The Bears’ run game is the best part about their team.
Since their Week 5 bye, the Bears lead the league in rushing yards per game and total yards per game. On the season, only the Bills average more than their 153.8 rushing yards per game
The Bears have run for more than 280 yards in game just three times since the end of the 1984 season. Two of those games happened in November, when they ran 283 yards against the Bengals on Nov. 2 and for 281 against the Eagles last week. Those are the most rushing yards by any NFL team in a non-overtime game all year.
Among running backs who have carried the ball at least 50 times this year, rookie Kyle Monangai ranks seventh in the NFL with 4.9 yards per carry. Veteran D’Andre Swift is 10th with 4.7.
“You have to be really sound and you have to be really disciplined to play this run game,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said. “You can’t run up the field. You can’t jump out of a gap. You can’t pass rush on a run down.”
That’s particularly impressive, given Swift’s struggles last year. The Bears brought in running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to get Swift to dance less often and hit the hole on time.
“It’s been fun watching the evolution of where we started to where we are right now,” Bieniemy said. “Do not get me wrong — we still have a long way to go … but I’m enjoying watching the evolution of where we are.”
So does Swift.
“I think we’re hitting our stride right now,” he said.