The Chicago Bears have won three straight games, Caleb Williams is playing some of his best football, and Monday's 34-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks has given fans plenty to celebrate.
But Ben Johnson isn't entirely satisfied with his offense.
During Wednesday's press conference, the Bears head coach acknowledged that Chicago's running game hasn't been nearly as reliable as he'd like. It's an interesting admission considering how well everything else has been going offensively.
The Bears are finding ways to win, but Johnson knows there's still work to do.
Ben Johnson acknowledges Bears' inconsistent rushing attack
When asked to evaluate Chicago's running game, Johnson didn't try to sugarcoat anything.
"It's inconsistent," Johnson admitted.
He explained that the Bears started the season running the football effectively, but that production has become less dependable against tougher opponents.
One particular concern is Chicago's inability to establish the run early in games.
Johnson acknowledged that the Bears have generally been more productive rushing in the second half than in the first. That's not necessarily a problem when the passing game is clicking, but relying on halftime adjustments to get the ground attack moving isn't ideal.
Monday's victory offered another example.
D'Andre Swift carried the ball 27 times against Seattle but managed just 69 yards, averaging 2.6 yards per attempt. He did score three touchdowns, although those numbers show just how difficult it was for Chicago to consistently move the football on the ground.
Johnson defended his offensive line, pointing out that the Bears weren't losing yards on many of those attempts. Instead, they were grinding out two or three yards at a time.
That's fine occasionally. It's considerably less encouraging when it becomes the norm.
Bears need more from their running game moving forward
The possible return of Kyle Monangai could help.
Johnson acknowledged that getting the rookie running back healthy would provide a boost. Monangai has missed four consecutive games, leaving Swift to shoulder much of the workload.
The Bears coach also admitted he's conscious of Swift's usage and doesn't want to wear him down before the season is over.
For now, Williams and Chicago's passing attack are doing enough to overcome the inconsistency.
But Johnson isn't interested in accepting that as a permanent solution.
The Bears are 6-2 and playing winning football. Their running game, however, still has some catching up to do.
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