Gould's Game-Winner Upsets Steelers

On the strength of hard-hitting defense, Jay Cutler's right arm and Robbie Gould's clutch kicking, the Chicago Bears won their home opener in an extremely tough fight with the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers outgained the Bears 308 to 275 in a gritty defensive battle. They had 21 first downs to the Bears' 17. They, unlike the Bears, were able to effectively run the football. In the end, though, the Bears won on the strength of something the Steelers lacked: the ability to hit a big field goal.

In the rainy, somewhat-windy conditions at Solider Field in Chicago, Jeff Reed missed two second-half field goals. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Bears kicker Robbie Gould coolly booted a 44-yarder with just 15 seconds left to win it for the Bears. The game was cemented when Stefan Logan fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and the Bears recovered.

On the Bears' side of things, so many positives can be taken away from this game. Cutler showed the ability to lead his team on a game-tying drive, taking the Bears 72 yards and finding Johnny Knox in the end-zone to even the score at 14-14 with 6:21 left in the game. Cutler then took the Bears 41 yards to set up Gould's game-winner.

Along the way, the Bears seem to have found a gem in rookie Johnny Knox. Knox made a 68-yard grab last week against Green Bay, and Sunday he caught six passes for 70 yards, including the aforementioned game-tying touchdown grab. Greg Olsen made big catches, as did Devin Hester. Kellen Davis, who entered the season as the third-string tight end snared five balls for 38 yards the Bears first touchdown. All in all, it was a solid day from a receiving corps constantly maligned in the offseason.

Most importantly, Cutler took care of the ball. He threw zero interceptions, which was one less than Ben Roethlisberger.

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Chicago Bears Photos

CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Nick Roach #53, Alex Brown #96 and Danieal Manning #38 of the Chicago Bears gang tackle Willie Parker #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nick Roach;Alex Brown;Danieal Manning;Willie Parker

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Chicago Bears Photos

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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: Kellen Davis #87 of the Chicago Bears holds on to the ball for a touchdown as he's hit by Tyrone Carter #23 and James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kellen Davis;Tyrone Carter;James Farrior

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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes the ball against against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger

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Chicago Bears tight end Kellen Davis scores on a pass from quarterback Jay Cutler in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) looks for a receiver as Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Tyrone Carter, right watches in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 20: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears rolls out to look for a receiver against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field on September 20, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jay Cutler

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Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay (22) and linebacker James Farrior in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Chicago Bears tight end Kellen Davis (87) is congratulated by teammates Frank Omiyale (68) and Chris Williams (74) after a touchdown reception in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

From the Steelers' end, the game reeks of missed opportunities. Roethlisberger's interception occurred in Chicago territory. Obviously, you have the two missed field goals for Reed -- before Reed's first miss, though, the Steelers had the ball at the Bears' 10. A stuffed running play and an Alex Brown sack drove them back to the 20. They also failed to convert a 3rd-and-2 before Reed's second miss. Still, they were in position to win the game -- or at least head to overtime. Considering they are the defending champs, though, they won't be headed home with anything other than a sour taste in their collective mouth.

The Bears head to Seattle next week to take on a Seahawks team who got shredded by Frank Gore Sunday. Thus, it would appear a good opportunity to get Matt Forte (just 29 yards on 13 carries Sunday) on track.

The Steelers will look to bounce back as they travel to Cincinnati, where they'll be facing a Bengals team that upset the Packers in Lambeau Field Sunday.