With Bears ‘clicking up front,’ RB D’Andre Swift hits triple digits again

D’Andre Swift has done more to help the Bears’ run game in a six-day span than he did in the first month of the season.

Swift ran 19 times for 124 yards in Sunday’s 26-14 win against the Saints after posting 14 for 108 on “Monday Night Football.” It marked just the third time in Swift’s career he’d run for more than 100 yards in consecutive games.

Put more simply: he ran for more yards in two games than he totaled in the previous four.

“We are clicking up front, and the receivers are doing a great job on the perimeter,” Swift said. “Hats off to them, the guys up front and the receivers. … If they do their jobs up front and we get a little space as the backs, everybody in our room, we’re going to make something happen after that.

“I feel like we’ve been doing a better job this week, and the past week, of clicking on all cylinders and doing our jobs.”

Kyle Monangai, the Bears’ second-string rookie, ran 13 times for 81 yards. Before Sunday, he had 81 rushing yards all season. The two scored the Bears’ only touchdowns, both in the second quarter. Swift ran for 11 while Monangai plunged in from the 1.

Quarterback Caleb Williams praised the progress of the rushing attack after struggling Sunday.

“Being able to run the damn ball,” he said, “as every offensive line wants to do.”

KB TKO

With 11:20 to play, safety Kevin Byard collided with cornerback Nahshon Wright while the former was attempting to intercept Spencer Rattler’s pass down the Bears’ sideline. Byard dropped the ball, causing an incompletion.

The pick would have given Byard sole possession of the NFL lead after he picked off a Spencer Rattler pass in the third quarter. Byard has four interceptions this year, tied for the NFL lead. He has 33 interceptions since entering the league in 2016, more than any other player.

Byard is eager to face the next quarterback on the Bears’ schedule — the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson.

“We’re excited to test our will and our resiliency,” he said.

Notes

• The Saints called a trick play on third-and-20 with 11:04 to play, throwing a crossing route to tight end/backup quarterback Taysom Hill, only for him to throw the ball sideways to running back Alvin Kamara for a gain of 37 yards. The Bears challenged that the throw went forward and won, and the Saints were forced to punt.

• DJ Moore, who spent an extra night in the Washington, D.C., area Monday while doctors monitored a groin injury, led the Bears with three catches and 43 receiving yards.

• Kicker Jake Moody made four field goals. His eight field goals in his first two games with the Bears is a franchise record.

• Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett missed his third straight game with a knee injury.