If Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson wants to wrap up the NFC North crown, avenging the team's 28-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers is a paramount prerequisite.
Johnson has a tough call to make, though. He can either go all-in on winning this game, which would require a banged-up D'Andre Swift to double up on responsibilities as a pass-catcher to go with leading the backfield in carries, or he can play the long game and sacrifice the passing game against a Packers defense that has been feasting on running backs all season.
This is the NFL. This is a rivalry game. Johnson is not about to leave it on the table during his first season in charge and risk fan backlash in the event Green Bay overtakes the division lead over these final three weeks.
The Bears' receiving corps could be down their No. 1 receiver, Rome Odunze, and their No. 3 receiver, Luther Burden III, against the Packers. Odunze has a foot issue that could see him sit out several games down the stretch to recover for the postseason. Burden has an ankle issue that Johnson has stressed is a day-to-day issue.
That would reduce Chicago to Colston Loveland and the underperforming DJ Moore as their only strong receiving options. Making up for those absences would call for Swift to do some heavy lifting as a receiver.
Ben Johnson Must Take Risk With D'Andre Swift vs Packers
Of course, Johnson has been hesitant to put Swift in "hospital ball" situations over the past several weeks. Swift has two or fewer targets in four of the past five games, which coincided with a groin issue in October, and is down to just 1.8 targets per game in that time span. That's with four targets against the Packers several weeks ago to buoy the average.
Chicago can stick to designed runs with Swift, keeping him out of the open field with screens and hook routes out of the backfield, but that'd be sacrificing the passing game. Johnson and Declan Doyle need to risk it for the biscuit here, even if the potential repercussions could cost the team during the playoffs.
The Bears' reward is entering the postseason knowing that their biggest rival doesn't own a 2-0 advantage and moving one step closer to clinching the NFC North.