A Former Bears Concern Is Now A Strength That Could Matter Most Vs. Rams

1 jam yang lalu

For months, 1 of nan loudest critiques surrounding nan Chicago Bears centered connected what they didn't do. From nan extremity of nan 2025 NFL Draft until nan first crippled of nan season, nan communicative astir this squad didn't alteration much. Fans thought nan Bears didn't do capable to upgrade astatine moving back, and location were concerns that D'Andre Swift wasn't a fresh for Ben Johnson's offense.

But arsenic Brad Biggs pointed retired successful his latest file for nan Chicago Tribune, nan fears of Bears fans ne'er lined up pinch really GM Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson viewed nan roster.

With seventh-round prime Kyle Monangai representing nan only summation to nan Bears' moving backmost room during nan offseason, skepticism grew. The presumption was that Johnson's system, 1 that relies connected a beardown moving game, demanded a different level of talent.

MORE: Despite breakout 2025 season, Bears look agelong Super Bowl odds

However, that offseason communicative was a monolithic miss. In fact, Bears Nation grounded to attraction connected what Johnson had been telling america each along. As Biggs noted, Johnson was "effusive successful his praise of Swift each offseason," and nan on-field results backed it up. Swift vanished nan regular play pinch 1,087 rushing yards, while Monangai added 783, forming nan astir productive Bears' moving backmost tandem successful astir 50 years.

Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

According to Biggs, Swift and Monangai became nan "first brace of Bears moving backs to apical 700 yards since Walter Payton and Roland Harper successful 1978," a benchmark that makes that full offseason statement consciousness embarrassing now. Poles and Johnson felt bully astir who they had successful their moving backmost room, and they've earned nan spot of Bears fans pinch really 2025 ended up playing out.

Biggs noted that Swift's "effectiveness successful nan passing crippled should not beryllium overlooked either," underlining why Poles and nan Bears ne'er viewed nan backfield arsenic incomplete. Swift's versatility really did fresh what Johnson wants from a moving back. So, yeah, Chicago did person everything they needed successful nan backfield.

MORE: Chicago Bears' 2025 rookie people earns awesome ranking from ESPN

It's a reality that takes connected moreover greater value heading into nan Divisional Round matchup against nan Los Angeles Rams. Playoff shot often relies connected a beardown moving crippled to prolong drives and unfastened up large plays. The Bears person that spot pinch Swift and Monangai.

The Chicago Bears are 1 triumph distant from nan NFC Championship, and they've ridden their tally crippled to get here. What was erstwhile framed arsenic a awesome weakness has go nan spot of 1 of nan champion Bears teams successful franchise history.