(CNN)The Pittsburgh Steelers survived a late Chicago Bears comeback attempt to chalk up a fourth successive win with a 29-27 victory on a Monday Night Football marked by a highly controversial penalty call.
A series of contentious flags marked a game that -- at 20-6 in the third quarter -- had looked set to be a comfortable home victory for the Steelers, but an inspired fourth quarter performance from Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields left the hosts facing a shock turnaround.
The Steelers retook the lead for the final time through Chris Boswell's 40-yard field goal 26 seconds from time but were still forced to endure a nail-biting potential 65-yard game winning kick from Bears kicker Cairo Santos.
To Pittsburgh's relief, Santos' kick dropped just short -- securing the win and making it 19 straight victories at Heinz Field for the Steelers when playing on a Monday night.
Bears tight end Jimmy Graham failing to make a catch in front of Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton during the first half.
'Incredibly inappropriate'
Despite these dramatic final moments, it was a particular fourth-quarter sack on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that dominated much of the coverage -- the subject of one of several controversial calls during the game.
With the Steelers leading 23-20, Cassius Marsh of the Bears was penalized for taunting by referee Tony Corrente following his third-down sack on Roethlisberger -- giving the Steelers a first down and an eventual field goal -- and Marsh subsequently claimed he was "hip-checked" by Corrente moments before he was flagged.
"On my way to the sideline, I got hip-checked by the ref. It's pretty clear," Marsh said after the game.
"If I was to do that to a ref or even touch a ref, we get kicked out of the game and possibly suspended and fined. I just think that that was incredibly inappropriate.
"I think that one was just bad timing. It's pretty clear to everybody who saw it that I wasn't taunting.
"I've been doing the celebration my whole career. It's just sad to see stuff like that happen in a close game like that."
Roethlisberger dives for the first down past Trevis Gipson during the fourth quarter.
Corrente spoke to a pool reporter after the game to explain his decisions.
"First of all, keep in mind that taunting is a point of emphasis this year," Corrente said.
"And with that said, I saw the player, after he made a big play, run towards the bench area of the Pittsburgh Steelers and posture in such a way that I felt he was taunting them."