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LIVE: Bears beat Steelers in overtime, 23-17 | TribLIVE.com
Steelers/NFL

LIVE: Bears beat Steelers in overtime, 23-17

Chris Adamski
Chris Adamski
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Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes the football in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 24, 2017 in Chicago.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Sherrick McManis of the Chicago Bears makes a block against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second quarter at Soldier Field on September 24, 2017 in Chicago.
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Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after scoring against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Soldier Field on September 24, 2017 in Chicago.
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Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the football against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Soldier Field on September 24, 2017 in Chicago.
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Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 24, 2017 in Chicago.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers bench area stays empty during the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 24, 2017 in Chicago.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Steelers' Cameron Heyward during warm ups before playing the Bears Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017 at Soldier Field in Chicago Il.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Steelers' Antonio Brown during warm ups before playing the Bears Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017 at Soldier Field in Chicago Il.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Steelers' Artie Burns during warm ups before playing the Bears Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017 at Soldier Field in Chicago Il.

CHICAGO –

End of game:

Jordan Howard ran for a 19-yard touchdown against a clearly gassed Steelers run defense, giving the Bears a 23-17 win Sunday. It was another Steelers' disappointing road loss against a bad team (Chicago was 0-2).

The Bears won despite having only 84 net passing yards – but they did have 220 rushing yards – including 74 on four plays in overtime (the final 73 needing just three plays).

Stephon Tuitt can't come back soon enough for the Steelers.

Thanks for following along. Plenty of postgame coverage is on its way.

8:58 left, overtime:

The Bears had what appeared to be a winning touchdown called back when Tarik Cohen stepped out of bouncs at the Steelers' 37 yard-line. He celebrated after getting into the end zone for an apparent 73-yard run. But no one had noticed that an official called him out of bounds at one point in the run. Video review let that call stand.

End of regulation:

Steelers played in overtime just three regular-season games ago - the finale vs. Cleveland at home in 2016. Their most recent MEANINGFUL overtime game? The "Josh Scobee Game" loss to the Ravens at home Oct. 1, 2015.

22 seconds left in game:

The Steelers have a first down at their own 32, needing about 35 yards to get into Boswell FG range.

52 seconds left in game:

The Steelers take over at their own 15, needing to travel 50 yards to get into range for a Chris Boswell winning field goal.

2:00 left, fourth quarter:

The Bears have it at their own 34 with a 2nd and 1.

3:36 left, fourth quarter:

Roy Robertson-Harris commits a costly holding penalty on a Steelers' punt – it was only 9 yards officially, but it wiped out a long punt return by Tarik Cohen that had set the Bears up near midfield. Instead, they start a drive at their own 9.

8:03 left, fourth quarter:

After the Steelers go three-and-out when taking over in Bears' territory, Chris Boswell hits a 32-yard field goal to tie the game.

https://twitter.com/drinelli/status/912040052951257090

8:57 left, fourth quarter:

An interception by J.J. Wilcox set the Steelers up at the Bears 21 yard-line late in this game. Wilcox was in for Sean Davis at strong safety; Davis has a left ankle injury and his return is questionable.

End of third quarter:

The Steelers still trail the Bears, although they are taking over possession deep in their own territory.

Also, this:

6:43 left, third quarter:

Le'Veon Bell scores for the first time this season, getting in from 1 yard out after a defensive holding penalty in the end zone set up the Steelers. Bell has 56 yards from scrimmage on 13 touches. But the Steelers are within three points.

Halftime:

The Bears added a 24-yard field goal after a sequence of events that was bizarre, to say the least. They lead 17-7.

Vance McDonald made his first positive contribution to the Steelers since being acquired three weeks ago, hustling down to force a fumble by Marcus Cooper Sr. as Cooper Sr. was trying to return a blocked field goal for a touchdown as time expired in the first half.

Chris Boswell's 35-yard attempt was blocked by Sherrick McManis and Cooper Sr. was in the clear and had an easy touchdown. But he slowed down the final 15 yards and almost came to a stop as he approached the goal line. McDonald kept running and swatted the ball out of his hands. Holder Jordan Berry, also hustling, pounced to swat the ball out of the back of the end zone.

Initially, officials said that Berry's swat was legal because it was the final play of the half. But after video review and lengthy consultation, it was determined that since Berry was acting for the defensive team at that moment that the play needed to be penalized after the ball was brought back out to the spot of the fumble (the 1).

Then, the penalty against Berry was enforced, spotting the ball inside the 1. The Bears lined up to run an offensive play to try for a touchdown… but a false start backed them up. That led to the field goal attempt.

Got all that?

If not, it doesn't matter – all you need to know is the Steelers are not winning the line-play competition on either offense or defense, and as a result they trail by 10. Special teams also aren't helping them out at all.

Halftime stats:

Also, here is a statement from Steelers president Art Rooney II:

43 seconds left, first half:

The Bears netted 62 rushing yards over a drive that lasted 4 minutes, 59 seconds and ended with a Mike Glennon 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie Adam Shaheen, giving them a 14-7 lead as he approach halftime.

5:42 left, second quarter:

On second and goal from the 7, the Steelers decided to just flip it out to Antonio Brown and let him do his thing.

Wise decision. Brown worked his way into the end zone to even the Steelers with the Bears.

Also:

12:53 left, second quarter:

We might never see James Harrison again..

Still 7-0 Bears.

End first quarter:

2:32 left, first quarter:

Chicago fails to take advantage of the field position; Connor Barth misses a 47-yard field goal attempt.

Also:

4:40 left, first quarter:

Ramon Foster was taken to the locker room for evaluation. B.J. Finney likely to check in at left guard when the Steelers get the ball back.

6:15 left, first quarter:

The Steelers commit their second turnover of the first quarter, a fumble by Ben Roethlisberger upon being sacked to end their second offensive possession. The Bears take over at midfield up a touchdown.

6:30 left, first quarter:

An updated version of colleague Joe Rutter's pregame story about the Steelers staying in the locker room for the national anthem. It reflects that coach Mike Tomlin and three assistants were on the field for it, and former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva stood at the end of t he tunnel and just off the field to salute the flag and anthem:

9:09 left first quarter:

After the teams traded three-and-outs, Eli Rogers muffed a Chicago punt and the Bears recovered. They took advantage of the good field position to take a X-0 lead by way of a Jordan Howard 3-year touchdown run moments later.

Rogers supplanted All Pro receiver Antonio Brown as the Steelers' punt returner to open this season. It will be interesting to see if coach Mike Tomlin reverts back to Brown. The Steelers have for years been trying to spare Brown of those duties, but they keep being forced back to him due to a lack of viable options.

15:00 left, first quarter:

Underway in Chicago, the Bears kicked off to the Steelers. It was a touchback.

12:30 p.m.:

We haven't yet reached kickoff, and it's still technically the morning where the Steelers are preparing to play. But it already has been a good Sunday for them.

With the Baltimore Ravens getting crushed, 44-7, by the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in a game that kicked off in the morning hours in the U.S. That means the Steelers (2-0) could have sole possession of first place in the AFC North if they beat the Bears (0-2).

Functionally, it won't even matter, though, because regardless of what happens this week, next Sunday's Steelers-Ravens game in Baltimore will determine the division leader through four weeks of the NFL season and on the first day of October.

Plenty of pregame storylines…

Football-wise, after a week of will-he-or-won't-he, Stephon Tuitt as it turns out will NOT play Sunday.

In off-the-field news that surely will, um, trump Tuitt's status… the Steelers have decided to remain in the locker room during the playing of the National Anthem:

In other morning pregame reading from TribLive:

Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.