The Steelers and Bears will meet Sunday at Soldier field minus two of the NFL’s defensive superstars. Troy Polamalu will be out for three to six weeks with a knee injury and Brian Urlacher is out for the remainder of the season with a broken wrist. The Steelers will definitely need to improve their running game which was non existent against the Titans in week one. The Steelers rushed for a dismal 32 yards on 28 carries. Jerome Bettis has been bashing the running game all week but is the running game really that bad? Or is the Titans defense really that good? The Titans led the league last year in fewest points allowed per game. One of the few statistics the Steelers defense did not own the rights to in 2008.

Jay Cutler and Devon Hester will be the key players for the Bears on Sunday. Hester will need to make big plays for the Bears to pull off the win against the NFL’s number one defense. Cutler made numerous bad decisions against the Packers and turnovers against the Steelers would secure a 0-2 start for the Bears.

The key for the Steelers should be establishing the running game on Sunday. The center of the Bears defense would be a great place to start without Brian Urlacher. I look for the Steelers to use the hurry up offense again if the running game continues to suffer with production.

The pass protection improved towards the end of the Steelers Titans game so hopefully the Steelers offensive line can maintain some consistency this week. Leading the league in sacks allowed is never a statistic you want to excel at.

Troy Polamalu Injury Update
This might be the first time Troy Polamalu is happy to hear that an injury will keep him out from three to six weeks. Polamalu realizes his injury could be much worse. Maybe even Brian Urlacher-like worse.

The two-time All-Pro safety doesn't need surgery to repair the tear in his left medical collateral ligament that occurred during a scramble for the ball on a blocked-field goal attempt Thursday against Tennessee. Coach Mike Tomlin's preliminary estimate of how long Polamalu will be out also hasn't changed.

"Regarding an injury to the knee, this is the best-case scenario," Polamalu said as the Steelers returned to practice on Monday. "There's no question that I'm very blessed that this scenario has come about rather than any worse scenario."

For now, Polamalu will rest, and hope there are no complications in his recovery.

Polamalu was injured when Titans tight end Alge Crumpler fell on him after Aaron Smith blocked a Rob Bironas field-goal attempt in the second quarter. Asked if it was normal to be on special teams, Polamalu said, "Our defense is always (out on a field goal attempt), our whole defense."

Polamalu will be replaced by Tyrone Carter, who is in his ninth season and sixth with Pittsburgh, partly because he can fill in at both safety positions. Carter made five starts in 2007 when Polamalu last hurt his knee.