Bears' Ground Game Hits Its Stride, Leaving Opponents in the Dust
The Chicago Bears are on a roll when it comes to their ground game, leading the league in rushing yards per game and total yards per game since their Week 5 bye. Since then, only one team, the Buffalo Bills, have averaged more than 153.8 rushing yards per game.
What's been particularly impressive is how quickly rookie running back Kyle Monangai has found his footing, ranking seventh in the NFL with an average of 4.9 yards per carry. Veteran D'Andre Swift is not far behind, boasting a 4.7 yards-per-carry average after struggling last season. The Bears' new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy has made significant improvements to Swift's game, and the results speak for themselves.
"It's been fun watching the evolution of where we started to where we are right now," Bieniemy said. "We've still got a long way to go, but I'm enjoying the progress." Swift agrees, saying that the team is "hitting our stride right now."
The Bears' success on the ground is largely due to their discipline and soundness in the run game. As Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley noted, "You can't just rush up the field, you have to be disciplined and hit the hole on time." The Bears are executing this well, with a strong supporting cast of running backs including T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell.
Edwards, who is finally returning from injury, says he's excited to face his old stomping ground in Lambeau, where he played for Wisconsin. Despite being from Packers country, Edwards has been trying to convert his family into Bears fans, saying that they often wear blue turtlenecks with green underneath.
However, the tension between the two teams is palpable, particularly with Packers defensive end Micah Parsons taking aim at the Bears' ground game. When asked about a perceived disrespect from the Bears, Parsons said that rivalries are for the fans and not his focus. However, when pressed on what he's heard, Edwards claimed to have no knowledge of any outside noise.
The Packers will face a stern test in Lambeau as they prepare to take on their NFC North rivals. The stage is set for a thrilling matchup between two teams that seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of ground game performance.
The Chicago Bears are on a roll when it comes to their ground game, leading the league in rushing yards per game and total yards per game since their Week 5 bye. Since then, only one team, the Buffalo Bills, have averaged more than 153.8 rushing yards per game.
What's been particularly impressive is how quickly rookie running back Kyle Monangai has found his footing, ranking seventh in the NFL with an average of 4.9 yards per carry. Veteran D'Andre Swift is not far behind, boasting a 4.7 yards-per-carry average after struggling last season. The Bears' new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy has made significant improvements to Swift's game, and the results speak for themselves.
"It's been fun watching the evolution of where we started to where we are right now," Bieniemy said. "We've still got a long way to go, but I'm enjoying the progress." Swift agrees, saying that the team is "hitting our stride right now."
The Bears' success on the ground is largely due to their discipline and soundness in the run game. As Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley noted, "You can't just rush up the field, you have to be disciplined and hit the hole on time." The Bears are executing this well, with a strong supporting cast of running backs including T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell.
Edwards, who is finally returning from injury, says he's excited to face his old stomping ground in Lambeau, where he played for Wisconsin. Despite being from Packers country, Edwards has been trying to convert his family into Bears fans, saying that they often wear blue turtlenecks with green underneath.
However, the tension between the two teams is palpable, particularly with Packers defensive end Micah Parsons taking aim at the Bears' ground game. When asked about a perceived disrespect from the Bears, Parsons said that rivalries are for the fans and not his focus. However, when pressed on what he's heard, Edwards claimed to have no knowledge of any outside noise.
The Packers will face a stern test in Lambeau as they prepare to take on their NFC North rivals. The stage is set for a thrilling matchup between two teams that seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of ground game performance.
I think the Bears' success on the ground is also down to their O-line, if you ask me. I mean, those guys are getting some serious hits out there, allowing Swift and Monangai to get through the hole so quickly. It's not just about discipline and soundness, it's about the physicality of the play too. And let's be real, Edwards is a beast once he gets going - his return from injury couldn't have come at a better time! 
anyway did you know that the Bears are doing really well on the ground right now? they're like, leading the league or something 
Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift seem to be getting better at their jobs and stuff 
i mean, I guess you have to have some rivalry spirit in your blood or something 
I'm loving this Bears' ground game, but let's not get too caught up in the hype just yet... 
They need to keep this momentum going or it'll be a letdown. And speaking of rivalries, I don't buy into Micah Parsons' 'not my problem' attitude... 
It's gonna be an intense game at Lambeau, but which team will come out on top? Can the Bears keep their ground game magic going or is this just a flash in the pan? 
. and edwards returning from injury can't come at a better time - this guy's gonna bring the heat 
. Now, when the Packers come to Lambeau, it's going to be a whole different story 
️. The tension between their fans is palpable 
, and I'm sure Micah Parsons will have his work cut out for him trying to take down Edwards 
i love how eric bieniemy has been working with swift to get his game back on track 
i'm rooting 4 the bears all the way 
. Can't they make it easier to read? So many paragraphs and not enough concise sections. It's like they're trying to drive me crazy! 
And don't even get me started on the formatting issues - sometimes the text is all over the place 
.
Anyway, I guess that's just my 2 cents on the whole thing...
. And D'Andre Swift's transformation under Bieniemy is insane. It's like he went from being a liability to an asset overnight 
The Packers are gonna be in for a tough game, that's for sure. They've gotta stop this ground game or risk losing big time.
It sounds like an attempt to stir up drama instead of focusing on the game. And what's with the "you can't rush up the field" quote from Hafley? How many times has he said that in other interviews? 
their ground game is fire and kyle monangai is lookin like a stud rookie I love how eric bieniemy has improved d'andre swift's game he's come so far from last season to being one of the top RBs in the league. and edwards is bringin that energy 
.
Bears' ground game is 
, THIS IS GOING TO BE A THRILLER OF A MATCHUP!!!
lambeau is gonna be a wild game this weekend and idk if the bears or packers will come out on top