It took them a while, but it finally looks like the Chicago Bears have been able to establish the run. For the second consecutive game, D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai fared well enough to make the team feel like they may not need more help at running back, as the Bears picked up a 26-14 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
It was a huge performance from Swift, especially when star running backs like Alvin Kamara, De'Von Achane, or Breece Hall have been linked to the Bears in recent weeks. Even though there's still time to make a move before the Nov. 4 deadline, the RB duo's Week 7 performance may have shut the door on any potential additions.
Bears No Longer Need RB Trade After D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai Impress in Week 7
Swift kept his foot on the gas after his strong outing against the Washington Commanders. He finished Sunday's win over the Saints with 124 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, as well as a 14-yard reception. Meanwhile, Monangai was also solid, posting a 13-81-1 stat line on the ground to go along with 13 receiving yards on two catches.
Head coach Johnson finally showed some of his trickery with the running game, using wideouts D.J. Moore (one carry for nine yards), Olamide Zacchaeus (one carry for zero yards), and Luther Burden III (one carry for minus-one yard) out of the backfield. Even forgotten RB Roschon Johnson had one carry for 11 yards.
Sunday's offensive success is what Johnson always envisioned when he joined the Bears. In his media availability ahead of Week 6, he opened up on how this running back corps just needed more time and reps together to be at their best, and that has proven to be a bit prophetic:
"The running game—I've kind of alluded to it over the course of training camp—it's going to take a little bit of time for our guys to all mesh together, and I think that's what the tape looks like now," Johnson said, per Sports Illustrated. "We're just not firing on all cylinders yet.... And it's going to take everybody: it's quarterback, it's receivers, it's O-line, it's tight ends to go along with those runners.
The Bears put up 222 rushing yards and two TDs on 40 carries against the Saints, and fans will want to see more of the same moving forward. This Chicago team isn't perfect, and general manager Ryan Poles must make some moves, but it's clear that the backfield shouldn't be atop the priority list anymore.