D'Andre Swift sparks Bears' run sport, offense in win over Rams

CHICAGO — After being gifted their greatest subject place of the day when Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked and fumbled at his personal 16-yard line, the Chicago Bears offense went old skool.

One week after a disastrous goal-line sequence in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts featured repeated failures working out of the shotgun, the Bears used their strongest rusher out of the I-formation to attain their first landing in a 24-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

With three tight ends on the sector and backup middle Doug Kramer Jr. lined up at fullback, Bears 6-foot, 225-pound working again Roschon Johnson simply powered his method into the top zone on a 1-yard landing run within the second quarter.

This was greater than an ode to the ground-and-pound assault that has outlined the Bears franchise for many years. This was the a part of the Bears’ offensive id that has been lacking for the reason that begin of the season. After boasting the No. 2 dashing offense (141.1 yards per sport) in 2023, Chicago was not in a position to set up an efficient dashing assault in its first three video games and ranked simply forward of the dead-last Las Vegas Raiders with underneath 73 dashing yards per sport.

The load as soon as carried by ex-Bears quarterback Justin Fields was handed on to Chicago’s secure of backs, headlined by D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert and Johnson.

For 3 video games, the Bears struggled to seek out which working again they might lean on persistently. In opposition to the Rams, that a part of Chicago’s offense skilled a breakthrough and amassed 131 yards and two touchdowns on 28 makes an attempt.

“That is one thing that we have been actually good on the previous couple years,” tight finish Cole Kmet stated. “I am certain it has been just a little little bit of an adjustment for [offensive coordinator] Shane [Waldron] coming in, clearly with the run sport that we have had the previous couple seasons. I feel we’re discovering our method with it.”

All through the week, Bears coaches and gamers overtly mentioned points that performed out on offense because the workforce bought off to a 1-2 begin. Veterans like tight finish Marcedes Lewis implored coaches throughout a gathering to uphold a better customary of accountability whereas Waldron and coach Matt Eberflus mentioned how to verify the precise gamers have been being relied on in conditions that performed greatest to their strengths.

Johnson’s downhill dashing capacity made him the very best match for the Bears to transform on the objective line whereas Swift, whose sluggish begin to the season has been a sore spot, discovered his groove when the Bears bought him in house.

Swift, who the Bears signed to a three-year, $24 million contract in March, had 114 whole yards by three weeks and averaged 1.8 yards per carry. In opposition to the Rams, the Professional Bowler totaled 16 carries for 93 yards and a landing whereas catching all seven targets for 72 yards.

“It means lots, however I do know who I’m,” Swift stated. “I do know who I’m, I do know what I can do and I do know what God instilled in me. If I maintain that mentality each time I’m going to work, I do know I will be alright.”

In response to ESPN Analysis, Swift bought 74 of his 93 dashing yards earlier than contact (4.6 yards earlier than contact per rush), a big enhance from the 0.78 yards earlier than contact per rush he averaged in Weeks 1-3.

The distinction per week made was felt in every single place on offense.

“It opens all people else up,” huge receiver DJ Moore stated. “With him being as dynamic as he’s within the run and go sport, when he will get out within the go sport and sneaks out of the backfield and he is huge open by himself, he can go the gap.”

Swift did that on his game-defining landing late within the fourth quarter to place the Bears up 24-15. Upon receiving a handoff from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, Swift danced round a defender on the line of scrimmage earlier than bursting into the open subject and working 36 yards into the top zone untouched.

It was the longest dashing landing the Bears had recorded since Week 18 of the 2022 season (42 yards by Velus Jones Jr.).