Chicago Bears Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift did not mince words.
The Bears’ rushing attack, which ranked third in the NFL during the 2025 regular season, has not been up to snuff recently.
With a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams–a one-time No. 1 seed in the NFC this season that has a championship pedigree and the likely MVP quarterbacking the No. 1 offense overall and in scoring–it is imperative that the Bears rediscover their identity in that regard.
Pro Bowler Calls Out Bears’ Regression Before Rams Playoff Game
D’Andre Swift Notes Bears Step Back in Key Area
The Bears bounced back in 2025 from a down 2024 season in which they ranked 25th in rushing offense, leaning on Swift and RB2 Kyle Monangai.
Swift, who had a career year, believes the Bears have left meat on the bone.
Heading into a game where weather is expected to be a factor against an explosive offense–the best in the league, to be exact–running the football could and should be a featured part of the game plan.
“That’s exactly what it needs to be. We want to go ahead and sustain drives and, ultimately, come away with 6 points, and run game needs to be a part of that. We haven’t been where we wanted to be last two weeks, I believe,” Swift told Clocker Sports in the locker room after practice on Friday.
“Especially in these type of environments and hese type of games–playoff games–definitely need the run game to show up.”
The Bears had their lowest rushing output of the season in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions.
Their showing against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 was not much better, checking in as their sixth-worst effort of the campaign. However, there is a disparity between the two games that highlights how much easier said than done it is to expect the Bears to lean into the run.
The Bears averaged 5.0 yards per carry, their seventh-best mark of the season, against the 49ers in a 42-38 shootout loss.
Chicago averaged 3.6 YPC in a 19-16 loss to the Lions, which tied for their third-worst mark.
The Bears averaged 4.9 yards per tote on the season. So while they may have overachieved slightly against the 49ers, they woefully underperformed against the Lions, despite a mere four-carry difference between the two games.
Bears Can Throw Off Rams With Balanced Attack
The Rams enter this contest with the 12th-best run defense, compared to their ranking 19th in pass coverage. It will be tempting to test those averages.
However, the Rams’ running game, which ranked seventh, is as dangerous as the Bears’.
Getting out to an early lead and looking to play ball control could be the Bears’ ticket to victory and a berth in the NFC Championship Game. They ranked 22nd against the pass and 27th against the run to check in at 29th overall and 23rd in scoring.
One of their goals should be to limit MVP favorite Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ possessions and ability to call a balanced game. It would also take pressure off of Caleb Williams, helping to neutralize an aggressive Rams pass rush.
Even if the Bears cannot lean on the run game early on Sunday, Swift and Co. can close it out.