Have the Bears Found Their Spark on Offense?

The Chicago Bears are currently riding a hot streak, having won four games in a row. Going into the Week Five bye week, there was momentum brewing, but there was also still plenty of concern in the weak spots of the team. One of the biggest concerns was the run game, as D’Andre Swift had a slow start. However, since the bye week, this is no longer the case. While the passing game has not been as crisp, the running game has been able to spark the team during the last two games.

Starting with Week Six against the Commanders, Swift recorded 108 yards on 14 carries. The team as a whole had 145 rushing yards. Without his performance, the Bears may not have been able to win the game. Chicago followed this up with a season-high 222 rushing yards in Week Seven against the Saints. The former second-round pick led the way with 124 yards on 19 carries, also adding a touchdown. However, he was not alone with this standout performance. 

Rookie Kyle Monangai had his best game in his young career so far. He was able to record 81 yards on 13 carries, while also scoring his first career touchdown. The performance by the two running backs is what carried Chicago to a win, as the team was held under 200 passing yards. First-year head coach Ben Johnson had a heavy usage of two running backs during his time in Detroit. Week Seven, the Bears had 40 rushing attempts, which marks the first time Johnson's run-first system has been shown this season. 

As mentioned previously, the passing attack has not been as crisp these past few weeks. Before the bye week, Chicago relied heavily on Caleb Williams to win games. The rush attack was no help, which made the offense very predictable. If they have finally learned how to rely on the run game, then we may begin to see balance. Improvements in running the ball take the pressure off of Williams to be perfect. It also allows Johnson to fully tap into his playbooks, bringing in the creativity that made him one of the hottest head coaching candidates. 

A balanced offense is the first step for the franchise to break the cycle of constant losing and heartbreak. After weeks of inconsistency, the backfield has stepped up, recording both explosive plays and steady gains. It has been a small sample size, so the Bears hope to see this trend continue in their Week Eight matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. If the trend does continue, then the momentum will only keep on growing. The rejuvenated run game may just be what it takes to turn the team into a contender.