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Chicago's defense scores twice as Bears bury Steelers

Sep 23, 2013 - 5:21 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Marc Trestman is making offense in Chicago fun again.

It also helps having a defense that can score too.

Julius Peppers returned a fumble 42 yards for a game-clinching touchdown and Major Wright brought back an interception 38 yards for a score in the Bears' 40-23 triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Of the eight new NFL coaches hired during the offseason, only Trestman's Bears and Andy Reid's Kansas City Chiefs remain unbeaten.

The Bears began the 2012 campaign 7-1, but averaged just 17.4 points per game over their last eight tilts while never cracking the 30-point barrier.

Chicago, which eclipsed the 30-point mark for a second time, is averaging 31.7 points per tilt through its first three games.

Matt Forte ran for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Jay Cutler completed 20- of-30 passes for 159 yards and a score for Chicago (3-0), which last started 3-0 in 2010 when it lost to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.

The Bears were outgained by the Steelers 459-258, but forced five Pittsburgh turnovers.

"That's what we do, we take the ball away," Peppers said.

In the light of the Steelers' 0-2 start, Antonio Brown angrily confronted offensive coordinator Todd Haley about his lack of targets.

Point made.

Brown caught nine passes for 196 yards and two scores, but his efforts came in a losing cause. Ben Roethlisberger was 26-of-41 for 406 yards with a pair of touchdowns, interceptions and fumbles lost for the Steelers (0-3), who last began 0-3 in 2000.

"I can't turn the ball over, plain and simple," Roethlisberger said.

Wright's touchdown gave the Bears a 24-3 lead a little before the midway point of the second, but Roethlisberger hit Brown for a 33-yard score to get Pittsburgh within 24-10 heading into the break.

Felix Jones, though, fumbled on the second offensive play of the third quarter, which led to a Robbie Gould 32-yard field goal and gave the visitors a 27-10 advantage.

The Steelers responded with 13 unanswered points.

Shaun Suisham booted through a 36-yard field goal a little past the midway point of the third. After Pittsburgh forced a punt, Brown's 21-yard nifty one-handed snag in the back-left corner of the end zone for a score on the third play of the Steelers' ensuing touch made it 27-20.

The Steelers defense then generated a three-and-out and Suisham split the uprights from 44 yards out to get the hosts within 27-23 with 10:38 left.

Cutler and Chicago had the answer.

Cutler moved the sticks on 3rd-and-10 with a 13-yard scramble and later a 3rd-and-12 after he connected with Brandon Marshall on a back-shoulder throw along the left sideline for a 41-yard gain.

On the subsequent third down, a 3rd-and-5, Cutler hooked up with his former Vanderbilt teammate, Earl Bennett, who tip-toed the left sideline to haul in a 17-yard score for a 34-23 Bears spread with 5:48 to play.

Peppers then rumbled in for a touchdown four plays later to put the game away.

Earlier, a Gould 47-yard field goal and a pair of TD runs by Forte and Michael Bush, five and one yard, respectively, staked the Bears to a 17-0 advantage after a quarter of play.

Suisham booted through a 27-yard field goal to get Pittsburgh on the board early in the second.

Game Notes

Chicago was 5-of-15 on third down, while Pittsburgh finished 3-of-11 on third down ... The Bears lead the all-time series against the Steelers, 21-7-1 ... Jonathan Dwyer ran for 39 yards on 12 totes for the Steelers.