this is a different team under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, and it could be a team that could finally break free of the spell that Rodgers has cast over the franchise for years.

That, however, may not happen now with Rodgers' wrist injury. And, if Rodgers doesn't play on Sunday, it's unclear when the Bears might get their next shot at the quarterback who turns 42 on Dec. 2.

Of all of the tests the Bears have passed so far this season, another important milestone (at least psychologically) would have been for Chicago to down Pittsburgh with Rodgers under center and pin a loss on one of their greatest adversaries. Now, the Bears will focus on what they need to do if Rudolph is the one taking snaps as they look to continue to show there's a new attitude and confidence in the Windy City.