The Chicago Bears did something for the first time this season on Sunday, which was beating a team with a winning record. 

The Bears improved to 8-3 after a hard-fought 31-28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Initially, it looked like the Bears may face Aaron Rodgers, but he was ruled out with a wrist injury that he suffered in the first half of Pittsburgh's 34-12 Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Instead, Chicago took on backup Mason Rudolph. 

Both teams scored touchdowns in the first quarter, with Caleb Williams finding D.J. Moore for a five-yard touchdown. 

The second quarter was a frustrating one for Chicago. The Bears fumbled on their first two drives, as the Steelers recovered one of them for a touchdown to make it 14-7. T.J. Watt sacked Williams, and the ball was recovered by Nick Herbig. 

The Bears' defense responded by stopping the Steelers on downs on the following drive. Chicago then tied the game at 14 on a pass to Colston Loveland. Pittsburgh scored again, and Chicago added a field goal to their tally before halftime to make it 21-17 Steelers. 

Chicago was clinical in the third quarter, holding Pittsburgh scoreless and scoring another touchdown on a pass to Moore. The Steelers jumped offsides and Williams took advantage. 

The Bears' defense even forced a fumble after Montez Sweat sacked Rudolph. 

Chicago kept its momentum going in the fourth quarter, scoring on a two-yard rush from Kyle Monangai to make it 31-21. 

The game would come down to the defense, as that would be Chicago's last touchdown of the game. Pittsburgh made things interesting with a touchdown pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth on what was a 17-play drive. 

The Steelers made a questionable decision on their second to last drive of the game. The Bears got the stop and 3rd-and-9 with 2:01 left, but the Steelers opted to punt the ball away, trusting their defense to get the ball back. 

Pittsburgh did just that and got another chance to tie or win the game with 1:29 left. The Steelers inched their way towards the field goal range of Chris Boswell, but the game came down to 4th-and-6 on Chicago's 47-yard line. 

Rudolph dropped back to pass and Jaquan Brisker called game, deflecting the pass at the line of scrimmage. 

The Bears escaped with a win after not having their starting linebackers in the game.

T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds and Noah Sewell were all out with injuries. Ruben Hyppolite II and D'Marco Jackson filled in at linebacker, but more injuries piled up. 

Hyppolite suffered a shoulder injury and left the game, as Amen Ogbongbemiga stepped in. Jackson and Ogbongbemiga had great games.

Ogbongbemiga finished with 14 total tackles before exiting with an injury. Jackson had 15 total tackles and one tackle for loss. 

The NFC North's top team continues its winning ways and proved that they can beat a team with a  record above .500.

Chicago plays the Philadelphia Eagles next on Black Friday at 2 p.m. CT on Prime Video.