The Chicago Bears finally got things going on the ground during the team's 25-24 win over the Washington Commanders. Coming off a bye week, where the rushing attack was a main point of focus, running back D'Andre Swift alleviated all doubts by having his breakout game this season.
Swift carried the ball 14 times for 108 yards, creating explosive plays following his offensive line, which made big holes for him to run through. Swift was also effective in Chicago's passing game, where he was the leading receiver for the Bears as well.
Ben Johnson's message on how D'Andre Swift played
Regardless of his game-to-game stats, D'Andre Swift plays such a crucial role in the Bears' offense, and he may have shut down any running back trade rumors for Chicago with his most recent performance.
Head coach Ben Johnson was also ecstatic about Swift's level of play:
"Oh, he was huge. I mean, this is the best, the most efficient we've ran the ball all year," Johnson said. "Really felt an attitude with him. He did a great job finding a little crease and stepping on the gas as we talked about, played a physical style. Not only that, I mean the catch 55-yard touchdown was really a game-changer for us."
Last week, during the bye, Johnson was on record saying he thinks they will be fine in the running game, but as a team, they had things to work on. That bye week clearly went a long way in figuring out how to utilize D'Andre Swift.
Another factor in Swift's big game is the way it alleviated some of the pressure off quarterback Caleb Williams. Chicago's next opponent is the New Orleans Saints, and their next four games are against fairly weak teams. If the Bears want to contend for a playoff spot, the next four weeks will be crucial.
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